Picture IDs should be required to vote

Our greatest constitutional right is not the right to a free and independent press; it is not the right of freedom of religion; it is not even right to own firearms. Our greatest constitutional right is the right to vote. To that end, the right to vote should be cherished and protected.

At this time, our ability to vote rest with the judgment of election judges deciding if a voter's signature matches a signature from 10 to 15 years ago. What will the judge decide if a man with Parkinson's requests to vote? What will the judge decide about a women, whose hands have been ravaged by arthritis or the person who has recently experienced a stroke? None of these people's signature will match!

I believe a picture ID should be required to vote. The Democratic party has opposed this for decades. They use the red herring that this is a modern day "poll tax or literacy test." It is neither. They complain that this would discriminate against the poor and minorities, because they cannot afford an ID. It would not. You are required to present a picture ID: 1) To write a check at a grocery store or retail store; 2) To apply for a bank account; 3) To apply for a home loan; 4) To rent an apartment; 5) To apply for Social Security benefits; 6) To apply for welfare benefits, etc.

I recently had my dog groomed and to write a check at PETCO. I was required to show a picture ID. I am personally happy when a retailer ask me to show an ID This is done for my own financial protection. Why do my finances require greater protection then my right to vote? I find this mind boggling and ridiculous.

The Democratic Party of Cook County has been known to not only raise the dead but get them to register to vote and then vote. This has been the butt of many jokes but this is no joke. Whenever the dead vote, my vote is disenfranchised. My vote is important to me and I hope important to the rest of the citizens of the United States.

Our right to vote is the most important right we have granted ourselves. We need to protect it! We need to preserve it! We need to make sure those voting are legally able to make that vote!

I do not like my vote disenfranchised and I hope the rest of you do not like it either. I am asking the politicians to protect our right to vote. I am asking for the rhetoric to end. One person, one vote should be important to each and every one of us. The only way to guarantee this is to require a picture ID whenever a person requests to vote.

William Storino

Hainesville