This country broke away from British rule and subsequently fought many wars to preserve a society that lives under the rule of law, with the U.S. Constitution serving as the principle conservator of those laws.
When any of our freedoms comes under attack, we must react quickly and appropriately to make sure that it is not taken away from us.
One of the freedoms that we not only enjoy but insist upon having is the ability to conduct elections that are free, untainted and fair.
When any part of the voting and election process is corrupted, we risk having all of our other freedoms taken from us. The reason is obvious: Corrupt elections result in corrupt officeholders. And corrupt officeholders can bring the country to its knees.
Several cases of possible corruption involving illegal absentee ballot applications are now being investigated in Ohio. Criminal charges are being considered.
Since this is such a grave issue, the admonition to catch the guilty parties and "throw the book at them" is not only appropriate, it is essential. Some of the complaints have originated in Lake County. Elections Board Chairman John F. Platz warns, "the integrity of the democratic process" is at stake.
"If you break election law, we will turn you over to the prosecutor," he said.
Janet F. Clair, elections board director, said questionable applications for absentee ballots have come in from large neighborhood blocks in which entire areas are requesting the ballots. Other requests of suspicious origin are originating from an issue advocacy group that is canvassing nursing homes, she said.
One Lake County application was "signed" by a man who has been dead for more than two years. A woman who can only scrawl an "X" appeared on an application to have regained firm, legible handwriting.
In Lake and Summit counties more than 1,000 cases of possible voter registration fraud are being investigated. Many of the signatures are obviously not those of the people they purport to be, elections officials said. In some cases it was believed that irregularities are being perpetrated by groups advocating particular candidates or issues.
The violators must be caught and prosecuted. Such tampering with elections cannot be taken lightly - and indeed Lake County officials, including Sheriff Dan Dunlap and Prosecutor Charles Coulson, have indicated that they are not taking them lightly. Handing out some stiff fines, and even jail sentences, will make the point that election laws are as sacred as any other laws on the statute book and cannot be violated.