Further to Judith’s Truesdale’s column “Election Reform Needed,” (Recorder, Jan. 13), whether or not you believe the last election was “stolen,” the fact remains that this foundation of democracy is not just rusty it is distorted to the point of collapse. Common sense would agree that only American citizens be allowed to vote in presidential elections but states are able to make their own rules about how the vote will be conducted despite the national impact of presidential elections. This results in “unequal” votes, (some prisoners allowed to vote and others not). How is citizenship established for the purpose of voting?

For years I had a green card and did not vote in presidential elections though married to an American citizen by birth. (I kept my British citizenship regardless of the U.S. requirement in that regard). Now after 45 years of dutifully voting for the least offensive of just two candidates from opposing political parties I will likely avoid my next opportunity at the polls. My independent status is meaningless and in my rebellious old age I might suggest that if enough people would abstain from voting, (only 67% voted in the last election), the system might collapse irrevocably and we would be able to start again in this new age of technology and mass migrations.

Melissa Perot

South Deerfield

]]>