When the United States was founded, citizens’ right to vote was insurance against tyranny. The desire for common people to have a say in their governance was a cry against the oppres-sive nature of the European regimes many had fled.

one of the most popular arguments

used by the Illinois government against the Motor-Voter program is that it is another requirement handed to the state by the national government for which Washington will not pay.

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This seems like a legitimate concern at face value, since the federal government imposes many unfunded mandates on the states. But if this is the argument, why is the state allowing this to go to court when it does not contest other more costly unfunded mandates?

The entire Motor-Voter program is estimated to cost Illinois $20 million, according to a spokesman for Gov. Jim Edgar’s office. The spokesman said this would break down to between $1 million and $2 million per year. Meanwhile, other unfun-ded mandates such as the Medicaid program, which cost the state $220 million go unchallenged. Nor is the $170 million cost of illegal immigration being disputed. Yet Illinois is willing to dispute in a court of law a substantially less costly mandate that promotes a guaranteed right of our Constitution.

Another reason the state claims the Motor-Voter program should not be implemented is its poten-tial for voter fraud. According to the governor’s office, the post-card mail-in registration system that would exist under this plan would allow for increased voter fraud.

It would seem that a possible solution to this quandary would be a tighter and more thorough checking of identification of voters at pol-ling locations. Voter fraud is an unfortunate part of the election process, but fear of this injustice should not inhibit the state from enacting a useful program for voting citizens.

In short, the reasoning behind the state’s dispute of the Motor-Voter program lacks enough fuel to legitimately stall out the mandate. On the highway of political costs, the pro-gram is merely a pebble in a road of boulders. In the realm of individual citizens’ rights, it is a rock which mirrors the solid foundation of popular sovereignty in a nation of the people, by the people and for the people.

On that note, students should be reminded of their right and social obligation to register to vote. Today is the last day to register for the Carbondale pri-mary elections, which decide what names will be on the ballot for city council candidates. Students and all University per-sonnel should register immediately with a deputy registrar at the Undergraduate Student Government if they have not yet done so. After registration, they then should use their voting power for the good of their lives and for the good of society.