Early voting is already going on and for those states without it, expect a mad rush on Tuesday. But according to my friends who insist that efforts to reform voting laws are foolish “because voter fraud doesn’t happen,” there is absolutely no need to worry. Everything is under control. The American people wouldn’t stoop to such scurrilous tactics. Well, somebody needs to hop on a plane and fly out to Vegas and tell the cops that.

Las Vegas Woman Arrested After Trying To Vote Twice

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — FBI agents arrested a woman Friday in Las Vegas on charges that she tried to vote twice in the presidential election, Secretary of State Ross Miller said.

A criminal complaint accuses Roxanne Rubin of casting a ballot at an early voting location in Henderson on Oct. 29, then trying to vote again at a polling site in Las Vegas on the same day.

Miller said poll workers questioned Rubin when they found her name in a database that showed she had already cast a ballot, but she denied having voted and insisted she be allowed to vote.

If the allegations are proven, this woman wasn’t some confused senior citizen who sent in an absentee ballot early then forgot about it and went down to try to vote in person. Both of these events took place on the same day. It seems to be a clear cut attempt to violate election law.

Now here comes the uncomfortable part – for both sides, as you will see – of this story. The woman in question was a Republican. And she was trying this in a state where several races are still up for grabs. Yes, I know… we don’t like to hear about one of our own pulling a stunt like this, but the story must be even worse for Democrats this weekend. I mean, think about it. They must be champing at the bit to scream and point their fingers and say, “Look! The Rethuglicans are cheating!” But if they do that, then they have to admit that voter fraud happens and steps need to be taken to thwart it.

Of course, this is a story which only involves one person’s vote. What about cases where it’s more institutional and affects lots of votes? Doesn’t happen, you say? Well how about this one from the also wavering state of Colorado?

Machines switched Romney votes to Obama

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office is investigating after some Pueblo voters say voting machines switched their pick from Mitt Romney to Barack Obama.

The Pueblo County Republican Party said they’ve heard of more than a dozen reports of the problem.

One voter, who didn’t want to use her name, told KRDO Newschannel 13 that when she hit the touchscreen for Romney, a check mark appeared next to Obama’s name. She said she asked for help to fix the problem, but still feels unsure about her vote.

“I wonder where my vote really counted,” she said.

You’re right to wonder, madam. We all should. The system is about as secure as a Swiss Cheese, and every time we ask about making it more secure, we’re accused of disenfranchising, racism, hating puppies and all manner of things. It’s simply amazing.

Fortunately, in the Vegas case, the system detected it immediately. But does every state have such safeguards in place? I’m asking because I honestly don’t know and I very much doubt it. And as to the voting machines in Colorado, I’m on board with the woman they interviewed. The touch screen machines we use in NY now don’t even show you the selections you made and give you a chance to review them before finalizing. I have about as much faith that my vote is being correctly recorded as I do in Abba releasing a comeback album that sells 50 million. They system, both in terms of voting laws and the machines we use for it, is screaming out to be fixed and the legitimacy of our elections is already in question.