Posted on 10/20/2006 2:09:23 PM PDT by Babu
24 minutes ago: WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled Friday that Arizona may require voters to provide photo IDs when they cast their ballots next month.
The justices cautioned that they were not issuing a ruling on the constitutionality of Arizona's law. "As we have noted, the facts in these cases are hotly contested," the court said in an unsigned five-page order.
The ruling merely allows the Nov. 7 election to proceed with the photo ID law in place. Federal courts still will have to resolve a lawsuit contending that the law will disenfranchise numerous voters, particularly the elderly and minorities.
Courts in Georgia and Missouri have blocked similar laws.
Justice John Paul Stevens, in a brief concurring opinion, said the high court's action makes it more likely that the constitutional issues "will be resolved correctly on the basis of historical facts rather than speculation."
The law requires voters to prove citizenship when registering to vote and to show photo IDs when they go to the polls. The law was meant to make sure illegal immigrants weren't casting ballots.
Opponents of the law contend it discourages some people from voting, including the elderly, poor and disadvantaged who don't always carry IDs. Arizona residents, Indian tribes and community groups filed suit in May.
A federal judge ruled the state could enforce the law. But the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later blocked it from taking effect for the Nov. 7 election.
In his bid to allow the state to go forward, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard told the justices that "voter registration at the polls is an emerging issue of national importance. States have a compelling interest in curbing fraud and protecting the integrity of elections."
Voters without proper ID may cast provisional ballots and furnish identification within five business days of the election.
Lacking photo identification, voters still can cast ballots during the state's early voting period. State officials said there is ample time to compare signatures on the ballot with those on registration rolls.
I believe if you don't have a picture ID or license, you can show proof with a utility bill or mortage statement, which still doesn't really prove you're a legal citizen, imo.
Great News!! Surprised me that they took such fast action. Now if we can just get Munsil to win over Napalitano.
Thanks for posting the good news!
Thanks for the ping.
I'm really surprised it was over-turned before the election. Now we only need to worry about the other methods of voter fraud the Demos typically use.
Notice that they didn't say "citizens". The "voters" that this will disenfranchise are: Juvenile-Americans, Housepet-Americans, Necro-Americans, Foreign-Americans, Imaginary-Americans, and maybe even some Multi-Americans. Adult American citizens, casting a single vote, will not be disenfranchised.
Push back conitnues...
The excuse that it's too hard to get ID or carry it with you all the time is complete and utter BS.
You have to show proof of ID to get food stamps, or government assistance.
You have to show ID to get your pay check cashed or to open an account at a bank.
You have to show ID to get a job.
As someone else said, you have to show ID to take a test for a job.
The whole reason they are making a fuss over this issue, is simply because it allows illegals, felons and people who SHOULD NOT have the right to vote, to vote. And these people generally vote for Democrats. It's common sense, why do they fight so hard to knock down the voter ID rule? Because it will hurt their votes.
Democrats don't do anything unless they can gain something from it.
BTTT!
He had no choice, HG. He knows what side his bread is buttered on. It would have been political suicide had he not fought for this.
And it still makes him out to be a hypocritical damnocrat. How 'bout that!
Wow, that's great news! Especially in liberal Tempe!
Baloney. The elderly, poor, and disadvantaged sign up for all types of government programs to help them get through life financially. And in order to apply for those programs to begin with, one must have tons if ID.
This past May, in the Indiana primaries, the voters all had to show a photo ID.
Not one single voter complained.
Lots of voters had their ID's out before they even walked into the polling place.
I must say I was surprised that no one complained to me.
The only mad voters were the ones who declared themselves democrats and they got a ballot where in every single race only one democrat was running. So they showed up for nothing! LOL
But, at least one of the schools in Tempe can't spell. Of all things to misspell. Who is allowed to misspell Spelling bee? Sorry. It probably has nothing to do with this, but I had to bring it up.
I hope this is a sign of things to come, like to Tennessee....
Don't forget the stupid.
Oh, it also affects those who vote more than once, using the names of the deceased. That's a lot of Democrats.
That's not true. The Missouri supreme court's decision was based on Missouri constitutional law. Therefore, this SCOTUS decision will have no effect on the Missouri decision. Missouri will need to change either its constitution or its supreme court.
DUers now on suicide watch!
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