From the editorial: "Anyone thinking of sitting this one out can remember that the right to cast ballots was paid for with blood shed on battlefields and has been protected with vigilance and ferocity for generations. Remember that voting shouldn't be seen as a chore but as a privilege and a responsibility."
From the column: "Beyond the lack of clear, practical benefit, mandatory voting sits uneasily with American principles. The First Amendment protects not only freedom of speech but also freedom from compelled speech."
From the editorial: "All that involvement and public service has given him connections, relationships, and inside knowledge in St. Paul, all of which can help him be effective as a legislator, too."