Dear Editor,

Are we free to choose? I’m bothered by wording on the ballot in recent primary voting. One is instructed to vote for “one female and one male.” These instructions are biased to perhaps force a vote away from one’s choice. Voting is supposed to be free choice. What if one wanted to vote for two females or two males? Why does a red warning pop up that says “under voted” when one decides not to let the ballot steer their vote? Free choice at the poll is the basis of our representative Republic. There is no room for boldly or subtlety forcing a choice on the voter at the ballot box in a free society.

Race, gender, or religious affiliation should not be directed on the ballot. A person should be elected on the basis they will do the will of the voter. Therein lies government by the people.

Directions to vote by gender are no different than affirmative action, or the Critical Race Theory belief that jobs should be awarded by the color of one’s skin rather than their ability to do the job.

As we choose our representatives, I may believe that two women would be better at the job or two men. To diminish my choice on the ballot by gender belies the Declaration of Independence, “all men are created equal,” and federal laws that forbid bias by race, gender, or religious affiliation. In my past, I’ve voted for women to represent me. I may in the future. It is my free choice. I believe forced choices on the ballot are anti-American.

Daniel Reiff,

Warren