To the editor:
It is very important that Donald Trump’s false claims about a “rigged election” and “voter fraud” be called out for what they are: lies and misinformation that are a true threat to our country. Trump has been referring to a study of out-of-date and inaccurate voter lists, but neglects to say that the study found no evidence of such errors having contributed to voter fraud.
One respected study found just 31 known cases of voter fraud out of one billion votes cast in U.S. elections between 2000 and 2014. The actual problem in this country is that millions of people who are eligible to vote are not registered to vote, at least in part because of radical Republican-led voter suppression efforts in many states.
Trump’s false and self-serving claims are truly shocking, as they undermine the very essence of our democracy – our faith in the voting process and our acceptance of elections even when we lose them.
So, here in New Hampshire we call on Republican leaders, particularly Kelly Ayotte, to distance themselves from Mr Trump’s remarks. We need Kelly Ayotte to refute these baseless claims of “voter fraud” here in New Hampshire. Why has she not spoken out?
After all, the ability of people in a country to accept their differences through voting is a fundamental step away from barbarism and anarchy. Mr Trump should be ashamed of himself. So should Kelly Ayotte for her silence in these perilous times.
That is why we hope everyone makes sure to vote on Nov. 8, to exercise their right to vote, and that our country finally puts an end to this nightmare election.
Sam and Julie Osherson
Nelson