All voters of any political persuasion should be outraged at the last-minute interference of a political party operative to close satellite absentee voting locations in Aiken County.

At the same time that we are spending precious blood and treasure to force democracy on a country halfway around the world, South Carolina Republicans are trying to suppress it right here at home.

For anyone who didn't catch the story, a Greenville attorney who is the state Republican Party's parliamentarian, Todd Kincannon, filed a last-minute complaint to shut down the three long-planned and long-announced satellite locations in Aiken, North Augusta and Wagener, which were scheduled for absentee voting from Monday, Oct. 13, through Tuesday, Nov. 3. All three of these locations had been previously cleared and declared legal by both the state election commission and the U.S. Department of Justice.

There are strong indications that a local state senator was involved in the action to close the polls. With the expected record voter turnout this election, these offices were set up to make voting easy and convenient for senior citizens and others who are eligible to vote absentee before Nov. 4. Because of the interference of this out-of-town lawyer, the only location open for absentee voting is now at a small building with limited parking that is not set up for this kind of operation.

This action guarantees huge lines and voter inconvenience both for absentee ballot casters and voters on election day. This action will also suppress voter turnout, which is the goal of the South Carolina Republican Party, because a low voter turnout will benefit their candidates.

It's gratifying to see them running so scared -- even here in one of the supposed reddest counties in one of the supposed reddest states -- but this blatant attempt to deprive citizens of their opportunity to vote should be offensive to anyone who truly loves this country and what we stand for.