Does voter fraud happen with regularity? Does it happen at all? Are the stories on the internet about vote switching to be trusted? What about the anecdotes regarding districts voting 100 percent for one candidate or another?
I was once skeptical about claims of voter fraud. There are long-standing jokes about voting "early and often" or the graveyard vote. To me, voter fraud seemed more likely an urban legend.
That changed the year it happened to me. A dozen or so years ago, during the General Election, I went to my regular polling location. The location where I had just months before cast my primary ballot. When I arrived, precinct staff told me that I was not registered to vote at that location. There was nothing the local precinct could do to help me. My name was not on their roll and I could not vote that day. From home, I called the local election office and was told, I was no longer registered there as I had changed my voter registration to Baltimore City. Of course, this was untrue, but I was told, my only recourse was to go vote at my Baltimore City precinct. I spent hours unsuccessfully trying to reach the Baltimore City election office to discern just where "I" had registered.
That day, I became a believer. There was absolutely no reason this was an innocent error. I had not moved. I did not buy property in Baltimore City. My address changed in no other documentation in my portfolio. That election, my vote, my perfect election attendance, my right as a citizen was taken from me and used instead by an imposter in Baltimore City. An imposter that very likely did not cast a ballot the way that I would have done.
Now, it is 2016. I am listening to the radio and I cannot believe my ears. Voter registration is being conducted at early voting and all it takes is a utility bill or a bank statement to show your address. When I get home, I look online at the Carroll County Board of Elections website. I am still having a hard time believing this. "You can also register to vote during early voting. To make the voting process quicker for you, we encourage you to register to vote by the close of voter registration. If you can't register by October 18th, go to an early voting center in the county where you live and bring a document that proves where you live. This document can be your MVA issued license, ID card, or change of address card, or your paycheck, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document with your name and new address."
How can this be? A utility bill or bank statement do nothing to authenticate the validity of a person asking to register to vote. Federal law requires that you are a United States citizen, at least 18 years of age and have not been convicted of certain felonies nor mentally incapacitated. None of these things are proven by a utility bill or bank statement. The threshold to sign up to take the PSAT is more stringent.
Before I get labeled paranoid, I need to add this disclaimer. I do not think there is a big line of folks sneaking around snitching BGE bills out of their neighbor's mailboxes so they can go register to vote. It does, however, cause me to question the system. How do we ensure the count is secure? There are calls for Republicans to wear red on Election Day to make a visual statement about the election, but that is not enough.
If you have a candidate you support, volunteer to be a poll watcher on their behalf. Contact your candidate or the State Board of Elections for information about getting involved in this process. Additionally, make sure you get out to vote. Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. What I would like to see is a large voter turn out! When more people vote overall, it minimizes the impact of small scale voter fraud.
On Election Day, I will be in front of a polling location, asking folks to support the Republican ticket. Trump, Szeliga and Cox/Harris! I will be the one wearing a red sweater with my "Sivingy for School Board" T-shirt. Hope to see you there!
Karen Leatherwood writes from Eldersburg. Reach her at leatherwoodkarenm@gmail.com.
