Voter ID laws have put a lock on the ballot box

[proud2BlibKansan]

By LAURA SCOTT
The Kansas City Star

Twelve elderly nuns were turned away from the polls in Indiana last week because they lacked photo IDs, now required by Indiana law to vote. None of the nuns drives, and they didn’t have up-to-date driver’s licenses.

They are the latest examples of how we have gotten so obsessed in this country with making sure that the wrong people don’t vote that we are leaving behind scores of citizens whose rights are denied: elderly persons who no longer drive, persons who cannot find their birth certificates to prove citizenship because the records were destroyed or never existed, the poor who don’t own a car, persons with disabilities.

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A birth certificate can take weeks to get, and it costs money. It may not even be available, which often is the case for people born at home or in another state, or whose records were lost.

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One survey found that 17 percent of people over age 65 don’t have access to documents that prove citizenship. Many women don’t have birth certificates that match their current names. Many college students don’t have IDs that show their place of residence.

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The last two secretaries of state, Carnahan and Matt Blunt, reported no instances of election fraud by persons impersonating legitimate voters. The real deception is being perpetrated by legislators, whose claims of fraud are driving what appears to be a political agenda.

http://www.kansascity.com/281/story/615480.html

[babylonsister]

1. This is so not good; I'm at a loss as to why anyone thinks it is,

'cept the rethugs because they know this will disenfranchise so many people.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. You know where I am on this

Still makes me so mad I get tears in my eyes. :cry: :mad:

[babylonsister]

6. Yep, I remember your mom's situation.

:hug:

[ShadowLiberal]

2. Worse yet, in swing state Missouri republicans want to pass even MORE restrictive voter ID laws ASAP

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/12/us/politics/12vote.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/12/us/politics/12vote.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

They want to make sure that the state stays in the republican column in 08', even though like you said zero people have been successfully charged and convicted with voter fraud. Even worse, they're combining the issue with stopping illegal immigrants to vote now to put more emotional support on the side supporting such laws.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. They have had several interesting discussions on KC local TV shows

The Dems always bring up the fact that this is a solution without a problem and the rethugs act shocked that anyone would not have an ID.

Bottom line - here in KC, we straddle 2 states. You would think if voter fraud was a problem, there would be cases where people vote in both states. Yet no one can recall even one case. There used to be massive welfare fraud here where families would claim benefits from both states. But not one case of voter fraud here ever.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Personally, I think it is one of the more evil things the rethugs have done. Even more evil than tampering with the voting machines.

[Speciesamused]

3. Repugs at work, disenfranchising Dem's.

Great way for them to legally keep
Dem's. from voting. Most of us see
where the top 1% want to keep us. Poor
and with no power. Every man and woman
should have the right to vote. Just sickening.