NEW YORK – I have blogged before about voter ID laws but I feel compelled to do so again, this time to address the problem of disenfranchisement that results from the ID requirements in place in some states.
If you get to the polls in those states and don’t have a valid ID, you don’t vote, though in some states voters without ID have the rather onerous option of signing an affidavit, i.e., swearing under oath, that they are who they say they are – to secure their right to vote.
Supporters of these ID laws claim to seek a solution for the problem of voter fraud. But here’s the problem: The problem isn’t a problem. It doesn’t exist. In Indiana, the state with perhaps the most restrictive voter ID law in the country, there has never been a single reported case of fraudulent in-person voting.
Now, the Supreme Court has before it a challenge to the Indiana law, brought by the Democratic Party. A lower court upheld the law, but not before finding that the requirement will have a disparate impact on eligible voters of color, and those who are poor, poorly educated, elderly or disabled. (God help you, if you are all of the above.)
The last two presidential elections in this country have been terribly close. In 2000, the race between Al Gore and George Bush was, quite simply, too close to call. The lesson: Every vote counts.
Let’s hope the Supreme Court does the right thing by our democracy. The Court should strike down the Indiana law and strike a blow for this fundamental principal of our democracy — the right to vote.
- Jami Floyd, “In Session” Anchor/360° Contributor
| Jeana |
February 8th, 2008 4:54 pm ET I grew up in Florida, and had to show my identification (ID) every time I voted. Why is this an issue? How do you not have ID? Without ID in this country, you cannot: |
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| Tracie |
February 8th, 2008 5:03 pm ET Since this is the second time you have written about voter identification I decided to post. I think every citizen of age should vote!!!! However, if you think there is no voter fraud,you are crazy. There have been proven cases of people voting 150 years after their death in our area. Some type of identification is not discrimenating, it is necessary. By the way, whatever happened to reporters not being biased? |
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| Sabrina in Los Angeles |
February 8th, 2008 5:41 pm ET I agree with you Jami. When I went to vote Tuesday they couldn’t find me on the roll. I was NEVER asked for my ID at any time. I filled out the pink provisional slip but I could have been someone else with that info. I don’t see how this “voter ID” will help. I think it is to keep people away from the polls. |
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| lsc33551 |
February 12th, 2008 11:05 am ET It is not just having an ID card. In Indiana you must have a current id. So if you are older and your drivers lic is expired because you no longer drive POOF you are out. The OLD drivers lic still has the picture to verify the person is who they say but the point is not to verify that it is a mean spirited way to cut people off from voting. To get a new ID they have to bring a birth certificate and an original one can cost $50 or more. To a senior on a limited income that is a choice between food and voting. A choice they should not have to make. If Indiana was really only interested in preventing the voter fraud that never has happened they would make getting this ID as easy and cost free as possible. But that is not at all what this law is about. |
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