|
US Supreme Court Upholds Voter ID Laws
Former California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson – not
exactly a noted right-winger within the Republican Party – observed that
in a Democracy where the single most important act required of its citizens
is to vote, he believed it was patently absurd it took more identification
to rent a video than it does to vote for President.
I agree… and so apparently does the United States Supreme Court…
In a decision handed down this morning, (re: consolidated cases Crawford
v. Marion County Election Board, 07-21, and Indiana Democratic Party v.
Rokita, 07-25), upheld Indiana’s strict picture ID law, noting specifically
the requirement to show a picture ID was not burdensome on the voter,
and did not create an undue hardship on the poor and the elderly.
Again… I agree…
I have frankly never quite understood the argument that requiring a picture
ID somehow would prevent someone otherwise eligible to vote from voting
simply because they were poor or elderly. The reality is that virtually
every legal citizen in California has a picture ID, if not a driver’s
license, then a DMZ issued state ID card. The handful that don't, almost
certainly have some other form of identification which would suffice.
The reality is, in our modern, complex society, you need a picture ID
for virtually any public action or transaction conducted… except to vote!
I have been with Kaiser for more years that I admit being, yet I must
show a picture ID with my Kaiser card. I buy groceries and occasionally
use a credit card, and am always asked for my DMZ issued ID (which in
my case is my driver’s license). Even when I use an ATM card – my usual
and customary method – at some point I was required to show my DL to open
the account. And yes, last week when I rented ‘Elizabeth, the Golden Age’
at Blockbuster to show my bedridden mother (who also has a DMZ Identification
Card); I was asked to present my ID. As I understand it, in most cases
you even need or are required to obtain a state issued ID card to participate
in our public assistance programs.
Is the voter fraud such measures are intended to prevent a major problem
in our states? Perhaps not… although I do remember an election a number
of years ago in Orange County where the incumbent lost (almost unheard
of even then) and it was generally accepted but unproven the small margin
which made the difference was illegal voters.
Still, for me at least, that’s really not the point… it should require
at least as much identification to vote for President as it does to rent
Elizabeth, the Golden Age…
The link to the AP article follows.
Best to all… Ralph
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080428/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_voter_id
|
|
District Map
Register to Vote
Contribute
VoteRalph2008 Committee
ID # 1282013
3790 Florida Street, #AG06
San Diego, CA 92104
619.865.4755 |
