(Stephen Allott) – On Tuesday last, the Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections Committee held a hearing on AB108, a proposal that would allow individuals to register to vote and actually vote on election day.
From the accounting of the meeting I received from attendee Jim DeGraffenreid, the result of the meeting was not encouraging. In fact, it was most disturbing.
It is my understanding that an amendment was offered by the Brennan Center for Justice and the New York University School of Law, to allow for electronic voter registration until the day before the election, as well as the implementation of a statewide online voter registration system.
The usual suspects were involved promoting the bill and its amendment – the ACLU and the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada.
There appeared to be a sympathetic ear from acting Chairperson, Committee Vice Chair Lucy Flores and the Democratic members. The time allowed for the proponents of the bill and its amendment was grossly disproportionate to those opposing the bill.
Petitions were presented showing overwhelming opposition to the bill as well as lopsided opposition recorded on the state legislative website.
Notwithstanding, proponents refused to accept that potential voter fraud was an issue. Assemblyman Conklin asserted that it was irrelevant if voters were informed or not. Indeed, it was his opinion that the voters could vote for a candidate solely on the candidate handing the voter “an oven mitt.” A poor choice of words, indeed. A baseball mitt might be more appropriate under the circumstances. Since we already have the Dallas Cowboys football team registered to vote in Nevada, maybe we can now have the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team as well. I am not alone in the view that our votes were compromised in the 2008 presidential election, due in part, to alleged voter fraud by ACORN. (Still unresolved, incidentally.)
Since the Democrats on the committee seem to have little interest in the integrity of the voting system, there is no reason to suppose that this bill will not pass in the Assembly when it emerges from committee. The fate of the bill in the Senate is uncertain. Should it pass in the Senate, it will be incumbent on all citizens who legitimately care about the electoral process to urge Governor Sandoval to veto this offensive and unwarranted bill.
Many have given their lives and limbs that we may have the right to vote. It is a sacred trust. We all have a duty and responsibility to be engaged and vigilant in the process – which should not be subverted due to misguided legislation. For AB108 to become law would be a mockery of the system, as well as a travesty.
(Mr. Allott is owner of SMA Software Services, Inc. and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.)
