Then there were vote tabulation problems. Many absentee military votes were not counted. Some precincts "lost" full ballot boxes. A couple precincts managed to come up with "extra" ballot boxes containing voted ballots that were improperly numbered. At least one minor elected official was caught wandering around in possession of a machine that could punch multiple ballots. And a few full ballot boxes were later located in very inappropriate places -- just after most of the ballots were counted.

The point is, the election of 2000 was not a very clean election. On election day, certain Democratic Party aligned groups had a couple million dollars in unregulated "walking around" money spread around the country to cause all sorts of mischief.

One would expect that Congress would address this issue. But, that does not seem to be the case. Instead, Congress is but playing around the periphery of the problem.

Last December, H.R. 3295, the "Help America Vote Act of 2001," passed the House by a vote of 362 - 63. Last week, it passed the Senate as S. 565.

Among other things, the bill would authorize the federal government to spent up to $400 Million to "Buyout Punch Card Voting Machines." A total of $6,000 per precinct will be made available to states for the buyout. The bill would also authorize one-time payments to states or counties that enhance the performance of existing voting equipment. Furthermore, the bill calls for the administration of new "Federal election laws and programs, and establishes minimum election administration standards for States and units of local government with responsibility for the administration of Federal elections."

That’s just a drop in the bucket, though. Heavy duty money is proposed to "help" States with State election responsibilities.

For instance: The bill allocates $2.25 billion in election fund payments to States over three years. That money is to be used to: "establish and maintain accurate lists of eligible voters; encourage voters to vote; improve equipment; improve verification and identification of voters; recruit and train poll workers; improve access for voters with disabilities; and educate voters about their rights and responsibilities. All States would be eligible for Election Fund Payments, and would be required to provide a 25 percent match."

Furthermore, the bill mandates: "This legislation prescribes that states adopt ’Minimum Standards’ for state election systems, including that states: 1) have a voter registration system linked to local jurisdictions in the state; 2) permit in-precinct provisional voting; 3) have a system for maintaining the accuracy of voter registration records; 4) adopt uniform standards defining what constitutes a vote on the different types of voting equipment; 5) ensure that absent uniformed and overseas voters have their votes counted; 6) require new voting systems to provide a practical and effective means for voters with disabilities to cast a secret ballot; and 7) gives voters the opportunity to correct errors."

All that is great stuff and would help, of course. The problem is, no one seems to be enforcing the election laws we already have. So, why should we believe that new laws that do not include strict enforcement mandates will change anything? If poll workers want to stuff the ballot boxes -- or, increase the count for their favored candidates in some other way -- they will do so. That is because, over the past couple decades, there has been very little enforcement.

In the usual course of events, Congress often pawns off its responsibility on a "bipartisan" board. This bill is no different. It would create an "Election Assistance Commission":

"This bipartisan Commission will serve as a national clearinghouse for information and review of procedures for Federal elections. The Commission also consists of a Standards Board of state and local election officials and a Board of Advisors of election experts and interested parties. Among other duties, the Standards Board and Board of Advisors shall develop voluntary engineering and performance standards for voting systems and voluntary election management practices."

That "commission" sounds expensive on this end. Besides, what do we need with yet another "commission" when we already have a federal election commission? Congress should make that one work -- or get rid of it.

What is greatly needed is aggressive enforcement of our election laws. Those disenfranchising honest voters by committing voter fraud should be arrested, prosecuted and get a couple years free room and board.

Put the money into enforcement. That is the only way we can insure honest elections.