Let the people decide. 

Thirty-eight states allow early voting. Following their lead, our own Senate recently endorsed placing a referendum on the 2020 ballot so that citizens could decide whether to allow early voting. This referendum won’t be on the ballot. Why? Because most Republicans, including my own senator from Groton, Heather Somers, voted against it. 

Republicans claim that the referendum lacks detail. It’s a weak argument. There is adequate time to work out the details before the 2020 ballot. Furthermore, there is no data to back the claim that early voting increases the likelihood of voter fraud. 

Considering all the hand-wringing about how to increase voter turnout, it is ironic that politicians would not allow voters to decide for themselves how to increase access to the polls.

Carol Oviatt

Groton