OKLAHOMA'S system of electing people to public office has fared well
compared to many other states, especially after the 2000 debacle in Florida
delayed the outcome of the presidential election for weeks. At the time,
Oklahoma received some national attention for having statewide standards
and the same voting machines in all 77 counties. This state's election
system has kept our elections mostly problem-free. But even a relatively
good system needs improving, as shown by recent illegal voting schemes
involving absentee ballots in particular counties.

In Haskell County several people have been charged with crimes that they
used absentee ballots to trade votes for drugs or cash to buy them. The two
leaders of the alleged operation were arrested again after they failed to
show up in court the first time.

In Adair County state officials are investigating possible fraud involving
that county's absentee ballots.

As of last Thursday, Adair County voters had requested 734 absentee ballots
for one county commissioner's race. That is unusually high: Voters had
requested only 155 absentee ballots for other races, and only applied for
476 absentee ballots countywide in the 2000 presidential election.

That high number signals to prosecutors possible fraud.

As we've said before, voting should be a communal experience that no one
takes lightly. A vote is worth much more than a methamphetamine hit, and
any candidates who solicit votes with a bribe ought to be banned from a
race and vigorously prosecuted.

Perhaps state officials should take more control of how counties handle
absentee votes. Individual voters could sign for the ballots and then
signatures compared when they're returned.

Oklahomans should welcome any effort to ban fraud from the election process.