BEYOND THE BELTWAY

Voter ID Proponents Gearing Up For Another Push On Bills

Mon. May 12, 2008


Proponents of requiring voters to come to the polls with identification are again pressing their case in several statehouses, this time bolstered with a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the constitutionality of an Indiana voter ID law.

Several states require some form of identification. Three states require voters to present a photo ID.

Efforts to enact legislation requiring voters to identify themselves has turned increasingly partisan and contentious, with many Republicans arguing such measures are needed to prevent voter fraud.

While the court ruled Indiana's law was constitutional, foes of the effort say similar laws would still leave the poor, the elderly and minorities unable to vote.

Last week, the Missouri House approved a measure to change the state constitution to give the Legislature the authority to require voter photo identity legislation.

The state passed a voter ID measure in 2006, but it was struck down by the state's Supreme Court. Supporters have since sought a constitutional amendment to pave the way for a photo ID requirement.

Advocates for the law say there needs to be integrity to the system.

"If we have one case of voter fraud based on misrepresentation, that's one too many," said Republican state Rep. Stanley Cox, the measure's sponsor.

He said he had urged the Legislature to take up the measure following the recent Supreme Court ruling.

The state Senate would have to pass the measure before it adjourns Friday. The amendment would need to be approved by voters.

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, an opponent of the ID requirement, warned following the passage of the House measure that more than 240,000 Missourians might be unable to vote if the amendment passes.

"As Missouri's chief elections official, it's my job to ensure fair elections, and elections cannot be fair if eligible voters are not allowed to vote," said Carnahan. "Many of the registered voters who do not have the type of government ID required also do not have copies of the documents needed to obtain a government ID in the first place -- like a birth certificate."

In Oklahoma, Republicans renewed efforts to pass legislation to require voters to identify themselves through a state-issued voter ID card or driver's license or to require voters to show non-photo identification such as a copy of a utility bill.

The legislation, which passed the Oklahoma House, failed in the state Senate last week along party lines.

"Oklahomans need to have confidence that their vote will count, and they will not trust a system where anyone can vote without having to prove they are eligible," said Republican state Rep. Sue Tibbs.

Republican lawmakers argued the measure is reasonable and less stringent than Indiana's photo ID law.

Opponents contend that with an election looming this year, Republicans are pushing the measure as an election year ploy.

A spokeswoman for the state House Democrats said their Caucus felt the measure was not necessary because the state has one of the safest voting systems in the nation. She argued that if a change of this magnitude is to be made it should be studied further.

The panel's top Democrat was more blunt.

"The so-called 'Voter ID' bill is bad policy for our citizens and straight out of the Karl Rove school of election year posturing," said state Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, a Democrat. "It is another way to disenfranchise senior citizens and minority voters."

While action might be unlikely this year, Tibbs said the effort to get the measure enacted will continue next session.

"We may just use the Indiana version, which would be more harsh than the bill we passed," she said.

by Chuck Jordan

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