Why on earth would the Eastern Arizona Courier argue on the side of those wishing to restrict potential voters from registering to vote?

Thursday’s (Nov. 21, 2007) article by Diane Saunders argues with Secretary of State Jan Brewer that the organization Women’s Voices, Women Vote is deceptively misinforming women voters that people are required to register to vote.

That argument is completely false. Women’s Voices, Women Vote is simply encouraging women to register to vote with the true claim that to be able to vote a person must register. Any honest reading of Women’s Voices, Women Vote Web site (http://www.wvwv.org/) or literature solicits women to register to vote.

Brewer, in her position as secretary of state, has followed a typical conservative ideology of attempting to interfere with increasing the number of registered voters in Arizona and attempts to hinder those who would do the opposite.

If one followed Brewer’s version of reading the Women’s Voices literature, the following statement from the Courier article would be inflammatory: “While the form is legal, it is not necessary to register to vote.” Taken out of context, the Courier proclaims that “it is not necessary to register to vote.” That, of course, would be dishonest, as is Brewer’s interpretation of the facts.

The real story here is that because Democrats are outnumbering Republicans in registering new voters in Arizona at a rate of 4-to-1, the Republicans prefer to misinterpret the facts rather than admit they are in trouble.

Harold Herbert, Chairman Graham County Democratic Party

Editor’s note: The article mentioned in this letter does not in any way attempt to discourage people from registering to vote.

The intent of the story was to clarify whether people are required by law to register and vote — they are not.

Read the original article at The Eastern Arizona Courier.