Brewer says history-making candidates stoke 2008 election

Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer is urging residents to be prepared before going to polls to ensure the election's integrity due to an expected large voter turnout for the presidential race.

Even if a person's name does not appear on voter rolls or if their identification does not match a registered address voters should always cast a provisional ballot, Brewer reminds the state's residents.

"Voting is a very important privilege we're afforded and we've seen in Arizona just one vote can make a difference in an election outcome," she said.

She was referring to the 1992 tie vote between Republicans Richard Kyle and John Gaylord for the Arizona District 6 House race.

Yet in spite of enthusiasm for favorite son presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and the history-making candidacies of Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., numerous voters without valid ID could be disenfranchised, Brewer cautioned.

Proposition 200, passed by Arizona voters in 2004 requires all voters to present proof of citizenship before casting a ballot. Acceptable IDs include an Arizona driver's license, an automobile registration card with current address, or two utility bills with current address.

"Even though challenges to Prop. 200 continue it has been upheld by the U.S. Department of Justice," Brewer said. "It's real important to note if you vote by provisional ballot you must return to the county recorder's office within five days with proof of your registered address," she noted.

Meanwhile, Arizona is the only state in the U.S. where voters can now register online if they have a valid driver's license, she noted.

"We've led the country as a model for other states to follow suit," Brewer said. "We're connected with MVD data bases and it's pre-cleared with the Department of Justice."

In addition, the state's military personnel or overseas residents may vote by facsimile if they are validly registered to vote. The county recorder's office can fax a ballot to a voter that when completed may be returned by fax, Brewer said.

She is also working for a new bill to allow military personnel to vote online. This will also be a first in the nation and it will be a highly secure system that is pre-cleared with the Department of Justice. It is expected to be ready for the fall election, she said.

Another measure to assure the integrity of the vote since 2005 is one-half of 1 percent of ballots cast must be counted by hand. This check validates the tally determined by machines, Brewer said.

"I was adamant when HAVA (Helping America Vote Act) passed that we wouldn't use any voting machines that didn't provide paper trails," Brewer said. "People should be satisfied that Arizona's DREs (digital recording machines) have had no problems."

Some critics of DREs complain they can be easily hacked but all the state's voting machines include tabs that act as tamper proof seals, she noted. Also, certified election officers supervise the tally of votes at each county's tabulation center.

Arizona residents may even now witness the vote count with video streaming of election officers tallying the vote since legislation passed last year to provide this security measure.

Brewer recommends that voters study their sample ballots and fill it out before going to the polls. Arizona is an initiative state and in 2006 there were 19 propositions on the ballot. Voters can expect at least a dozen this year. The initiatives can be complex and the process to overturn them can be arduous.

A vote can be cast by going to the polls, mailing in a ballot or dropping it off at any polling precinct on the day of the election, Brewer said. For anybody with voting questions they can check the Web site: www.az.sos.gov and click on the elections link.

"If voters are emphatic about a particular race they need to contact their independent friends," Brewer said. "Independents are an unorganized party. They don't have group meetings but they are our neighbors. We go to church with them, we play golf with them and they need our views."

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William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.