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April 29, 2008
"Unreasonable Burden"?
I don't think so and neither do the Supremes
The burdens that are relevant to the issue before us are those imposed on persons who are eligible to vote but do not possess a current photo identification that complies with the requirements of SEA 483.16 The fact that most voters already possess a valid driver’s license, or some other form of acceptable identification, would not save the statute under our reasoning in Harper, if the State required voters to pay a tax or a fee to obtain a new photo identification. But just as other States provide free voter registration cards, the photo identification cards issued by Indiana’s BMV are also free. For most voters who need them, the inconvenience of making a trip to the BMV, gathering the required documents, and posing for a photograph surely does not qualify as a substantial burden on the right to vote, or even represent a significant increase over the usual burdens of voting.
This is an important and needed ruling (and surely Justice Stephens' experience with the Daley Machine influenced him here). Unfortunately we need to have IDs for voting. It's too easy for fraud to occur, and especially with a very closely split electorate that has to be avoided.
Posted by Mr. Bingley at April 29, 2008 07:13 AM
Comments
Hell I had to give a DNA sample just to rent from Blockbuster PLUS my photo ID
Posted by: WunderKraut at April 29, 2008 07:39 AM
Did you read the other part of the opposing brief, Mr. B? Apparently, those lawyers actually argued the law was bad because Republicans supported it.
Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at April 29, 2008 09:36 AM
Yep. That's as sound a legal theory as they could come up with.
But don't questions their patriotism!
Posted by: Mr. Bingley at April 29, 2008 09:38 AM
Thank God no one can question Bingley's identification photo.
Posted by: tree hugging sister at April 29, 2008 11:24 AM
Hey, who's the guy sitting on Mr. Bingley?
Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at April 29, 2008 11:31 AM
I remember my one friend, who did not have her license b/c she used public transportation, made it a point to get a photo ID. It's important to have for a lot of reasons beyond preventing voter fraud.
Last week when I went to vote they did ask me for ID b/c I had just moved to the area, but we have voter registration cards here so I used my freshly issued one.
Posted by: Kate P at April 29, 2008 11:32 AM