Most of us have been aware for a long time of the crying need for election reform in this country, and just as sure as death and taxes, no sitting politician is going to touch the issue. Al Franken is certainly going to vote for heightened election scrutiny!

Even politicians who were not elected by fraudulent means will not touch it. After all, how can they be sure? Besides, they have their jobs. Politicians have some of the best job security in the country. All politicians know not to rock that boat.

Both major parties are mired in voter fraud. We all remember Chicago's senior Mayor Richard Daley — “vote early, vote often.” Who among us of a certain age does not know about all the dead people from Cook Country who turned out to vote for JFK?

Then, of course, there was Florida 2000 and the infamous hanging chads. That election was not decided by the democratic process but by a black-robed nine-member Star Chamber.

From an ACORN springs an idea

Last November, gun-toting Black Panthers in military-style uniforms threatened voters with racial epithets at a Philadelphia polling place and the infamous ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is under indictment all over the country — New York, Nevada, Florida, Michigan, Colorado, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Washington and Minnesota — for alleged voter fraud. The Department of Justice dismissed the suit against the Panthers. What is going to happen to ACORN? A slap on the wrist here, community service there. Politicians will do nothing. It is incumbent upon us, through the initiative process, to take action ourselves.

At present, no identification is required to register to vote or to actually vote. Nor is proof of citizenship is required. Your age, name and address are not verified. It is more difficult to sneak into Costco or sneak a book out of the library than it is to cast a fraudulent vote.

How to reduce the likelihood of voter fraud

I propose the following as a state initiative:

1. All current registrations are hereby declared null and void. All citizens who wish to vote are directed to re-register at the local Department of Motor Vehicles. (Some question the competence of the DMV, but it is there, it is staffed and there is a second reason that will become obvious in the next paragraph. Otherwise, the library would be my first choice.)

Hard identification is required: a birth certificate (long form), passport or naturalization papers. Those who have lost their birth certificate and who cannot afford the $20 fee can fill out a request for a free copy.

(Lost naturalization papers are a different story. The federal government charges an unconscionable $380 for a copy of those, and there is nothing the state can do about that.)

2. The DMV will then issue a state voter picture ID and/or include citizenship and voter registration status on the driver's license. (Civil libertarians may argue that this would constitute a state ID or database. This would be true, but it is already true if you have a driver's license, birth certificate, Social Security number or passport or are already legitimately registered to vote. Even a library or Vons card puts you into a database.)

3. All voters will be required to present this picture ID when voting or include a photocopy of it with their absentee ballot. Name, address and picture must correspond with voting roster or person will be held for questioning. Penalties for fraud will consist of a $10,000 fine and/or a year in jail, and loss of voting rights for five years.

4. Canadian and Mexican officials will be employed by the California secretary of state to monitor gubernatorial, congressional and presidential elections, in the manner that United States frequently monitors the elections of other countries. California election results will not be certified until the monitors validate the integrity of the electoral process.

Politicians won't act, so it's up to the voters

The core right of our constitutional republic, the democratic process, is corrupt and politicians either benefit from it or are too intimidated to do anything about it. Voter fraud and intimidation undermines this process for everyone and will increasingly keep honest voters at home. With this initiative in place, it, in all likelihood, will expand across the country. A fundamental democratic right will then have been restored.

Peter Osbaldeston is a writer and musician who lives in La Quinta. E-mail him at titusandronicus@verizon.net