Latinos can send a message by voting today

Today I will register as a Republican. If I want to vote in the Republican primary, I have to. As soon as the election is over, I'll dash to the county clerk's office to restore my "unaffiliated" status.

That's what I am. I am neither a true-blue Democrat nor died-in-the-wool Republican. But I live in a place where most of the people lean Republican and most of the candidates run on the GOP ticket. If I don't participate in the Republican primary, I won't get a choice in a couple of races.

I will vote for another reason. I have a Hispanic name, and some news reports say that members of an immigration reform organization had planned to challenge the rights of foreign-born voters to cast ballots. They've now backed off the plan after reviewing voter registration forms. Could it be that they discerned that there are actually people with "foreign" names who are, indeed, Americans and entitled to vote?

Still, as many Latinos as possible should turn out to vote today. They should because it's their right and responsibility, no different from any other voter's. It might also send a message to the xenophobes.

I don't really care which politico said what about the issue of illegal immigration in the 3rd Congressional District. I'm more amused at the notion of illegal immigrants attempting to commandeer a primary election.

Why would an illegal immigrant out himself by attempting to vote? Most illegal immigrants live below the radar. They go to great lengths not to be detected by government.

But immigration reformists say a 1999 law that permits Utahns to obtain drivers' licenses without a Social Security number opened up the state's voting system to "massive fraud."

Please. The law was intended to protect Utahns from the fraud that could be perpetuated by lifting someone's Social Security number. You may have noticed that insurance carriers and others have quit using it as an identification number, too. Identity theft is a growing problem, and government agencies and private enterprises are trying to dry up avenues for potential fraud.

Of course, raising the issue about the legitimacy of Latino voters is another attempt to persuade Utah to quit offering drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants.