Campaigns exhorting Americans to do their civic duty at the polls have usually been among the least partisan of political exercises. Leaders of virtually every persuasion unite in calling on eligible citizens to participate in the democratic process.

That’s still the right position to take, but in this year’s super-tight presidential election, the exact manner in which people register and vote is coming under closer scrutiny. Some Republicans suspect the opposition of using underhanded methods to re-elect President Barack Obama, while some Democrats believe Republicans, especially the tea party variety, have gone out of their way to make it unreasonably difficult for Obama supporters to vote.

Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson delayed imposition of a new Republican-supported law that would have required every voter in that state to present photo identification. The law had come under attack from foes who argued it would unfairly complicate voting for the young, old, minorities, poor and disabled — those aggressively courted by Democrats.

There’s less controversy in Kentucky, which requires photo IDs but makes an exception if voters can only provide a Social Security card or credit card or if a precinct worker can vouch for the individual’s identity. We’ve noticed that voters readily pull out their driver’s licenses at our polling place, even if precinct workers recognize them from previous elections.

Voter registration drives gained prominence four years ago when the Obama campaign pushed to sign up young and minority voters who helped him become the nation’s first African-American president. Max Thomas, a retired state worker who supported Obama, formed a team that registered about 500 Kentucky State University students one week on campus. But he said the registration drive was nonpartisan — he never asked anyone to pick one party over the other. Recently, voter registration tables were set up outside the KSU auditorium where Donna Brazile, a Democratic strategist, was speaking.

If the 2008 presidential contest is any indication — and surveys suggest it will be — these efforts may carry mostly symbolic significance. The commonwealth went for Republican John McCain then and is expected to back Mitt Romney this November. …

Registered Kentucky residents should not refrain from voting just because they’ve heard that Romney already has the commonwealth’s electoral votes sewn up. The right to stand up and be counted still matters, and besides, there are local contests to consider. …

Online:

http://www.state-journal.com

___

Oct. 3

Kentucky New Era, Hopkinsville, on state hunting amendment:

A state constitutional amendment that guarantees Kentuckians “the personal right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife” will be on the November general election ballot. Endorsed by the National Rifle Association and many sporting leagues, it is similar to constitutional amendments already adopted by more than a dozen states.

No one should discount the fact that hunting and fishing are among the most popular activities in our state, and it’s not just about the joy of the hunt. In a rural state like ours, with a diverse landscape that stretches from the Appalachian mountaintops to the Mississippi River, hunting and fishing often connect us to nature and time spent in our most beautiful spaces. For many people who love time in the woods and on riverbanks, the hunt is not even the primary reason for toting a rifle.

It’s understandable that serious hunters are worried that big government will be influenced by animal rights activists, and for that reason, we appreciate what state lawmakers intended when they agreed to put the measure on the ballot.

Yes, we support the rights of hunters and fishers. Yes, we want future generations to enjoy the sport and the great outdoors. But we have to wonder if the constitutional amendment is actually necessary, or if it’s really an over-reaction.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the oldest constitutional protection for hunting was adopted in Vermont in 1777. More than 200 years later, in 1996, Alabama adopted the next constitutional amendment to protect hunting.

The Kentucky amendment on the November ballot reads, “The citizens of Kentucky have the personal right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife, using traditional methods, subject only to statutes enacted by the Legislature, and to administrative regulations adopted by the designated state agency to promote wildlife conservation and management and to preserve the future of hunting and fishing. Public hunting and fishing shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.”

The amendment sounds more like a political statement than a necessary amendment. Kentucky’s rural, traditional roots are the true protection for hunters.

Online:

www.kentuckynewera.com

___

Oct. 4

The Independent, Ashland, Ky., on fire season precautions:

The fall forest fire season began recently, and area residents have added reason to obey the law restricting outdoor burning during the season that continues until Dec. 15 and to listen to and heed the advice of the experts at the Kentucky Division of Forestry.

It has been an extremely hot and dry summer, making forest lands even more primed for fires than usual. In addition, the strong spring storms and tornadoes that ripped through the region brought down numerous trees and limbs that have left Kentucky’s forests littered with fuel for wildfires.

Kentucky’s chief forester, Leah MacSwords, said the accumulation of storm-damaged trees and smaller tinder that died as a result of drought will lead to an “active” fire season and pose dangers for firefighters.

MacSwords urged Kentuckians to take extra precautions with campfires. She also called for them to keep on the lookout for forest arson, the major cause of wildfires in Kentucky. In fact, the Division of Forestry reports that of the 723 forestland and brushland fires recorded in Kentucky through Sept. 25 of this year, 448 — or just less than 62 percent — were set by arsonists. Unfortunately, that is nothing new. Arson has long been the major cause of forest fires in the state.

During the fall fire season, it is illegal to burn anything within 150 feet of a woodland or brushland between the mostly daylight hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. But because of the volatile condition of the forestlands, the Division of Forestry recommends individuals go beyond just obeying the law by using good common sense and sound judgment while dealing with potential sources of fire when outdoors. …

Forest and brush fires not only put black marks on nature’s beauty, they also increase air pollution and make it that much more difficult for those with respiratory problems to breathe. We have no sympathy for those who intentionally set the fires.

Online:

www.dailyindependent.com