Obama voices opposition to photo voting requirement

[AtLiberty]

Obama voices opposition to photo voting requirement

by Karen E. Pride,
Chicago Defender
September 26, 2007

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) filed a resolution last week opposing a recommendation that would require all eligible voters to show photo identification before casting a vote.

During a teleconference Friday, Obama told reporters there were several good ideas coming from the commission but the call for the photo ID was a really bad one.

"It may seem to make sense on the surface, " he said. "But the problem is you have a large proportion of people who don't have driver's licenses. So, they would have to pay to get state-issued ID cards, which might cost money and cause hardship for minorities."

For the rest of the article, click:

http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=2377

[MelissaB]

1. Recommended for a politician speaking out.

[OnTheOtherHand]

2. only problem with that argument is

Carter-Baker recommended that "States should provide an EAC-template ID with a photo to non-drivers free of charge."

The bigger problem mentioned by Obama (and also to some extent by Carter-Baker, but not explicitly in their recommendations, as far as I can see) is that it can be a huge hassle to get these cards, whether or not one can afford them. Then there are the civil-libertarian concerns about whether this is a step toward requiring everyone to carry ID with them everywhere.

[roseBudd]

3. It is the people with no photo ID will have a really hard time proving who

they are in order to get the free photo ID. And all they get out of it is a vote that most of them already feel doesn't count? Oh and did I mention the chance to stand in line for hours waiting to vote in their machine shorted likely democratic voting precincts.

[autorank]

4. Obama is our man. He spoke up first and could lead, if he chooses.

I think this is awfully close to being the first prominent, widely known national leader to speak up on election fraud.

Keep it up!