America is a nation of freedoms that the left, socialists, communists, and others wish to take from us.

Our freedoms are granted to us by:

  • God
  • The Magna Carta
  • Our Declaration of Independence
  • The Constitution of the United States
  • The Bill of Rights
Our freedoms have been given to us through the blood and sacrifice of:
  • Jesus Christ
  • American Soldiers
  • Law Enforcement Officers

At Forever Free we carry on the fight to preserve our freedoms by sending out weekly commentaries on current events and political situations that are intended to restrict people's freedoms and rights. Our commentaries are free and can be shared with others.
Current Commentary

Is Our Voting System Secure?
by
Phil Rasmussen

     The Democrats claim that our voting system is secure, but if you listen to the Republicans they will say it is not secure.  This has been an ongoing debate for many years, and will probably not be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.

     Without taking anyone’s side, the simple truth is that the voting system in our country is NOT secure for many reasons.  To understand why the system is not secure we need to first understand and accept the fact that any system designed by man is inheritably flawed.  This is not different with our government and our voting system.  To better understand why our system is flawed and is not secure, we need to better understand:

  • What the laws are
  • How the voting process works
  • How votes are cast and counted

     In many cultures, tribes and countries today only men are allowed to vote.  In some areas of the world there exists even further discrimination as to which males could vote.  During the early beginnings of the United States only free white male property owners were allowed to vote; women and slaves were prohibited from voting.

     The original Constitution did not address voting rights other than to leave those rights to the states. During the 1700s little changed with regard to voting rights.  A few states remove the property ownership requirements and even fewer the racial requirements.

     The 14th Amendment, signed in 1868, set the stage for expanded voting rights by addressing citizenship rights and equal protection under the law.  Two years later the 15th Amendment established Federal law by preventing states from denying the right to vote based n “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”  In response, many southern states implemented the “Jim Crow laws” in order to maintain discrimination over who could vote and who could not.

     Even with the 14th and 15th amendments, it was not until 1920, 50 years later, when women “earned” the right to vote.  In 1948, Native Americans, and in 1952, Asian Americans were given the right to vote.  Black Americans did not enjoy the full extent of voting rights until the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

     While states and local communities have their own voting requirements, Federal law requires the voter in a presidential election to be at least 18 years old and a citizen of the United States.

     From the inception of the United States, the voting rights and laws at federal, state and local levels still remain in flux.  Unfortunately federal, state and local laws have not come together with regard as to who can and cannot vote.  For example in many sanctuary states, counties and cities/towns, illegal immigrants are being allowed, and encouraged, to vote in “local” elections.  Many of the voting districts use single ballots for federal, state and local candidates, and it is questionable whether the ballots submitted by illegal voters are scrutinized as to whether their votes are actually legal.

     This brings up the voting process itself.  Each state has its own voting laws.  The laws cover when and how state residents can vote.  For example, every state has a law regarding absentee voting, early voting, and the actual voting day.  It is important to understand that these are laws and NOT rules and regulations.  As laws, the procedures cannot be changed by anyone other than the state legislatures.  However, during the COVID pandemic, many democrat governors arbitrarily made changes that became election interference. 

     There are two highly contentious aspects of voting law today.  The first contention is over Voter ID.  Without getting into the nitty-gritty, this battle is primarily seen as one between Democrats, who oppose Voter ID, and Republicans, who support the concept.  The reality in today’s world is that photo id is required for driver licenses, hospital admittance and services, bank withdraws, military access, security firms, etcetera.  In essence everyone, at sometime in their lifetime has been photographed for the purpose of ascertain who they are.  Therefore the only reason for opposing Voter ID is to conduct some form of illegal or fraudulent activity, such as illegal voting.  In those states which do not require Voter ID, it is typical to require an individual to present a couple of utility bills or some other non-identifying statements in order to register to vote.  Citizenship is generally not required and thisleads to a lot of illegal migrants to register to vote in our elections.

     The second contention revolves around absentee voting, often times referred to as mail-in ballots.  As previously mentioned, each state has its own voter laws.  These laws include absentee voting and mail-in ballots.  The two greatest issues with mail-in ballots is meeting the deadline that they are supposed to be sent, and the lack of specific information such as the voter’s signature.  With some states their deadlines are too restrictive and/or their requirements are convoluted, misunderstood, or in too small of print.  Again, most states require a voter’s signature for both in-person and absentee voting.  The in-person signature is easily pointed out by “X marks the spot.”  For the mail-in ballots, some states require signatures on the ballot itself while other states require a signature on the envelope.

     Both the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) of 1986 and the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE) of 2009 while designed to protect the voting rights of members of the

  • Uniformed Services,
  • Merchant Marine and their eligible dependents,
  • Commissioner Corps of the Public Health Service,
  • Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
  • US citizens residing outside the US

do little to supersede those rules and regulations establish by states.  In other words the vote by our military and others serving overseas often goes uncounted because of convoluted processes and deadlines that are too short and/or unreasonable.  For example, there is no penalty if you can put your income tax in the mail and is postmarked before midnight of April 15th.  However many states require an absentee ballot to arrive before the day that regular voting starts or earlier.  Some states will accept the ballots on the day that voting starts.  Unlike the IRS, no states, allow for a postmark date.  Foreign mail and the US Postal Service are well known for their varying delivery times.

     One final aspect of an unsecure US voting system surrounds the use of technology.

     In summary, our voting system needs a significant overhaul.  The first action should be to require that only US citizens be allowed to vote in any federal, state, or local election that takes place within our borders.  Voter ID should be implemented throughout the nation with no exception. However, Voter ID must NOT be based on utility bills or rent/mortgages statements.  Technology can be used to confirm US citizenship based on birth records, census reports, tax records, and US government documents. There is no excuse. 

     In addition to revising our voting system, we, the voter, need to also revise our approach to voting.  We need to put aside “party identity,” and candidate personalities, and ask ourselves “What are we voting for?”  The following is from an email that was received from one of our subscribers.  By asking what we are voting for is ground floor for the security of our voting system and that of our democracy in a world willing to destroy our country and nation because of its jealously of our freedoms and way of life.

WHO AM I VOTING FOR - AND WHY?

     The moment when someone says, "I can't believe you would vote for ___.”  I simply say, “I'm not voting for ____.”

  • I'm voting for the First Amendment and freedom of speech.
  • I'm voting for the Second Amendment and my right to defend my life and my family.
  • I'm voting for the next Supreme Court Justice(s) to protect the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
  • I’m voting for the continued growth of my retirement 401K and the stock market.
  • I’m voting for a return of our troops from foreign countries and the end to America’s involvement in foreign conflicts.
  • I'm voting for the Electoral College and for the Republic in which we live.
  • I'm voting for the Police to be respected once again and to ensure Law & Order.
  • I’m voting for the continued appointment of Federal Judges who respect the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and who will uphold their oath of office.
  • I’m voting for a President who respects the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and will uphold their oath of office.
  • I’m voting for our jobs to remain in America and not be outsourced again to China, Mexico and other foreign countries.
  • I’m voting for secure borders and legal immigration.
  • I'm voting for the Military & the Veterans who fought for our Country to give the American people their freedoms.
  • I'm voting for the unborn babies that have a right to live.
  • I’m voting for continued peace progress in the Middle East.
  • I’m voting to fight against human/child trafficking.
  • I'm voting for Freedom of Religion.
  • I'm voting for the right to speak my opinion and not be censored.
  • I'm not just voting for one person, I'm voting for the future of my Country.
  • I'm voting for my children and my grandchildren to ensure their freedoms and their future.

What are you voting for?