The Right To Vote

 

The Right To Vote

a cranky opinion for

CRANKY OPINION FRIDAY

The following opinion is that of a Cranky Old Man with absolutely no expertise on the topic opined.  Opposing opinions are welcome, but they are wrong.  As always, no name calling, and that means you, you big stupid-head.

 

I know I will be sorry for voicing this opinion piece, though it is not meant to be a partisan opinion, it will probably be read (or partially read) and interpreted that way.  Oh well, here goes.

The country currently is battling over voting procedures. 

Republicans, Democrats say, want to make voting as difficult as possible because, the argument goes, Democrats are less likely to vote than Republicans, when voting is difficult. 

Restrictive voting is inherently racist.

Democrats, Republicans say, want to make voting as easy as possible because, the argument goes, less restrictive voting makes illegal voting more possible and illegal voting generally goes Democrat.

One way or another, it is assumed that loose voting laws makes for illegal votes and questionable election results; restrictive laws reduce voting in high Democratic areas, and are racist.

Both arguments probable hold some water,  particularly when viewed in the extreme.

A tax to vote is restrictive and clearly undemocratic.  Complicated registration the same.  Limited times or places to vote…ditto.

Unrestricted registration, not clearing voter rolls, no requirement for voter identification…all make illegal voting an issue.

I expect there have been elections, especially local elections that have turned based on illegal votes, but more importantly, illegal voting places doubt on the outcome.  Doubt in an election undermines the process.

Ideally, voting should be a simple, secure process for all legal voters, and only legal voters. 

Personal experience tells me that illegal voting today is very easy.  I don’t think it is a huge problem other than the undermining doubt it can cause, but is does exist. I know this for a fact.

I have three family members who by way of changing addresses are able to vote in multiple states, and have been able to do so for over ten years.  They do not, especially with in person voting it is difficult; but they could, especially when mail-in ballots are easily available, sometimes even sent without a request.

I see these family members names on the polls when I vote in person, and I received their ballots this year when New Jersey sent mail-in ballots to all registered voters.  I tore them up and discarded them.

When ballots are sent to every registered voter, these invalid ballots can easily be used illegally. 

Mail-in ballots are especially susceptible to voter fraud, they should not simply be sent out to every registered voter. 

To protect against voting result doubt, mail-in voting should be selective, require some ID, and monitored.  In-person voting should require some secure identification.   We have cameras, we have computers, this should not be difficult.  Hell, even a third world ink-smudged-thumb is more high tech then most of our systems.

The one voting situation that bothers me the most, is voter congestion.

Every year I read of people waiting up to five and six hours to vote.  Talk about voter restriction! I have never waited more than 10 minutes to vote…EVER!  If I had to wait 5 hours I think I would just stay home.

All of these stories of excessive wait times to vote come from heavily Democratic districts.  Why is that?  It makes no sense.  Establishing multiple places to legally vote so that voting times are reasonable should be easy.  For parties that spend fortunes in money and time to “Get out the vote” why not assure people are able to vote in person without restrictive wait times?

If every voter could walk to his voting location, wait five minutes, show some identification and vote, then mail-in ballots would be needed less, and could be more easily controlled.

Here are my rules for fair voting. 

Register with proof of eligibility and with identification.

Vote in person with proof of identification.

Mail-in ballots need to be requested with proof of identification.

Multiple voting days, longer hours, and adequate voting locations to accommodate in-person voting should be standard.

Voting should not require waiting in long lines. 

Waiting six hours to vote?  Outrageous! Those urban, Democrat controlled districts should be ashamed.

The preceding was the opinion of a Cranky Old Man, and not necessarily that of management...Mrs. Cranky.