March 31, 2005
THERE GOES PHILADELPHIA...:
States Debate Photo IDs at Polls (DEANNA WRENN, March 31, 2005, Associated Press)
Legislation that would require voters to show photo identification before casting ballots has touched off fierce debate in three states, with opponents complaining the measures represent a return to the days of poll taxes and Jim Crow.Lawmakers in Georgia and Indiana walked off the job to protest the proposals, which they say would deprive the poor, the elderly and minorities of the right to vote. Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, has already vetoed a similar measure and has vowed to do so again.
Republicans argue the bills would restore voter confidence and eliminate fraud without overly burdening voters, most of whom have driver's licenses or photo IDs anyway.
"I want everyone to be able to vote -- once," said Indiana state Sen. Victor Heinold, a Republican.
Nineteen states require voters to show identification, but only five of those request photo ID, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Those states -- Hawaii, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina and South Dakota -- allow voters without a photo ID to present other forms of identification, such as a utility bill, or sign an affidavit of identity.
Critics say the measures in Indiana, Georgia and Wisconsin do not provide good alternatives for those without photo IDs.
No sweat, just require a national photo i.d.. Posted by Orrin Judd at March 31, 2005 8:51 AM
Even easier, provide a pot of purple ink at each polling place and have voters dip just like Iraq. This will reduce but not eliminate felons and illegal aliens from voting and reduce ballot box stuffing without any concerns for Jim Crow, denying of franchise or intimidation.
A national ID card can be introduced at a later date if necessary.
Posted by: David Rothman at March 31, 2005 3:52 PM666
Posted by: JackSheet at March 31, 2005 4:28 PMAnother idea for you journalists or social scientists out there—
Do an in depth, detailed study of a few people go legally live in this country and go about an otherwise normal life without possessing or using any photo IDs of any kind. First, do such people really exist, or is the Left trying to protect a class of people who haven't existed in decades? And if they do exist, then just how uncommon or outside the norm are they?
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at March 31, 2005 5:41 PMThe growing use of mail-in ballots will undercut the national ID card.
Posted by: Pat H at March 31, 2005 6:06 PMIf they ever do require photo IDs in Pennsylvania, look for the Democrats to announce the discovery of entire neighborhoods of voting-age clones in Philadelphia.
Posted by: John at March 31, 2005 6:42 PM