Ballots to cast: Keeping right to vote sacred should be top priority

There will always be people who think that their desire to campaign for their candidate to win office gives them the right to interfere in the voting process.

Whether it is by corrupting the integrity of the vote itself by encouraging and creating false ballots, or through the spread of false information designed to keep citizens from casting their votes properly, there will always be corruption and those who disrespect the process.

So as early voting begins today, we should all be wary -- and vigilant. If we see misdeeds at the polling booth, or if we hear of someone trying to mislead voters or interfere with their right to cast their ballots, we should speak up.

No one should be allowed to get away with breaking the rules -- no matter how noble their cause or how right they think they are.

Local and state leaders from both parties should be united in their determination that this will be an election that is run fair and square.

Voting is a sacred right -- and one that very few people in the world get to exercise.

Preserving the sanctity of that vote is critical -- as long as we want to continue to have a democracy (a republic, really) that is run by and for the people.

Published in Editorials on October 18, 2012 10:56 AM