Pike's polling places — model for insuring every eligible voter’s ability to vote?

To the Editor:
Hats off to Reginald Cheong-Leen for his efforts to bring Pike County into the 21st century by requesting a review of Pike’s voting process to protect each and every voter’s constitutional right to vote. Waiting for hours in long lines to vote “suppresses the vote,” whether it is intentional or not. I find it appalling that The Pike County Courier and the commissioners have put a spin on Reginald Cheong-Leen’s request for a review of our number of voting precincts and compliance with state law as a charge of voter suppression made against the commissioners.
No matter how the commissioners slice it or dice it, the county is deficient in compliance with state law relative to having a sufficient number of polling places countywide. Instead it being solely the responsibility of the citizens of this county to take up these concerns with state Sen. Lisa Baker, as suggested by Commissioner Osterberg, perhaps the concerned commissioners should do so as well.
Can’t recruit poll watchers per Chair Osterberg? Take a look at our neighbor, Orange County, which pays up to $225 per day for Election Day assistance. There’s a novel idea — pay our workers some sort of compensation to do a job rather than expecting their charity.
The pushback against a legitimate concern raised at a commissioners’ meeting by a prominent and gracious contributing member of our community is very concerning to many of us. Because voter turnout is light in the down election years does not justify what happens during the major election years when turnout is heavy. I have been one of the voters who stood in line for hours at Dingman 1, along with my Republican, Democratic and Independent neighbors. We have a big election coming up in 2018 — are we ready?
I personally thank you Reggie for your love and concern for our community, and for all your efforts to make it a better and great community.
Renee Hoover, Milford