Our freedoms in America are precious. 

But what would happen to our freedoms if the American people no longer trusted the fairness or the outcome of our elections? 

Remember Bush v. Gore? The votes in Florida were counted, recounted, and recounted again in the 2000 election; and yet the Democrats continued their effort to invalidate the results. 

They reminded me of the famous dictum of Joseph Stalin: it’s not the people who vote who count. It’s the people who count the votes.

We can’t let that happen here. 

That’s why we need REAL ID laws in every state that would require voters to present photo identification when they vote. 

Chris Van Hollen opposes REAL ID, using the phony argument that it amounts to voter intimidation.

I find it remarkable that Van Hollen agrees that his own children should be required to show photo ID to take their SATs, but opposes any measure that would require voters to present ID at the polls.

Do we care so little about our democracy that we refuse to provide the same level of integrity to our voting process that we insist on when it comes to our kids?

Isn’t voting the most precious right – and obligation – of an informed citizenry? 

I salute the work of Voter Integrity Maryland and True the Vote, and if elected to Congress, will work with them and like-minded groups to upgrade our voting systems and voting integrity standards, while respecting the constitutional right of the states to set their own voting procedures. 

Voter fraud is a reality, as this recent video shows. 

We must secure our vote and secure our elections if we want to secure our freedoms.