Letters to the Editor

Early voting should be restored

8/11/2012

I support the Democratic Party's lawsuit that seeks to restore voting rights to all Ohio voters, including our veterans ("Keep early voting," editorial, July 21).

Over the past two years, Republicans have acted to cut off early voting for our veterans and other voters from what we had in 2008. We Democrats fought for expanding the vote to all voters, but were ignored.

The lawsuit respects reasonable and constitutional differences in treatment of military and civilian voters, such as giving service members more time to mail ballots from overseas.

I strongly denounce the claims of Mitt Romney's campaign that the suit seeks to harm military voters. Politifact and Factcheck.org have rated Mr. Romney's claims false.

Restoring the right to in-person early voting for our veteran and civilians will be good for all voters. I served in the Air Force for more than six years, not to gain special voting rights for myself, but to safeguard our democracy for all Americans.

Teresa Fedor

Ohio House of Representatives 47th District Toledo

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Denying military early vote wrong

Denying early voting to military personnel three days before the election is wrong. All Ohioans should be able to vote on all days of early voting.

I worked four years ago for early voting, and we were busy with military personnel and civilians every day. Everything worked out fine. We Ohioans should vote together.

Joan Baer

Monclova Township

Whitehouse thanks art show helpers

The first outdoor art show sponsored by the Whitehouse Arts Advisory Board occurred July 21. There were 20 area artists and live music.

The meal was to have been a pig roast, but the people in charge of that backed out with less than 24 hours' notice. We scrambled to find another food vendor.

The Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Department came to our rescue with hot dogs and brats. The Whitehouse Community Library provided water and soft drinks.

The event was a success. The board thanks all those who rescued us from a difficult situation.

Ellen Leonard

Vice Chairman Whitehouse Arts Advisory Board Whitehouse

Police station options needed

Toledo City Councilman George Sarantou was correct. There are alternatives to closing the police department's Northwest District station on Sylvania Avenue ("Councilman backs keeping police post," Readers' Forum, July 12).

What is the possibility of opening a small satellite police station in the area?

The top priority of Mayor Mike Bell, City Council, and Police Chief Derrick Diggs is to provide a safe environment for people who live and work in Toledo. One way of accomplishing that goal is having a police presence in high-crime areas.

City leaders need to look for creative ways to give residents a feeling of security, which was taken away when the Northwest station was closed.

George Weidner

Barrows Street