Editorial: Preventing Voter Fraud
July 24th, 2012
Everyone can help ensure voter registration is accurate.
Virginia election officials have complained recently about the Voter Participation Center, which has sent registration material to ineligible voters — pets, the deceased and so on. No one need fear extensive fraud, though, so long as everyone acts responsibly.
Given the number of complaints, the Voter Participation Center certainly could do a better job screening its mailing lists.
Nevertheless, it would be a shame if its work ended. The group sent almost 200,000 forms to Virginians last month. According to its president, 15,000 of them resulted in new registrations so far. Those are people who can now help choose the next president.
It falls to election officials to screen voter registration forms. Registrars so eager to find flaws with college students’ applications should have no problem tossing the one for Fluffy.
Finally, Virginians who receive these mailings can help keep the process clean. When a form shows up for a pet or dead loved one, toss it.
Anyone in doubt about his own registration status can check online. Indeed, all Virginians should take a minute to ensure their voter records are up-to-date by visiting www.SBE.virginia.gov now.
If we all do our part, the opportunity for substantial electoral abuse becomes vanishingly small.
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