When it comes to missing the mark, the latest prize in the new political season goes to Democratic Secretary of State candidate Doug Melby. Melby sounded off on voter education ads developed in cooperation with the N.D. Association of Counties. The ads are part of a process to inform voters about the need to present an ID at the polls. Secretary of State Al Jaeger was part of the team. (See Jaeger's commentary on this page.)
The ads do exactly what they are supposed to: Get voters' attention. Melby contends the use of "LEFT, RIGHT" on billboards, in radio spots and in newspaper advertising is divisive because, he said, it promotes a "false choice."
What nonsense.
Jaeger, the counties, an ad agency and the Help America Vote Education program worked together to develop the ads. They are smart and effective. The ads are not political in the sense Melby apparently believes, unless people of Melby's bent bring their own political biases to them.
Most North Dakotans want to know beforehand about the new ID voting requirement. Helping them do so is not political. It's voter education.
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Forum editorials represent the opinion of Forum management and the newspaper's Editorial Board
