Tougher voter ID laws fuel debate as 2008 primaries near

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071230/ELECTION/712300328/1060/NEWS01

WASHINGTON — Louisiana voters have known for some time that when they go to vote, they need to bring a photo ID or a signed affidavit.

As the 2008 presidential election looms, voters in other states will have to get used to doing something similar when they go to the polls. In some states, voters will have to show a current, government-issued photo ID. Other states want to impose the same requirement but are waiting on a Supreme Court ruling before moving ahead.

The court is expected to rule next year on the constitutionality of an Indiana law requiring voters to show a photo ID — like a driver's license — issued by a state or federal agency. If it lets the law stand, other states could adopt similar measures, election experts say.

"I don't think Indiana will be the last by any stretch," said Tim Vercellotti, an assistant professor at Rutgers University's Eagleton Institute of Politics.

Opponents of the laws, including Democrats and the AARP, say the measures would suppress voting turnout among the elderly, poor and minorities who are less likely to have government-issued photo IDs.

Supporters of the laws, including Republican lawmakers and administration officials, deny that requiring a government-issued photo ID has a discriminatory impact. They say the requirement is necessary to keep people from voting who shouldn't.


FULL story at link.

[stillcool]

1. "Keeping people from voting....

...Who shouldn't" That's a good portion of the American populace to the good old boy's point of view.

[Vincardog]

2. WE can' t have those poor people voting.

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[Faygo Kid]

3. Rove's ultimate goal: Disenfranchisement.

Wholesale disenfranchisement worked in Florida and Ohio, but tough to do on a national scale - until they hit upon this "solution" to a NONEXISTENT PROBLEM. If we had a decent Supreme Court, they would throw this out as an impingement on voting rights to a degree that far exceeds any harm that may be shown from individuals fraudulently voting (I for one would like to see any data showing that as a problem - none has been produced). But there's four votes to uphold voter IDs right off the top (you know who), which means that once again it will be Anthony Kennedy that defines our rights.

I am not optimistic.