It seems Tennessee's legislators can't get enough free food. Now they want to extend that privilege to poll workers by allowing candidates to provide snacks on election day.
Now don't get me wrong -- poll workers don't get enough support in their job. But the polls are intended to serve the public, not candidates and just as it is wrong for legislators to take a free lunch from special interests, it's wrong for poll workers to take free meals from those who have a vested interest in how the polls are operated. It's disappointing that legislators have a blind spot when it comes to potential conflicts of interest.
The bill, being sponsored by Sen. Joe Haynes of Goodlettsville and Rep. Gary Moore of Joelton is wrong-headed. If they really want to help poll workers, put an item in the state's budget that provides for their needs.
Allowing candidates to provide snacks is crass and sends the wrong message to poll workers and the public.
-- Jim Grinstead
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