Editor, Watch out, Bryan County, in case the Sunday-voting issue rears its head in your neck of the woods, just as it has in Liberty County. This is something I think everyone in our region needs to be aware of, because it involves something greater than just run-of-the-mill politics.
Perhaps some of the Liberty County commissioners need to pause and reflect some before they cast any future votes. I’m referring, of course, to their recent votes to open the polls on Sunday.
I’ve compiled a bit of information for reference.
Not too many years ago, the election process was limited to the first Tuesday in November. Lines usually were long, and folks often had to stand in line for hours to exercise their right that untold billions worldwide still are denied to this day.
 As voting populations grew and more folks went to the polls, it became cumbersome and change was needed. Those changes included mail-in ballots, absentee ballots and, more recently, early voting, which expanded our citizens’ ability to choose their government.
Here is some data our commissioners should have considered before voting to open the polls on Sunday:
• Liberty County’s population is 64,135, give or take.  
• Of those, about 38,482 residents are voting age.  
• Only 70 percent of voting-age residents —  26,780, give or take — are registered to vote.
• In the last non-presidential election year (2010), only 10,312 (39 percent of those registered) residents voted, and some predict about the same percentage for this election.
The polls are open for early voting for 15 days, plus Saturday, Oct. 25, and Election Day itself, giving citizens 17 days to vote in person. Was it really necessary to open the polls Sunday, Oct. 26?
Oh yeah, and there’s that other thing — one of those basic laws that was the foundation of our Republic: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
  What say you, pastors, ministers, deacons and congregants?

— Bruce A. McCartney
Trade Hill community