The Right Stuff: American voter confidence in need of restoration

By Earl Heal: published December 12., 2022 Daily Republic

As Americans impatiently have waited three weeks and more for the final report of election outcomes, it is time for citizens to contemplate why their confidence level in the election process has deteriorated.

The confidence level (very or somewhat confident) has varied for 20 years between 75% and 59%. Why? Is lack of confidence due to changes in election laws perceived as reducing election integrity? To protect voting integrity, the Constitution limits only state legislatures or Congress to control election procedures. Despite such laws, several state governors or other officials altered procedures approaching the 2020 elections, and none have been disciplined.

The Supreme Court of the United State is currently hearing a lawsuit (Moore v. Harper) related to the ultimate authority of state legislatures to control election procedures. Lack of law enforcement obviously affects citizen confidence. Lack of common-sense voter identification requirements is the most visible obscenity to detract from election security. Most, if not all, democratic nations, excepting the United States, require positive ID. The National Council of State Legislatures reports the current status of each state. Eight require photo ID, four require written ID, 10 request written ID and do not require photo ID, 13 request written ID but do not enforce it, and 15, including California, of course, plus the District of Columbia, require no documentation.[...read more]