Written by Walter Hecht   

There is an initiative drive here in Utah named Count My Vote to replace the present caucus system with primaries, and I support it. As important as the right to vote is, equally or more important is to ensure that each and every vote is counted correctly. The right to vote is under assault in many states under the guise of preventing voter fraud, a non-existent problem. Every citizen's right to vote is important because it empowers people and requires politicians to pay attention to the concerns of people who may not be able to afford large campaign contributions.

As important as the right to vote, the correct tabulation of votes may be more important. Joseph Stalin of the former USSR reportedly said that he didn't care how people voted as long as he controlled the count of those votes. I think that the 2004 election for president was stolen in Ohio, and I was disappointed that John Kerry did not demand a recount. That meant that we were destined to suffer through a George W. Bush second term, perhaps even worse than the first.
I believe that the GOP tried to steal the election again in Ohio in 2012. It is essential to them since they cannot win without it. Reportedly hackers from Anonymous prevented the hijacking of the election in Ohio by GOP operatives. Karl Rove probably knew what was happening, and the failure to secure Ohio by any means was the cause of his 20-minute meltdown on FOX News election night.

So the fight to secure voting rights is important. But we must not stop there. We must also put into place a secure system to ensure that the vote is counted correctly and honestly. Our democracy depends on our confidence in the results of elections.