Home Issues Voter Disenfranchisement Supreme Court: Voter ID Required
Supreme Court: Voter ID Required
Written by Matt Laslo   
Monday, 05 May 2008 12:00

May 5, Feature - Tomorrow is Indiana and North Carolina's presidential primary. Voting will be tougher for residents of Indiana because of a recent Supreme Court ruling. Tomorrow, Indiana and North Carolina voters head to the polls. Indiana's election process was just vetted by the Supreme Court. Last week, the court upheld Indiana's law requiring voters to bring specific identification to the voting booth.

May 5 - Feature
produced by Matt Laslo
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As Matt Laslo reports, Indiana voters face the strictest voting requirements in the nation.

Going to the voting booth is often a decision made in the final days leading up to voting day. Politicians know that, which is why all major political parties spend millions dollars on their "get out the vote" efforts. Voter ID required

But many last minute Indiana voters may hit a brick wall tomorrow. They will head to the polls facing some of the strictest voter ID laws in the country – which were upheld by the Supreme Court last week.

Voters in thirty two states can only bring themselves to the polls.

Voters in eighteen states, like Ohio, can just grab a current utility bill like this one, and head to the poll. This works because it has my current address on it and certifies my residency. Eighteen other states also accept utility bills.

In twelve other states voter ID laws are a bit more strict. If I lived in Montana or New Mexico I can vote if I have a bank statement or any government document – like this tax return from the IRS. One good reason to file taxes.

In Kentucky and Florida all you need to vote is a credit card.

And Alaska accepts hunting or fishing licenses. But not Indiana. Under the law the Supreme Court just upheld, Indiana voter's will have to present government issued ID's.

That means you won't be able to vote with a Veterans' ID, Congressional ID, student ID, or work ID. Credit cards and hunting licenses will also be shunned. The only acceptable ID's for Indiana voters must be issued by the State of Indiana or the U.S. government. They also must display the voter's name, photo and include an expiration date.

Georgia is the only other state with as strict of a voter ID law as Indiana. Texas, Missouri, and Florida – among other states – are also considering enacting tougher voter ID laws.

Opponents say Indiana's ID requirement will disproportionately affect minorities, students, seniors, and people living below the poverty line because they are most prone to not have official government ID's. By and large those groups vote Democratic, and Indiana's law was passed on a strict party line vote, with Republicans in the majority.

In tomorrow's primary the new law is expected to help Hillary Clinton and in the fall it is expected to help Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain. That's why critics say it is disenfranchisement and unconstitutional. Civil rights advocates are concerned with the state of the Democratic process.

For Election Unspun, I'm Matt Laslo in Washington.

 

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