Proposal to require a picture ID to vote

Re “Parties Battle Over New Voter ID Laws,” Sept. 12

Why, after more than 200 years of a democratic electoral process that we hold up as a light unto the world, are we starting to get more stringent about how we vote? Why the urgency to change this process? The Republican mantra about requiring picture identification to vote being necessary to prevent voter fraud seems to hold as much water as weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Instead of elections being won or lost, they are being steered toward manipulation.

Perhaps the solution is for every American to vote by write-in. No hanging chad disputes, no voting machines without a paper trail and no stopping people who have the right to vote but not the ID to do so.

KENNY RICH

West Hills

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Supporting a requirement to prove citizenship to vote should not be tied to any political party. Every bona-fide U.S. citizen should vote and have the value of his vote respected and protected. A requirement that proof of citizenship be presented to register to vote will help protect the value of each vote cast.

Voters of several states have enacted such laws. Perhaps voters in California should do the same. It seems like the logical way to protect our voting voice.

RUTH WATSON

West Hills

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The GOP would sound less hypocritical in insisting that it is concerned about voting fraud if it were not fighting attempts to require paper trails for electronic voting machines.

EMIL LAWTON

Sherman Oaks