What's city going to do to prevent voter intimidation on Sept. 11?

To the editor,

An open letter to Laconia City Clerk Mary Reynolds:

As I understand it you are responsible for the whole voting process in the City of Laconia. I have two questions for you:

QUESTION #1: Is it true that the voting laws have been changed in the state of New Hampshire? Is a voter ID now required? If true, what does this mean to us voters that have been using the past practice of showing up at the polls and voting using only the city checklist? A right guaranteed to us by the United States Constitution! Isn't this new requirement voter suppression?

QUESTION #2: A new practice has been implimented by the Republication Tea Party to suppress the vote "at the polls" during voting on election day. A group called TRUE THE VOTE (www.truethevote.org) has been organized to suppress the vote through intimidation. My question, have you taken steps to prevent this type of suppression on voting day? Do you have extra poll workers to help with both the "ID" problem and this new intimidation tactic? Will there be a uniformed policeman posted in the voting poll locations throughout Laconia on election day? Will you conduct a training program for poll workers as to how to handle irregularities?

This Tuesday, November 6, 2012, election is important to the well being of our democracy. With the massive voter suppression activities by the Republican Party nationwide special precautions are needed! Will you ensure the Laconia public that our voting system will work?

Dr. Thomas Dawson

Laconia