News-Record.com

A reader wrote in asking about iwanttovote.com, a website that purports to register people to vote in exchange for a fee of $9.95.

After doing WhoIs and other searches, I've not been able to come up with who these guys might be. They have registered their website and fax number in such a way to make it as hard as possible to confirm their identity. They have not responded to an e-mail I sent requesting more information about their operation.

Now, I'm not going to call this site a scam. You very well may get registered to vote if you submit your personal information and credit card number.

I wouldn't do it, though.

Charging a fee in any context in order to register someone to vote is unsavory, smacking of poll taxes designed to disenfranchise voters. And frankly, there are plenty of ways to get yourself registered FOR FREE.

The N.C. State Board of Elections website lists several ways to get registered and groups that help out. Typically, local Democratic and Republican parties are happy to help you get registered.

You can pick up registration forms at local libraries and your county board of elections office. You can do it by mail and all it will cost you is a stamp. (Click here to download the form.) And if you forget until the last minute, you can register the same day you vote during the early voting period.

For more information about getting registered Guilford County, click here. In the meantime, if anyone asks you for ten bucks in order to get registered to vote, save your money for a trip to the local barbecue shack.