Thursday, May 05, 2005

Outlawing Vote Hauling Won't Stop Fraud

Previously convicted of voter fraud in another case, Ross Harris and Loren Glenn Turner join Sen. Johnny Ray Turner under indictment for mail fraud and conspiracy for Sen. Turner's 2000 primary victory.

The Lexington Herald-Leader's solution to this, predictably, is to suggest outlawing vote hauling.

I strongly disagree.

The well-established pattern of skullduggery in Kentucky elections isn't going away because someone makes a law any more than criminalizing adultery would stop that brand of cheating. Just as Clinton changed the definition of terms to justify his lurid behavior, unscrupulous politicians would merely set up "advisory committees" to encourage voter "loyalty."

Just as with gun violence or corporate malfeasance, we don't need more laws.

We just need continued enforcement and greater scrutiny of questionable campaign tactics by society's watchdogs.