The Supreme Court announced its decision on the Indiana Voter ID law today.
Amazingly, common sense won the day. The state can require a photo ID from voters on election day. Indiana has tried to make this as easy as possible. They have made free ID cards available for non-drivers. Nursing home residents who vote at their nursing home do not need ID. A voter who forgets his ID can cast a provisional ballot and has ten days to prove their identity.
I have worked three elections since the voter ID law passed. I worked at a polling place--in a nursing home--that took in three of the poorest precincts in the city. I have never yet seen a voter turned away for lack of ID. We had a couple of people who had to go back out to their cars to grab ID. We didn't have one complaint. People thought it made sense. They were mostly poor people, mostly black and hispanic, mostly democrat, in short, those who the critics say this law will hurt.
This election I will be running another precinct of the same sort. I'll let you all know if there are any problems, but I don't anticipate any.
3 comments:
I was so heartened by today's ruling. However, we still can't even get a voter ID bill through our state legislature here in Wisconsin, let alone get our governor to sign it.
Congratulations to Indiana. I hope more states follow your example.
I cannot understand how anyone can think it's a bad idea for voters to prove they are who they say they are before casting their ballot. Baffles me that anyone would oppose a law requiring some form of ID.
I have to agree with groovy mom. I'd rather have to identify myself.
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