EJ Montini

opinion columnist

In case you missed Monday's legislative hearing, or couldn't bear to watch, this is all you need to know about the travesty that was last Tuesday’s election.

It was a good thing to allow people to vent at the Legislature, to speak about the ongoing role of the Republicans who control the place in making it more and more difficult for people to vote. But you probably didn't have the time or inclination to watch the long hearing.

Besides, the human side of what happened can be summed up by this one of the many, many e-mails and phone calls I got from readers describing their experience trying to vote. It came from Mary Ann Walsh. It involves her mother and father.

If you want to know the meaning of “voter suppression” read this. She wrote:

“On Tuesday I took my parents to the Church of the Beatitudes to cast their ballots. My parents are 83 and 87 years old both requiring walkers. When we arrived the line was all of the way around and down Glendale Ave.

“I tried to find a handicapped parking spot to no avail after looking for 20 minutes. I looked to see if there was an area (with seating and shade)where I could drop my parents so they could wait for me while I waited in line for them. Again, to no avail.

“After an hour of deciding what to do my parents were exhausted and we returned home without voting. It broke my heart that these two hard working, constitution respecting retires could not cast their vote in this election.

“My parents taught me the importance of my vote and that I should be proud that I live in the USA and have the right to vote. Unfortunately, my beloved parents were effectively turned away from being able to cast their vote and denied their constitutional right. I am still sad for them.”

I’m sad for them too.

I’m sad for us all.

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