Voter ID Problem Causes Alarm

* It seems that Nativo Lopez of Hermandad Mexicana Nacional “doth protest too much” to the inquiry into the possible illegal activities of “his” taxpayer-funded organization.

In fact, we have every right to know if our elections are being systematically subverted by any group, organization or individual, regardless of the smoke screen charges of racism or intimidation so freely thrown around.

At a time when banks are beginning to require fingerprints in addition to photo identification in order to cash a check, when we must provide birth certificates and Social Security cards to obtain a driver’s license and when birth certificates are required to prove age in order to sign our children up for AYSO soccer, it is obvious that our “honor system” method of voter registration is sadly antiquated.

We need to call for a change in our voting laws which reflect the changed times. Since it is evident that there are those who lack honor and would subvert our elections, whether for payment of $1 per registered name or as an illegitimate means of gaining political power, we can no longer allow people to register and vote on the honor system.

It should be required that people provide a birth certificate or naturalization papers which prove citizenship when they register to vote. Furthermore, when people present themselves to vote, they should be required to show photo identification, just as they do when they cash a check. The “motor voter” law should be repealed because it invites voter fraud. Absentee ballots should be allowed rarely, only in times of illness or absence from the state.

The act of casting a ballot is an act of faith in, and a link to, the future of our country. It is, by far, more sacred than cashing a check. The outcome of an election sets the course of our nation by deciding who has the power to implement laws and policy.

A fraudulent, stolen election steals the future, changes the future contrary to the will of its citizens and, ultimately, changes the course of the nation and its history. Such election fraud is a criminal act against the citizens of this nation, and it must not be allowed to continue.

LAURELLA A. CROSS

Irvine

* The delicious irony of former Rep. Robert K. Dornan’s nonsense is that, while all this searching may indeed turn up a relatively small number of people who voted “illegally”--translate that to mean before they were fully eligible to do so--they were excited enough about the prospect of voting that they took themselves to their polling place and cast a ballot, while such an enormous number of “qualified” voters--translate that to mean those born in the United States--didn’t even bother to send in an absentee ballot, much less go to the polls.

A wake-up call? Probably not.

NORA LEHMAN

Newport Beach

* Re “Latino Leaders Urge Halt to State Probe of Voter Rolls,” March 28:

As a candidate for Santa Ana City Council in the November 1996 elections, I was stunned by the number of individuals on current voter lists that the Orange County registrar of voters had not purged from its voter file. On numerous occasions, my volunteers and I came across residences and phone numbers of individuals who had either passed away or moved away years ago. Voter fraud is a real concern and threatens to undermine the heart of our democracy--the voting process.

The California secretary of state does have an obligation to preserve the integrity of our voting process. However, efforts to identify and remove ineligible voters should be comprehensive, statewide and respectful of privacy rights. Moreover, the issue of voter fraud extends beyond ineligible immigrants in Orange County and includes thousands of individuals statewide who have duplicate registrations or fictitious registrations or who moved from a particular address, passed away or lost their voting rights (i.e., felons).

JOSE SOLORIO

Santa Ana

* It is my understanding Secretary of State Bill Jones intends to confirm that each registered voter in the county of Orange is a U.S. citizen.

In light of Robert Dornan’s recent failure to be reelected, I can only assume this expenditure of public funds to confirm each and every voter’s citizenship is to cover up citizen Dornan’s desire to confirm at least 1,000 voters, with Hispanic sounding last names, were not legally registered to vote, and did vote, in the November 1996 election.

How does Jones intend to verify the citizenship of each registered voter in this county? When I registered to vote, I was not required to present proof of citizenship. When the end of this purge, pogrom or investigation is announced in the media, I will be sending Jones a formal request to obtain copies of each document recorded and referenced by his office when he made the determination regarding whether I am a legally registered voter in Orange County. In this case, “document” will mean all writings and any and all computer-stored information. I encourage all registered voters in this county to do the same. Let’s make the secretary reveal the full course of his investigation, including all privacy-invading techniques he will have to use. While I’m sure the secretary would only explore documents already a matter of public record, those records will include information on each voter which is irrelevant to the investigation.

CATHY LYNNE FREEMAN

Fullerton