Martin Luther King III, center, and his family are joined by members of Congress Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, center 2nd right, and Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, center right, organizers and DC residents on MLK Day to cross the Frederick Douglas Memorial Bridge on Monday to call on the Senate to pass voting rights legislation in Washington, D.C. Credit: Paul Morigi / AP

Letters submitted by BDN readers are verified by BDN Opinion Page staff. Send your letters to letters@bangordailynews.com

Sen. Susan Collins is well known for never missing a vote. Often, it seems to me, she follows the party line rather than consider how her vote might affect folks in Maine and all across the nation. I should hope, however, that she would forget party loyalty and vote in favor of voting rights legislation.

We are a democracy in name only if current voting rights are restricted or if vote counting is carried out by only one party. We need independent election officials and monitors for all voting activities. The ability to cast a ballot and to have that vote properly counted is key to maintaining a democracy for it is the only voice we have with which to choose leaders who can write and approve legislation that represents all Americans.

People should contact Collins and urge her to help pass voting legislation that will ensure keeping voting rights available and properly counted for all who legally cast a ballot.

Barbara Inman

South Portland