A Debate in Print Between Charles Bailey and Jeff Roy #5

Above,
Jeff Roy and Charles Bailey.

Long-time
Franklin-Medway State Rep. Jeff Roy, who is from Franklin and
challenger, Charles Bailey, also from Franklin, agreed to an
in-person debate, which was conducted at the Medway Middle School,
on Tuesday, Oct. 8, sponsored jointly by the Democrat and Republican
Town Committees. The full debate can be viewed on Medway Cable
channel and in Franklin on Verizon 29 and Comcast 9. In addition, it
can be streamed from the Medway Cable Facebook Page and Franklin’s
All Access TV on Youtube.

In
addition, both candidates agreed to participate in a debate --
responding to questions suggested by Observer readers -- in
writing, in the Observer. One question and the candidate's
respective responses will be published for a total of seven weeks
leading up to the election. The sequence of responses will be altered
each week (e.g. Roy first then Bailey first and vice versa).

#5 - Voter ID has been a topic of controversy. Some say, IDs are required for almost every kind of activity in our society, so why should a critical civic responsibility be any different, even if only to help assure citizens that the election system is secure? What is your position and what actions have you or would you take in this regard?

CHARLES BAILEY

“As of April 2024,35 states required voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 required voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 11 accepted other forms of identification. The remaining 16 states did not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.”

 https://ballotpedia.org/Arguments_for_and_against_voter_identification_laws

 I support the requirement of Voter ID for elections in Massachusetts and cannot understand why it has not been instituted post 911. I have seen the opposing arguments and feel requiring an ID at the polls when voting would expedite the process in a safe orderly manner. Voter ID would eliminate duplication particularly with the increased practice of mail-in-voting. It would also bring credibility to a system that has been questioned in the past and has involved numerous lawsuits. Transparency in elections is of utmost importance, thus removing any question of voter fraud and ultimately the legitimacy of the election itself. It is the people’s will to have their Vote counted on election day and not to be disenfranchised.

“A REAL ID is a Federal Security Standard for IDs that was created in 2005 as a result of increased federal security measures after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or identification card, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification, for domestic air travel and to enter certain federal facilities.”https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-identification-id-requirements

I disagree with the counter argument that asking a citizen to provide ID at the polls would be burdensome and may deter them from voting. This claim has little merit, but rather a lack of ID requirements gives a perception that fraud could exist within the system. As Americans, we are required to show ID in our day-to-day life. A photo ID is often required when purchasing items with a credit card, at the pharmacy for certain medications, to purchase alcohol or tobacco products, at financial institutions, hotels, hospitals and to drive. Providing an ID is a norm in our society. To say that minorities would be disenfranchised by imposing this is disingenuous and insulting to them. They are more than capable and proud to produce ID when asked.

Our leaders here in Massachusetts take great pride in their legislative achievements on Beacon Hill. Why have we fallen behind on this issue?

JEFFREY
ROY

Out of concern that his comments had been altered by removal of a graphic in a previous posting, he has instead provided a link to his answer to Question 5 on his web site (below) and also asked that the editor acknowledge his own support for Mr. Bailey.

In fact, I the editor, Alan Earls, as an individual, contributed $150 to Mr. Bailey’s campaign. Furthermore, I am the former chair of the Franklin Republican Town Committee and currently serve as the clerk/secretary. This is and has been an open secret. Many people in Franklin are aware of my political affiliation and I am happy to discuss that with anyone. I also always work to deliver balanced coverage of news in Franklin and Medway. No one, that I am aware of, has asked for a political disclosure of anyone else in the local news media, let alone at the state of national level. Perhaps it is time to make this practice universal.

Rep Roy's Responses on Question 5 can now be found at the link, below:

https://jeffreyroy.com/2024/10/17/franklin-observer-online-debate-question-5-voter-id/