Texas will vex us. News from Texas and it is pathetic. As a voter since 1972, I don't think I could correctly vote with a punchcard ballot without the template. All those little tiny numbers. Bureaucrats are taking away our civil liberties and attacking our electoral process which is a bedrock of our nation. Women have died for the right to vote and it enrages me to see little people in petty positions of power act like there is nothing that can be done about egregious policies like the one described in my friend's email. She is a real person, and her parents are real Texans. Watch out for YOUR vote this year. First they take our votes, then it will be the rest of our rights.

My elderly parents requested and received mail-in ballots, which elderly or disabled persons are allowed to do. They were completely taken aback, however, when they received in the mail the exact same punch ballot that you use in the voting booth. They are expected to figure out which numbers to select and punch out the tiny little rectangular chads by hand, without the benefit of the template given by the voting booklet in the voting booth. Furthermore, the instructions say that it is a misdemeanor for anyone to help them vote unless they are physically unable to punch the ballot or unless they cannot see to punch the ballot. I don’t know about you, but I think it is ridiculous to expect elderly and disabled people to be able to vote using this method. In my opinion, this is tantamount to denying them the right to vote. Priya Hudson-DiTraglia