Posted on 04/04/2002 4:16:58 AM PST by madprof98
Washington --- A coalition of civil rights and liberal advocacy groups Wednesday urged Congress to drop a proposed rule to require first-time voters to show a picture identification at the voting booth.
"This is a giant step in the wrong direction," Raul Yzaguirre said at a rally near the Supreme Court. Yzaguirre is president of the Hispanic civil rights group the National Council of La Raza.
"There are lots of people who can't get a driver's license," he said. "If you're from out of state, if you're paralyzed, if you have a physical problem, if you're blind, if you're incapacitated in some way, if you don't want to drive."
Yzaguirre and other protesters said the ID requirement would make voting more difficult for minorities, poor people, disabled Americans and students. They are less likely to have a state-issued driver's license or ID, which can cost about $30 and often requires proof of residency, which some of them do not have.
"Democrats and Republicans should be working to make it easier for Latinos to vote, not harder," Yzaguirre said.
The ID requirement, which would apply to voters who register by mail, was added to a major voting reform bill in an effort to reduce voter fraud. But opposition to the measure has put the bill's future in jeopardy.
The groups at the rally --- including the League of Women Voters and the American Civil Liberties Union --- said they support many provisions in the overall bill, such as providing $3.5 billion to states over five years to modernize voting systems, train election workers and educate voters. In addition, the bill would require each state to develop a statewide computerized voter registration list by 2004.
The legislation was crafted after the 2000 presidential election, which was marred by voting disputes in Florida.
According to a study by the Civil Rights Commission, minority voters were disproportionately --- and sometimes unfairly --- turned away from the polls. Many Democrats claim that cost Al Gore the presidency.
"Studies have shown that over 6 million Americans across our nation were disenfranchised in the November 2000 election," NAACP Washington director Hilary Shelton said. "Our patience has run thin. It has been 17 months. . . . We need to pass comprehensive election reform legislation as soon as possible."
Shelton and other speakers were joined by about 70 people, some in wheelchairs, carrying colorful signs with slogans such as, "I don't drive but I want to vote" and "Let's make it easier to vote, not harder."
Del McNeil, executive director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, said the requirement for a photo ID would have "a catastrophic and unacceptable" effect on people with disabilities.
"The vast majority are dependent on others for transportation," he said.
Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, ranking Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee, told the crowd to lobby Congress aggressively to change the bill and to pass it, a task he equated to "herding puppies."
"The last inning is the most important," he said. "When we win, all America will thank us."
You can't write a check at the grocery store without showing ID. You can't use your credit card at Best Buy without showing ID.
But it's somehow wrong to require voters to prove who they are at the polls by showing proper ID? Whatever they are smoking, pass it! No, wait. I don't do that anymore. Anyway, it must be some gooooood stuff!
I especially like that John Conyers, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the NAACP, all well known for their bi-partisan approach to legislation, were consulted for their in-depth analysis on the issue.
As I recall, many states require you to have a photo ID.
Just so.
EVERY state has procedures for people who cannot get a drivers license (elderly, blind, uninsurable, etc.) to get a state ID that is also issued by the DMV. Anyone who writes a check for $20 for milk, eggs and butter at the Piggly Wiggly must show either a drivers license or a state ID to do that.
Asking voters to show ID of SOME type is not discrimination against the poor. It is "discrimination" against fraudulent "voters." And they have it coming.
This is a typical example of the writers and editors of the Constitution not bothering to think before they print something. But that's typical. I think it's a requirement in the Style Manual for this particular newspaper.
Congressman Billybob
Click here to fight Shays-Meehan.
Click here for latest column: "When Billie Comes Marching Home Again."
So, they were able to get to this rally for a photo op, but claim it is too difficult to get a photo ID to vote?
(singing...) I said no, no, no, no I don't smoke it no more; I'm tired of wakin' up on the floor...
no thank you please, it only makes me wheeze; and then it makes it hard to find the door!
I think you should get one vote for every dollar of taxes you pay. This could solve two problems, voting and tax collection.
Doofus. One can also get a picture ID (non-driver's license) from the state at any DMV. Methinks you don't know enough about America to have a voice in any decision making.
Unless you're a RAT finding the door to the voting booths!
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