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Question on election eligibility

May 10, 2021

As usual, this year’s election for the Cape Henlopen School District Board of Education captured some attention.  Candidates were identified, platforms were made public, and people threw their support behind one candidate or another.  This as it should be in an election campaign.

Very interesting to me was the third paragraph of the article dealing with this matter in the May 7 edition of the Cape Gazette.  It read, “Eligible voters must be Delaware citizens age 18 and over who live in the Cape district.  Proof of identity and address, such as a Delaware driver’s license or ID card, or other document such as a recent utility bill or rent receipt, must be provided.”  Not an inkling of objection appeared regarding these voting requirements. This is as it should be. These protocols are fair; they are just; and they provide credibility for the election process.

Now, for the paradigm shift question.  Without demeaning the role of a member of a local board of education, shouldn’t the election of a U.S. representative or senator, or the president of the United States, follow these same rules?  Why is there such an uproar over verifying your citizenship, your address, and your identity when voting for people to fill these very important offices?

Dr. James H. VanSciver
Lewes
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