In a phone call earlier this year, Mark Wlaschin, deputy Secretary of State (SOS) for elections in Nevada said, “Hope is not a course of action. We are taking action.” He was referring to the measures the Secretary of State is taking to prevent election fraud and restore confidence in Nevada’s process. Wlaschin spoke about the ways the SOS office is working to secure the voting process and the extensive process each ballot goes through to ensure its efficacy. For example, only votes tied to a registered voter are counted and, despite concerns otherwise, it’s relatively easy to confirm and check duplicate votes. Ballots are automatically cancelled and updated when new registrations are completed, and the state’s election management system keeps an exact list of who turns those in.

In short, the system in Nevada is specifically designed to find, in real time, voter fraud and refer those instances to law enforcement. And, the state is aggressively pursuing those that commit election fraud. According to Wlaschin, the Secretary of State’s office recognizes the vital importance of election confidence and works to retain that confidence on multiple fronts. However, the reality is, there’s only so much the election office can do in this regard. At the end of the day, a democracy requires active and engaged voting citizens and it’s up to us to come alongside the SOS to ensure accurate elections.

A group called “Repair the Vote” is in the process of gathering signatures to get two ballot initiatives in front of November voters. The first petition seeks to add an ID requirement to vote. It’s a simple solution that has been proposed multiple times as a way to restore election confidence. Opponents of the measures would argue that voter ID laws are discriminatory, it adds an unnecessary burden to voting and that there is not a real reason for them. Not a single argument I’ve seen against these laws holds any actual merit when analyzed.

An ID is the base-level of what we need to function in the United States. One is required to cash a check, get married, drive, pick up prescriptions, obtain a variety of licenses, air travel and hotel or car rentals, among many other examples. These are basic, everyday tasks, that citizens from all backgrounds do; to imply a marginalized voice isn’t capable of these things is insulting to that voice. I would also argue that the very questioning of whether or not we need voter ID is probably the biggest reason we do. If it restores peace of mind in our elections, I would say it is an essential addition to the process.

The second petition the “Repair the Vote” initiative is trying to get on the ballot is a repeal to portions of AB321, which was passed last year and makes widespread mail balloting permanent. The portion this group is seeking to remove is specifically the “opt out” clause which requires clerks to send mail ballots to all active registered voters unless they opt out and allowing other people to turn in a ballot on behalf of a voter if the voter allows. As of the end of May, “Repair the Vote” needed approximately 25,000 more signatures to meet its June 29th goal of 140,777 signatures.

CALL TO ACTION: Research “Repair the Vote” and what they’re trying to do and sign the petition so we can vote on these common sense methods to restore election confidence. More importantly, be engaged in the election process. There are good people at the state level working to secure our elections, we need to be a part of the solution and not allow bad actors to prevent necessary change.

By Whose Authority?

For more information on my Commentary and to see some of my backup research, or if you wonder why I take the position I take, go to www.LyleBrennan.com.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”