Citizens shouldvote, but only once
By Gihane Askar
WASHINGTON, (UPI) -- A voter fraud billcurrently in conference committee in Congress would guaranteethat every citizen have the right to vote, but only once, in anelection.
Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., said, "Thefinal comprise, I think, does a good job of addressing both ofthe issues of making it easier to vote and tougher to cheat."
Speaking at a CATO Institute forum on Wednesday19 June, Bond said the bill provides $3.5 billion of funding overthe next five years to help states and counties improve and updatetheir voting systems. It also provides minimal requirement forthe voting systems to ensure minimal error rates. It gives votersthe opportunity to correct any errors prior to casting their votes.
Under the bill, funding is provided to helpthe disabled to access the polling places. And a new electioncommission is also being established, Bond said.
Bond said some of the bill's provisionsis redesigned to counter situations where a person need only signa card and send it in to register to vote. That could lead toregistration of the dead, as has happened in St. Louis, Bond said,and also with the multiple problems of drive-in registrations.
"Motor-voter has become auto-fraudo,and that is a significant problem," Bond said.
Bond said he has recommended that votershave a photo ID or a written documentation either at the timethe person registered or the first time to vote. The written documentationcould be a government check, a utility check or a bank statementas long as it shows the name and address of the person.
But Hilary Shelton, director of the Washingtonoffice of the NAACP, said the use of photo ID or documents forvoting could be a form of discrimination for those who do nothave such documentation, or are "colored" Americans.
"You just add an additional cost...thensimply be able to go and exercise your right as an American citizento cast your vote." Shelton said.
Shelton said that although the Senate versionof the bill is "not perfect," it will provide changesby the year 2006. For example, voters will be able to verify theirchoices before the votes are cast. Also by 2004, computerizedvotes will be used.
"We provide assistance to provisionalvote," Bond said. That means that a person can cast a provisionalballot and then the election authority has a 10-day period tocheck that this person is registered and eligible to vote. Thenthe ballot of the provisional vote will be counted.
Bond said that prosecution and full disclosureof those who commit voting fraud is very important. He also saidthat
"There is no substitute in the votingprocess for having strong partisans, strong Democrats watchingstrong Republicans."
Bond said that strong media attention isalso needed to change and improve the election process.
"There are suspicions on both sides(Democrats and Republicans) about what is going on in our decentralizedpolitical process," said John Fund, from the Wall StreetJournal.
Absentee and early voters increase the chancesof voting fraud, Fund said. It increases the cost and difficultiesof election campaigns, which share a common ground with the electionor voting reform, he added.
"Voting is the most important partof our republican form of government," Bond said. "Ibelieve it is essential to restore faith and confidence in oursystem to make sure that everybody who is entitled to vote, getsthe chance to vote, but only once."