This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I laughed in amazement as I watched Ted Cruz address Texas delegates to the Republican National Convention. The delegates chanted "USA! USA! USA!" just as the news crawler announced the restrictive Texas voter ID law violates the federal Voting Rights Act.

"USA," indeed.

Let's be honest: Restrictive voting laws are not meant to prevent voter fraud, as claimed. They're meant to give one party an advantage by disenfranchising groups likely to vote differently.

Other examples: Gerrymandering. Intimidating Count My Vote candidates. Party rules that cast Utah's 40 Republican delegate votes for Trump despite our overwhelmingly support for Cruz. Proposed vote-counting schemes that would allow candidates to win even when they don't win the popular vote. (Google "Grand Theft Election.")

Every election should play out on a level field. Make voting easy for all citizens. (Hurray for vote-by-mail!) Set congressional districts with approximately equal voters from all parties. Let parties win or lose based on their vision, message, values and performance, not on rigged systems of dirty tricks and unfair tactics.

Scott Bell

West Jordan