I would hope that the people of this country would like for us to have fair elections where those eligible to vote are the ones who go to the polls and cast ballots. That might be a dream since the majority of the people in this country could care less who represents us from city hall to the White House.
God only knows how much (tax) money we've spent trying to determine whether or not the Russians influenced our last presidential election. I guess we did that to make sure our elections were above board. I've yet to read anything that says the Russians did anything to change how people voted at the ballot box. Most of what I've read and heard are concerns over the Russians infiltrating websites with ads and propaganda. My bet is we do that when other countries have elections.
This time it was the Democrats crying foul since their candidate lost. It will be the Republicans crying foul if they lose.
I normally complain about low voter turnout, it's that beating-the-dead-horse column I normally write after elections. We get excited if 30 percent of the people vote; that's pathetic.
My hero is the town of Union Town in Perry County, Ala. In 2012 Union Town had a 125 percent voter turnout for municipal elections. Union Town actually had more registered voters (2,587 people) than total number of residents (1,775 people) who were counted in the 2010 census and you have to remember that the census counts those under the age of 18 who are not eligible to vote.
Obviously everybody from dead Uncle Joe to dead Aunt Debbie went to the polls that day. They take their politics serious in Union Town. On June 5, Escambia County had a 20.59 percent voter turnout while 26.59 percent voted statewide.
I'll give Union Town credit for being the most patriotic town in the state of Alabama for taking their elections seriously – very seriously.
This past week the U.S. Supreme Court ruled with the state of Ohio that it had the right to purge its voter rolls of those people who have not voted in past six years or three federal election cycles. Those of the left cried foul, those on the right rejoiced. It was a 5-4 decision by the high court with the five justices appointed by Republican presidents voting yes and the four justices appointed by Democratic justices voting no.
If you read the fine print of the Ohio case, it simply said that if you hadn't voted in six years, you're name went on the 'inactive' voter roll.
We have something similar here in Alabama – if you don't vote in the past two presidential elections (which equates to eight years) your name goes on the inactive list. But even if you are on the inactive list, when you go to the polls you have the option of updating your voter registration or voting a provisional ballot.
There are cries (and lawsuits filed) every year about Alabama requesting a voter to present a photograph ID at the polls. Those on the left say it supresses minorities and poor people. I've yet to see how it does. Don't we want to know when someone claiming to be Joe Thomas heads to the polls to vote to actually be Joe Thomas? I went to the polls on June 5 and Wanda Vanlandingham asked for my ID; I moved down and Kay Wagner asked for my ID. I've known both of these women for about 30 years, but I still had to pull out my driver's license or they wouldn't give me a ballot. I'm fine with that. Barney Fife asked his mother for an ID at a roadblock because Andy told him to check everybody.
Why is it intimidating to show an ID when you have to show an ID to cash a check or do most any other business? I heard some people don't have a photo ID for whatever reason. They can go to the board of registrars and get one for free.
Several years ago the state sent around a mobile bus and offered to give anyone and everyone a free photo ID.
I may be stupid but I don't understand why someone would be afraid to show an identification card at the polling place.
We, as citizens, deserve to know that eligible people are casting ballots in our elections. You don't have to look to Russia for voter fraud.
