Voting and IDs
Very interesting story this morning on NPR, about new voter ID requirements in the state of Georgia.
Controversy Surrounds Georgia Voter ID Proposal
Minorities and the elderly in Georgia strongly oppose a proposal to require photo IDs for voters at the polls. Both groups say the plan, if enacted, would restrict their access to the polls. Supporters say they don’t want to stop anyone from voting, just safeguard the integrity of the election process. Susanna Capelouto of Georgia Public Broadcasting reports.
Those who advocate photo IDs at polling places forget that not everyone has one. Not everyone flies on airplanes. Not everyone has a drivers license. If a photo ID is required to vote, it had better be 1) free, and 2) easily available everywhere to everyone. Otherwise it’s a poll tax.
Roy Owens • March 24, 2005 4:24 PM
Is the worry that a gatekeeper can turn away voters by deciding the face doesn’t match a picture of it? This is such an obvious way of cheating, having an unelected official veto the voting of ‘the wrong kind of people’, I’m surprised it wasn’t thought of sooner.