Can anyone explain why this bill is a bad thing? I'm not being coy... I am genuinely interested in opinions against enacting this bill. I find the arguments cited in the article pretty weak; how hard is it to obtain an ID, and show it when it's time to vote? Opinions welcome!

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060921-123316-5086r.htm

House bill to require voter ID
By Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
September 21, 2006


The House yesterday passed legislation that would require voters to show a valid photo identification in federal elections over the overwhelming objections of Democrats who compared the bill to segregation-era measures aimed at disenfranchising Southern blacks.
The Federal Election Integrity Act was approved on a nearly party-line 228-196 vote. Republicans backed the bill 224-3, with three nonvoters; Democrats opposed it 192-4, with five nonvoters. They were joined in opposition by the House's one independent member.
The bill, which faces an uncertain future in the Senate, is part of a Republican effort to complete before the November elections a package of proposals aimed at curbing illegal immigration and its effects on ordinary Americans.
The so-called "Voter ID" bill, aimed at stamping out voter fraud, would require voters in federal elections to provide picture identification by 2008 and provide proof of U.S. citizenship by 2010. It was among the recommendations made last year by the bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, headed by former President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, a Republican.
"Effective voter registration and voter identification are bedrocks of a modern election system," they wrote in their final report.
But Democrats, siding with groups that work on behalf of minorities and illegal aliens, called the bill a "modern-day poll tax" and said it would place an insurmountable burden on voters and infringe upon their voting rights.
Rep. Brian Bilbray, California Republican, countered that the real infringement upon voting rights would be allowing fraudulent votes by the dead or illegal "to cancel out legitimate votes."
"That is the violation of the Voters Rights Act that we have not addressed," he told colleagues before the vote.
Democrats, who have long demanded reforms to the federal voting process, yesterday dismissed Republican concerns about voter fraud.
"Show me the examples of the problem you're trying to solve," demanded Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat who accused Republicans of trying to appeal to the "fear and -- yes, perhaps -- the prejudices of people."
A Republican cited a study by Johns Hopkins University that found 1,500 dead people who had voted in recent elections. Mr. Hoyer belittled the study, saying no criminal convictions for voter fraud had been won in any of those cases.
Mr. Bilbray pointed out that such convictions might be obtained if proper identification were required.
"Voter fraud is not something you can come back to after the fraud is committed," he said. "The person who voted for those dead people is long gone by the time it comes up on the record."
Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, Florida Republican, urged support of the bill because, she said, it would prevent illegal aliens from voting in U.S. elections.
"It's outrageous and inexcusable that voters do not have to show proof of citizenship in order to vote in an election," she said. "Illegal immigrants are populating this country at an unprecedented number, and it is unjust and unfair to citizens of this country that noncitizens should have a hand in electing federal officials."
Rep. Alcee L. Hastings, Florida Democrat, said he's more concerned about discouraging voters than he is about illegals voting.
"Nonparticipation in the election process is more of a problem in this country than noncitizens trying to vote," Mr. Hastings said.
Rep. John Lewis, Georgia Democrat, called the bill a "modern-day poll tax" and charged that the bill "is nothing less than voter suppression."
He also reminded the Republican chamber of its overwhelming support in July for renewing the Voting Rights Act, although many conservatives off Capitol Hill warned that portions of it are no longer necessary.
"Just three months ago, this body passed the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, admitting the sad fact that voter discrimination is still the reality," said Mr. Lewis, who said requiring identification at the polls is "an attack on the voting rights of millions of Americans."
Across the Capitol in the Senate, Democrats continued to slow-walk legislation approved by the House last week to construct 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. The chamber voted yesterday 94-0 on a procedural motion to take up the bill.
Despite universal approval for taking up the legislation, Democratic leaders refused to grant "unanimous consent" agreements to speed up the process.

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i had to give a copy of my drivers license for my voter registration, but anyone can get one.

some think an ID for voting is a national ID system in disguise

...and the problem with a national ID card is ....

Bot

It's about time they check ID's for voting, nothing wrong with that. I don't buy the argument that it will surpress the vote for minorities or the poor. I mean how do they survive without some type of offical ID? How do thy cash those assistance checks? Chances are if they are so detached from society that they don't have an ID, they aren't going to vote anyway.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

On that point you disagree with the Republican strategists who have determined that this bill will decrease the number of people who are likely to vote for the candidates with "D" after their name.

It seems to me I had to show some proof of residence in the county (driver's lic.) in order to register to vote. I didn't know this was even an issue. How else are they going to insure that the some individual is not voting more than once?

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I am the last person who would want to stiffle anyone from voting for a canidate with a "D" after their name. But, not having some form of offical ID is just plain ignorant and stupid in todays society.

On the other hand, for the people who want to rejoin society, how do you get an official ID if you don't posses any ID to begin with? Any solutions on this catch 22 of a dilemma?

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

Wouldn't work in Oregon. We mail in our votes.

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Ralph

1985 300D Turbo, CA model
248,650 miles and counting...

The problem is ever so slowly our rights are being taken away from us. First it's a national ID. Then it's required to carry it at all times. Then they start restricting travel. Who knows where it will end.
Might as well move to Russia that's the way it is over there.

Danny

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ID's strickly for voter identification and justified official purposes only (ie.. DL's, SS#, ect..). ID's are justified for eligibilty and identity of the voters. I do not support ID's for nazi minded agendas.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

A national ID would immediately inform a prospective employer as to the eligibility of a new hire. No ticket, no job. End of illegal immigrant problem.

Bot

A good resource for equity in voting issues is www.ac4vr.com. Which is a non-partisan organization concerned with combatting voter fraud. They track instances of voter fraud and champion methods which might improve the ability of a citizen to cast a vote. An example of one report of thiers find that the Democratic party participated in voter fraud to a much greater degree than did the Republican party during the 2004 election.

With regard to having an valid ID in order to vote...

You have to have a valid ID to board an airplane in order to prove who you are. I would think that voting is more important that going to visit Aunt Gertrude.

Here's what the vote-meister, Jimmy Carter had to say on the subject:

Former President Jimmy Carter On Voter IDs: "This Will Be, I Think, A Move Forward In Getting More People To Vote. It Would Not Restrict People From Voting. It Will Be Uniformly Applied Throughout The Country. And It Will Be Nondiscriminatory."

You can read the whole Baker/Carter report on the AC4VR website listed above.

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-livin' in the terminally flippant zone

What good is it that we elect our government if the election process is seriously flawed? I do not want to keep registered voters from exercising the franchise, but I sure as hell do not want unregistered non citizens voting. I also would prevent the dead from voting. One person--one vote.

Guarding the franchise requires guarding from both extremes.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

AZ has had that in effect since 2004. Its first real test is staring us in the face right now.

We've had the requirement in Ky for years. No big deal anymore. Most people know to bring their DL with them. After all, most of them did just drive to the poll. My grandmother didn't drive for probably 30-40 years, but still kept her DL for id.