In Panola County an enlightened Board of Supervisors would see the need to purchase new voting machines to protect the integrity of over voter and every vote cast. There is no reason that antiquated machines are still in use.

The argument that paper ballots are simpler and easier is of course untrue. Do you have 1950’s appliances in your house? Do you drive a Model T Ford? Of course not, they are “out-of-date.” The same is true with our voting technology.

In 1868, the 14th Amendment was ratified and became part of our Constitution. In general, the 14th Amendment declared that all citizens must have equal protection under the law. In 1954, with the the landmark Supreme Court case, Brown vs. Board of Education, the Warren Court extended the concept of equal protection under the law to “equal access” under the law.
Thus, all forms of legal discrimination were deemed unconstitutional. In the same vein, each citizen of the United States and each resident of this county (red, yellow, black or white) must have equal access and equal protection by law to ensure that one person equals one vote, and that vote is duly protected. Every citizen has afforded to them this right.

The new voting machines that we desperately need guarantee to each person, regardless of race, this fundamental law and right.

For the Board of Supervisors, if they so choose, to deprive Panola County of this new voting technology borders on the highest degree of negligence.

I submit that new voting machines be purchased and installed for use by the November 3 General Election

Dr. Andy Brasher
Como