Our
view
Prop.
52 needs slight change
With Election Day rapidly approaching, the
debates about the different propositions
are heating up with proponents and opponents,
each getting their last desperate shots
in to win as many votes as possible for
their cause.
Proposition 52 is one of the propositions
that many people expect will pass quite
easily. However, like everything else, this
proposition also has its opponents.
The measure would allow citizens to register
to vote as late as Election Day with valid
identification. The proposition would also
increase criminal election fraud fines and
make it a felony, punishable by state prison
time, to conspire to commit election fraud.
Proposition 52, which was introduced by
lobbyist Vigo G. Nielsen and Lance Olson,
a Republican and a Democrat respectively,
aims to increase voter participation without
costing an excessive amount of money.
The main fear concerning the measure is
that it will compromise the fairness of
voting in California by making it too easy
for non-citizens and felons to vote because
the law’s identification requirements are
not strict enough.
Another argument against the measure is
that it would leave no time to investigate
suspicious registrations because ballots
from previously registered individuals would
be mixed in with those ballots from people
who registered on the Election Day, making
it virtually impossible for law enforcement
to prove any voter fraud occurred.
Although opponents of Proposition 52 have
a valid reason to argue against the passage
of the measure, proponents also have a strong
argument in support of it.
The measure will change current law that
requires no form of identification to a
law that at least requires some form of
identification. And, as demonstrated in
states that already have same day voter
registration, voter turnout will be greatly
increased.
Any measure that increases the amount of
people who vote is important to the advancement
of the voting process. However, opponents
do raise a point in their fear of voter
fraud. Perhaps if stronger measures were
taken to prevent or make voter fraud more
difficult, while still allowing at least
close to Election Day registration, the
proposition would not be so bitterly debated.
Proposition 52 is based upon the positive
idea and cause of increasing voter participation,
but as it is, it does not provide the proper
and necessary safeguards against voter fraud.
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