To the Editor:

After reading the letter to the editor in last week’s Enterprise by Mary Ellen Nagengast, and the response by Commissioner Rachel Bledi, I have to say that there is one point that the commissioner made that I do agree with.

In the editor’s note at the foot of the letter, speaking about validating a voter's ballot, Bledi said, “The test is of the voter’s intention.”  Bledi's confirmation of this is a good starting point in a level playing field.  It's sad, however, that the recitation of this altruistic statement is actually applied so selectively. 

In regards to Mrs. Nagengast’s concern with the Albany County Board of Elections’ inability to send out the absentee ballot applications, as indicated on the registration form, are we seriously expected to believe that it was a postal service issue that was the cause of the two first-time voter registries to not receive them?  Two separate applications going to two different addresses — now that is a coincidence.

When I delivered my niece’s absentee ballot application, Commissioner Bledi went out of her way to set this first-time voter up for failure by handwriting an accusation on the application itself, and then did not contest the issuance of her ballot.

What do you think my niece’s intention was?  She was, of course, excited about casting the first vote of her life for her Uncle Nick.  Rather than honor the clear will of the voter, Travis Stevens chose to file a frivolous lawsuit, demanding that my niece return from college, 200 miles away, to swear that she signed her ballot.

He refused to accept an affidavit, so that his lawyer could cross-examine this first-time, 20-year-old voter.  What does the attempt to pursue the interrogation of a 20-year-old girl remind you of?  Using these tactics, Travis won the Independence Party primary, (I told my niece to go to class, not court.)

Good news!  This past Monday, my niece was in town on break from college and we took a ride down to the board of elections.  She validated her previous attempt, verified her intention to vote, and, once again, voted for the first time.

What an embarrassing example this is of our primary right as citizens of the United States, when we must escort our children to an agency that we pay for from our tax dollars that is meant to preserve our right and intention to vote, to find that certain people will do anything they can to discourage that purpose.

What a shameful example of democracy it is when our children actually fear the opportunity to vote.  No wonder voter turnout is so low.  No wonder our younger generation is so reluctant to get involved. 

So whether it’s a lost application (or two) in the mail, a suspicious comment, or bullying to gain a vote, one fact is clear, as Mrs. Nagengast’s letter states, three first-time voters lost their privilege and right to vote.

In my opinion, character is the most important quality we should be looking for in our elected officials.  What does this event have to say about the character of the candidates in this race? 

The voters will have an opportunity to answer that question on Nov. 3 and I hope you remember on Election Day that every vote counts.

Nicholas J. Viscio, candidate

For Albany County Legislature

District 31

Knox