State House Report: May 7, 2009

“Vote Early and Vote Often.”

That’s a joke in political circles, but one that poses some serious risks when it enters the real world. You’ve read many outrageous claims from Democrats over the last several weeks over the Republicans’ “Early Voting” bill and what our intentions really are. Most are simply Democratic scare tactics, trying to divert your attention from the facts that “Vote Early, Vote Often” are the exact tactics of Democratic groups like ACORN and unions. (On a side note, ACORN workers in two separate states were indicted this week on voter fraud charges and the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention adopted a resolution in support of the bill to do away with the secret ballot for unionization.)

So what are our intentions? To ensure every voter is registered, every voter votes, and every vote is counted – every legal vote cast by a person who is who he says he is. Plain and simple.

The first misconception being spread by the Democrats is that we have early voting in South Carolina. We don’t. There is no early voting provision in our state. In fact, showing up at your election office and casting a ballot if you do not have one of several valid excuses is not legal. What has happened is local election offices are allowing more and more in-person absentee voting. That’s fine, and perfectly legal, if you meet the certain qualifications to cast an absentee ballot (you are sick, out-of-town, or working on Election Day are three of the reasons).

Republicans want an early voting window, and legislation the House Judiciary approved makes early voting legal.

The second misconception is that there is nothing wrong with the current system. There is one major problem, and like the explanations for absentee voting, there is no real way to catch it until it is too late. With in-person absentee voting allowed until the afternoon before the election, it is extremely difficult for voter registration officials to update all the records so they can ensure people are not casting more than one ballot.

And again, as with the first problem, there is no way to catch people until the election is over and certified. Given how close our elections have been over the past decade, even a handful of fraudulent votes could tip the scales.

We are also concerned about counting those in-person absentee votes. With no paper trail on electronic balloting, how do we ensure all of those early votes are being counted? What happens if people who stood in line at their election office for hours and the machines go down after a few days? Will days’ worth of votes be erased?

So, are we “stacking the deck” against voters? No. We’re stacking the deck against people who want to cast fraudulent votes.

I want 100 percent turnout in elections. It’s healthy for our political system. But I want to ensure – with every legal and ethical means possible – that everyone’s vote is cast, counted, and not diluted by individuals or groups that think the proper model for elections is Chicago in the 1960s. Democrats are telling the public that Republicans are worried about the record turnout last fall. That record turnout of South Carolina voters elected a solid Republican majority in the House and Senate, and returned all of our incumbent Republican Congressmen. That record turnout will keep the House, Senate, and Governor’s Mansion in Republican hands next year – if Republican votes are not fraudulently diluted.

That’s the reason we’re even tackling this issue now, and the reason the House Republicans approved a law earlier this session requiring voters to present a government-issued photo ID. If you are registered to vote, going to vote, and casting a vote, we want to ensure it is done properly so every vote really does count.

We’re working hard to ensure your vote is counted. Democrats are doing what they do best: Throw bombs and play class warfare.

As always, thank you for the privilege of serving you in Columbia. If I can ever be of assistance to you, or if you have ideas on issues you want me to share with the rest of the General Assembly, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 963-0337 or in Columbia at 803 734-3045.