Wow, they really did it

The Democrats just challenged the electoral votes from Ohio. It's a symbolic protest led by U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, and strongly encouraged by the investigative work of U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich. The challenge won't overturn the results of the presidential election, but it will allow Democrats to place the details of machine glitches, tallying errors, and other voting irregularities in the Buckeye State in the congressional record for posterity.

A CNN commentator suggested a few minutes ago that the challenge came about at least in part due to Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, which devoted substantial time to footage of black congressmen pleading in vain to challenge Florida's electoral votes four years ago but finding no senator willing to support their pleas as the Constitution requires. This year's challenge may be seen in a way as congressional Democrats' attempt at a make-good for their inaction after the 2000 election ended in controversy.

Regardless of the motives behind it, I hope this challenge is the starting point for a national drive to require electronic voting machines to provide a paper trail to ensure our elections are accurate and devoid of tampering. Free and fair elections are above partisanship; they are the cornerstone of our republic, and we must do everything we can to ensure them.