Photo ID: A campaign issue?
This afternoon, AG and would-be-governor Jay Nixon weighed in on the resolution, now in the Mo. Senate, that would ask voters whether the state constitution should be amended to require a photo ID at the polls.
Nixon, in an e-mailed statement:
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy. Over the years, millions of Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice to earn and defend voting rights. As elected leaders, we should work to increase voting and participation in the democratic process, not create new unnecessary roadblocks. With just five days left in the legislative session, it’s unfortunate that Republican leaders are focused on making it harder for Missourians to vote instead of making it easier for middle-class families to afford health care or higher education. Then again, after four years of moving our state backwards, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by our opponents’ misplaced priorities.”
It’s not exactly a surprise that Nixon would oppose such a measure; the debate on this has pretty much been along party lines, with Democrats going against.
Whether it becomes a big campaign issue is another matter. Democrats, such as Nixon, might not find too much support in a general election contest for their position,as even opponents acknowledge that average voters have little trouble themselves coming up with the ID; if the measure gets on the ballot a lot of observers expect it to pass.
And while gubernatorial candidates could serve as mouthpieces for or against the ballot measure, they don’t really have direct influence. Perhaps the closest they would come to this issue is selecting the state judges that might one day rule on a legal challenge.
The right to vote is indeed the cornerstone of our democracy. And the right to vote is cheapened when the influence of legitimate voters is diluted by those who access the ballot box unlawfully. Democrats oppose these measures because when election fraud does take place, it is rarely in areas where Republicans stand to benefit.
As a Democrat, I am all for voter ids. However, since the Republicans only bring this issue up in election years, it smacks less of a serious concern over voting irregularities and more of an politically motivated agenda.
Of course if they are serious, I am certain that this can become a bi-partisan effort by simply writing a comprehensive and comprehensible law that would stand up to challenges, and, having said law go into effect say by December 31, 2009. Of course this would allow for implementation and the maximum number of voters to be registered and verified.
Requiring a photo ID to vote will be a very effective tool to combat casual voter fraud. This requires no massive investment to enforce and should not be an insurmountable obstacle to those who wish to vote. The only reason for Nixon to be against this resolution is if he stands to benefit from it not passing. I find that to be an outrage and presents a not so pretty picture of how unethical he is. Of course that should not a surprise to anyone since he is a lawyer.
Buy I hope that voter ID because an issue this fall. Once again Nixon panders to his far left bosses, and not the people of the State.
Let’s get this on the ballot!
As a (usually) democratic voter I cannot believe my party keeps blocking voting IDs. And every time I hear a politician say the line about no evidence of voter impersonation fraud I don’t know if someone is trying to pull the Jedi mind trick on me or if they are really that stupid. I don’t have any proof that this keyboard is made up of atoms but I am fairly sure they are there. Really we don’t need to oppose this policy to continue to win elections, we are the party that is better than that.
What is every one so scared about. Is this not what democracy is all about. Let the people of the great State of Missouri decide if we want photo ID for voting. It is ironic that the Dems are fighting an issue that allows the people to vote on a voting issue. They wanted the people to vote on minimum wage, but not on ‘voting safe guards’–very strange. This could be the last chance for the illeagals, dead people, and non-residents to vote against them allowed to vote.
Antother thought, I need a government issued photo ID to purchase a firearm. Owning a firearm is a Missouri constitutional right. If I don’t show a photo ID to a FFL dealer, and I am denied, is that not violating my constituional rights?
So the Republicans (and others, but chiefly the Republicans) want people to have a photo ID in order to vote because they are concerned about voter fraud… Does that mean that Matt Blunt and others in office championing this believe that they were elected into office by votes that were cast fraudulently?
I’ve yet to hear anyone produce evidence of voters misrepresenting themselves. Seems like much to do about nothing.
Still, in this day and age, it’s probably a good idea for people to have photo I.D.s. Before they get up in arms about I.D.s for voting, perhaps the Republicans could launch an effort to provide I.D.s to the the disabled, the blind, the elderly, etc.
Let’s see them send Dept. of Revenue employees to community fairs, churchs and other venues in the community and produce photo I.D.s on the spot. If they’re so concerned about people having I.D.s lets see them make it easier for people to get them.
Easier to get an ID? How much easier can it get? If you can get to the poll to vote, you can get to a local government office to get an ID. The only people who are hurt by this are illegal immigrants, multiple voters, and Democrats.
Mr. Think,
In my town, one of the polling places is at a public housing senior citizens center. To get to the polls, many of the residents only need to take the elevator to the first floor. But getting out to the store, the doctor or, yes, the county courthouse, is quite difficult for many of these residents. Seniors take their right to vote very seriously, but for many it’s been years since they had a driver’s license. I believe the Secretary of State found that there’s more than 100,000 people who vote but don’t have I.D.s. These aren’t illegal immigrants but the blind, the disabled and the elderly.