Casting a ballot for stricter voter requirements
In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Donald Trump alleged widespread voter fraud, claiming that he had, in fact, won the race.
He was wrong.
Make no mistake. Fraud occurred, just as it has in every election since the beginning of time. And, quite possibly, given the unprecedented use of mail-in ballots, widespread fraud may have transpired. However, it’s not what you think, but what you can prove - and Mr. Trump failed to prove his case.
There was, however, a silver lining to the former president’s allegations: Light was finally shined on voting irregularities, particularly the ease with which one can game the system.
It’s not surprising, then, that Republican lawmakers in almost every state have introduced bills to bolster voting integrity. Predictably, Democrats stand opposed. In fact, after watching their hopes of a massive “blue wave” get obliterated on election day (especially on the state level), congressional Democrats rushed to plug the dyke by passing legislation that would eliminate election safeguards and open voting to damn near everyone - legal or not.
If we’re being honest, no one who values election integrity should oppose the tightening of requirements to cast a ballot. If one side can’t motivate its base to show up, or can’t win on its ideas, that’s too bad. But we shouldn’t disenfranchise law-abiding citizens - nullifying their vote every time an illegal ballot is cast just to gain a perceived partisan advantage. That’s as un-American as it gets.
Here’s a look at the system we should have in place - and what should be jettisoned. But first, it’s necessary to preempt the armchair critics who will undoubtedly say this author is a lackey for Donald Trump. First, nothing could be further from the truth, as five years of sometimes blistering columns regarding Trump attest. And second, this column has been advocating election reform long before Donald Trump came onto the political scene, so to lump its suggestions with the “electionwas-stolen” camp is blatantly disingenuous.
Preserving the integrity of our voting system has nothing to do with an individual, and everything to do with keeping intact America’s enviable position of administering free and fair elections.
If enacted into law, the Housepassed legislation would do the following:
• Impose new national requirements that would weaken/supplant state Voter ID laws;
• Mandate automatic voter registration;
• Expand early and mail-in voting;
• Make it difficult to update voter rolls;
• Restore voting rights to former felons.
Wrong on all, except the felons. Consider:
1) Many Democrats cry wolf by alleging “voter suppression” on legitimate voting requirements, which does nothing but weaken their credibility. However, in several instances, suppression does occur, and it should be immediately remedied.
Felons who have served their time should have their voting rights restored. If they are rehabilitated enough to be released, then there’s no reason to deny them the right to vote. The possibility that many would vote Democratic is totally irrelevant, as the decision to restore the right to vote should never be based on one’s beliefs or party affiliation.
Even more egregious is the voting disenfranchisement of some Native Americans because they don’t have traditional addresses on reservations. Sorry, but that’s not good enough. We put a man on the moon 50 years ago, so it can’t be that hard to enact a system where identities and addresses can be verified and synched.
Voting should never be politicized. If one side can’t win on its ideas, shame on them. Throw in the towel, or go back to the drawing board, but don’t suppress Americans’ right to choose their leaders because a party can’t sell its issues.
2) Early voting should be abolished. Period. Not only does this practice add considerable expense to local governments, it’s also unnecessary.
What happens when a citizen casts a vote weeks before election day, and subsequently learns something distressing about his candidate? A remedy for “voter’s remorse” doesn’t exist, so, by definition, that person is making an important decision without a complete picture. Many died for our right to vote; the least we could do is respect their sacrifice by granting more thought to our choices.
Practically, there is no need. Some work long hours, or will otherwise be tied up on election day, which is why God made absentee ballots. Use them. And yes, the requirement in many states that a valid excuse is necessary to request an absentee ballot should remain, especially if mail-in voting is phased-out.
To those who complain about waiting in line - tough. Get over yourself and show some backbone for participating in a once-a-year (or for many, once every four years) event that will greatly impact your life. And since we no longer talk human-to-human, preferring phones in which to bury our heads, how is standing in line glued to our devices any different from…normal?
3) No more mail-in voting. Exceptions in 2020 were justifiable because of the pandemic, but mail-in ballots are ripe for fraud. From unguarded ballot boxes to ballot harvesting to political operatives “assisting” the unsuspecting with “how” they should vote, there are far too many opportunities to cheat. Since voting in person has served America extremely well, mail-in ballots are simply not needed. End the practice - and end the threat of significant fraud.
4) There should be no automatic registration or straightticket voting. Good policy should never come down to just a “Democrat” or “Republican” one-second lever pull. (Congrats to Pennsylvania for eliminating the straightticket option). Voting for individuals over party may yet inspire citizens to take a more avid interest in who will represent them. Voting should be easy, but not too easy, as there should be some level of responsibility to participate in our most hallowed right.
5) Opposition to purging the rolls of ineligible voters is beyond comprehension. Since many former residents, as well as large numbers of deceased, are still on the books, common sense dictates that ongoing audits should be enacted. By ensuring up-to-date voter rolls, we would cut down on dead people, and those long moved away, from mysteriously casting ballots - and that’s in everyone’s interest, including those six feet under.
6) Finally, we have the most important measure for enacting fair elections: Voter ID. Given that there is no logical reason that valid identification should not be the paramount criteria in casting a ballot, opposition is always - always - steeped in partisan politics.
In a society where one must show ID to enter office buildings, airplanes, trains or even buy antihistamine at the pharmacy, it is time to give the same level of importance to voting. By definition, allowing people to vote who are not properly registered is disenfranchising those who play by the rules and cast a ballot the right way. To repeat, every illegal vote nullifies one made by a law-abiding citizen.
And is it really so excruciatingly difficult to produce a passport, driver’s license, or employee, government or student photo identification? Getting past the rhetoric, it has yet to be shown how a voter identification requirement negatively affects students and the disabled, and disproportionately impacts the elderly, the working poor, and racial minorities - especially since, in many states, a government-sanctioned ID can be obtained, free of charge.
At one point in our history, Americans were subjected to discriminatory treatment which truly disenfranchised them, such as poll taxes, literacy tests and property ownership requirements. Such practices were rescinded as America evolved, but comparing Voter ID to what our ancestors experienced is a downright insult to those who fought for the right to vote.
The American voting system isn’t perfect, but Voter ID laws will go a long way to restoring the integrity so crucial in the power to choose one’s own destiny.
Who wouldn’t vote for that?