TOP OF MIND: Whom do you hold accountable for the collapse of the special session on public safety? Should lawmakers be asked to refund their $231 daily per diem payment?

Top of Mind is a weekly question about an issue affecting New Mexicans.

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION

Should U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján support the House-passed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act to ensure that only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections?

“IDs are required for many activities far less critical than ensuring voting qualification, e.g., purchasing airline tickets, cigarettes, liquor, or performing certain bank transactions. The argument that the ID requirement is racist is ridiculous. Assuming a Black, Hispanic, or naturalized citizen is incapable of obtaining an ID — now that’s racist.”

— Ray Blanco, Rio Rancho

“Currently only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in U.S. elections anyway. So, no, they should not support this bill. This bill’s purpose seems to be to stoke fears of voter fraud, of which there is very little.”

— Joel Richards, Albuquerque

“They absolutely should, but they won’t. For some reason Democrats are terrified of anything to do with voter ID. I wonder why?”

— Bob Martin, Placitas

“No. We already have laws prohibiting non-citizens from voting in federal elections. This bill includes drastic voter suppression elements such as showing birth certificate or passport to register to vote. However many 18-year-olds have a passport or a clue where their birth certificate is? Bunch of malarkey.”

— Jeffrey Paul, Albuquerque

“Yes, both Martin and Ben Ray should support the SAFE bill but we know that these senators will only follow what their masters tell them to do. We know the Democrats are hoping for more voting fodder, re: open borders, and SAFE would curtail this. No independence of thought allowed.”

— Key Jones, Santa Fe

“This is a bad solution to a non-existent problem. It’s already illegal in state and federal elections. A study of the 2016 election found 0.0001% of ballots questionable. Providing a birth certificate or passport in order to vote is an unreasonable hardship.”

— Greg Hassold, Albuquerque

“Of course they should, but they won’t. ‘Affirming’ one’s citizenship status is not enough. Election integrity can only be accomplished through positive voter identification. The Democrats’ efforts should be directed toward assisting the supposed disenfranchised in obtaining the necessary citizenship documents.”

— David Sprague, Albuquerque

“No, anything the House passes is suspect. Right-wing politics is their main concern, not helping citizens. It would disenfranchise some groups of voters and is not practically workable. It also chases a problem that doesn’t exist, voter fraud.”

— Mark Yarnelle, Albuquerque

“Yes. Our congressional delegation should have supported the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. Why are many of us not surprised that they did not? Why do so many politicians, particularly in New Mexico, think affirming U.S. citizenship for voting is such a bad idea? Look at other countries’ voting policies.”

— Dave Coulie, Albuquerque

“Absolutely and with conviction. U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján should vote ‘aye’ for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, SAVE. The name says it all. What could be more important than voter protection and integrity? It’s time for the Democrats to walk the walk.”

— Pamela Cox, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION

Whom do you hold accountable for the collapse of the special session on public safety? Should lawmakers be asked to refund their $231 daily per diem payment?

Submit your response at: https://www.abqjournal.com/site/forms/online_services/top_of_mind/

Responses must include your name and city of residence to be published.