Let town clerks take the photos

Re 'Voter ID law would strengthen elections' (Monitor Forum, Jan.13):

The front-page news that James O'Keefe's Project Veritas was successful in obtaining ballots fraudulently at several New Hampshire polling places has renewed the cry for requiring photo identification at all elections. Kevin D. Fox has proposed a way of doing so that he claims would not disenfranchise voters and not create too much work for the state.

He would have the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles issue free photo identification cards that would be used only for voting when a person does not already have some other acceptable form of identification.

There is a disfranchising aspect to Fox's proposal inasmuch as DMV offices would be the only locations to issue the cards. I would make the availability more widespread by having all town clerks' offices equipped to take the photos. It would be a funded mandate wherein the state purchased and installed the equipment.

If a resident went to the town clerk's office to apply to vote, a photo could be taken if he or she did not already possess appropriate identification. After the supervisors of the checklist approved the application and the person was placed on the voters checklist, the photo I.D. would be mailed to the new voter.

While DMV offices are open on Saturday and town clerks are not, our town hall does stay open until 7 one night a week.

BOB LONGABAUGH

Alton Bay