A Time Saving Idea! Voter ID

by Russell Turner

Recently the governor of Oklahoma vetoed a bill that would have required voters to produce a photo ID when they went to vote. If the governor feels there is no need to produce an ID when voting, maybe he should use his influence and remove the requirement of a photo ID in other parts of our society.

Maybe we should tell banks to no longer require an ID when someone comes into the bank and wants to cash a check or take out a loan. I am sure that most banks would simply take the word of anyone who would come into their bank and ask for cash. Another good starting point would be to allow people who drive a car to simply tell the police officers who they are when they are stopped for a traffic violation. I am sure that the police officers would be glad to accept the word of anyone that they might stop on the roads. Another place to save some time would be in the local airport. Surely no one would ever think of doing anything improper while flying on an airplane.

The above scenarios in my opinion would be absurd. All of us want the protection of our banks checking the ID of someone that might assume our identity and clean out our bank account. We rely upon law enforcement to make our society safe; it is essential for the officers to check IDs while doing their job. Whenever I fly in an airplane, I want the people that provide security to know who is traveling on the same plane as I am. If you go to the local pharmacy you will have to show a photo ID just to buy some cold remedy. The list can go on and on. The point that I want to make is simple; some things are worth a little time and inconvenience.

The integrity of our election system is just as important as the other things I mentioned earlier. All of us should demand that the voters who put politicians into office are who they say they are. After the veto, the House passed Senate Bill 692, which will send the voter ID requirement to a vote of the people. I just hope that the people of Oklahoma will be willing to spend more time than our governor and insure honest elections for future generations.

Russell Turner is Chairman of the County Commissioners of Adair County and writes a weekly column for several area newspapers.

Shovel Ready!

Voter ID Protects Democracy!

Letter to the Editor - printed Tulsa World:

Gloria Caldwell's column on voter ID ("League of Women Voters opposes bill," Feb. 26) claims no less than seven times that Senate Bill 4 mandates use of photo IDs. Actually, voter registration cards would suffice under the bill ­ and every registered voter gets a voter card.

To be precise, "a voter identification card issued by the appropriate county election board" allows an alternative to presentation of a government (or tribal) photo ID. Caldwell says requiring voter ID would cause longer lines at the polls, but the Comanche County election secretary says identification would, "if anything," make the process "quicker." Through democratic choice and the rule of law Americans have steadily expanded the franchise.

Voices as diverse as former President Jimmy Carter and Wall Street Journal writer John Fund, author of "Stealing Elections," agree that honest elections require transparency and a widely shared confidence that those voting are in fact voters, i.e. individuals actually qualified under American law to cast their ballots. It is a cornerstone of representative government to enfranchise qualified voters and then assure that they, not cheaters, decide our political future.

There is too much evidence of fraud nationwide to assume it never will visit Oklahoma. Let's be prepared rather than perplexed. This debate is all about responsibility. The alternative to measured reforms is the theft of democracy.

Patrick B. McGuigan, Oklahoma City

Tulsa Editor's Note: McGuigan is research fellow at the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs

Gpve note: McGuigan is Managing Editor and Sports Editor for The City Sentinel in OKC.

This bill is on the Governor's desk! IF you WANT voter ID to become law......call Gov. Henry and ask him TO SIGN this bill.
Call now! (405) 521-2342.