The U.S. Supreme Court is now scrutinizing whether that statute violates the first and 14th amendments, in the most contentious legal battle over voting since the high court issued a bitterly divided decision eight years ago that stopped Florida's recount and handed the presidency to George W. Bush.
If the law is upheld, voting rights advocates fear it will encourage conservative lawmakers across the country to enact equally restrictive measures. The high court's decision is expected in the summer — leaving time to impact November's general election.
Opponents, most of them Democrats, say requiring photo ID at the polls disproportionately affects the poor, the elderly and minorities — the most likely to lack photo identification. But supporters, most of them Republicans, say such requirements are necessary to prevent voter fraud.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Indiana in the spotlight
The focus is on our photo-identification voter law.
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Matt: While I have no problems with a photo-voter ID law, I do have problems with the way it's been implemented. Why, for example, aren't military and other federal ID cards acceptable? Why, for example, aren't these ID cards needed to register to vote, rather than waiting till polling day? And doesn't it seem ridiculous when longtime poll workers who live in the community and who know everyone who walks through the door have to turn away their friends?
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