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Sunday, September 30, 2007

Courts - More on Indiana Voter ID Law goes to Supreme Court [Updated]

The Evansville Courier & Press today editorializes in favor of upholding Indiana's voter ID law, concluding:

Passing this law was more about political posturing than integrity of the ballot box. To the extent that voter fraud exists in Indiana, it's more likely to occur with mail-in absentee ballots.

While there was little need for this law, we don't have a huge objection to requiring ID at polling places. People are asked to show identification every day to board airplanes, cash checks or buy alcohol. Flashing ID before voting is not particularly onerous — as long as the ballot remains secret and there are backup measures for Hoosiers who lack identification. For example, someone who just lost his home, possessions and ID in a pre-election tornado or house fire might very well need provisional balloting.

The current Supreme Court under Chief Justice John G. Roberts has been relatively supportive of post-Sept. 11 security measures. We hope the justices will see through the political machinations motivating both sides in this case. The eventual decision ought to be crafted narrowly enough to uphold the basic legality of the voter ID law, while still ensuring that no eligible voter is disenfranchised.

Hmmm, the voter ID law as a post 9/11 security measure.

[Updated] The NY Times today, in an editorial runthrough of some upcoming issues before the Supreme Court, says this about the voter ID case:

The case that will most test the court’s ability to rise above partisanship is a challenge to Indiana’s voter ID law. Indiana is one of a growing number of states that require voters to present a government-issued photo ID. Such laws have been billed as anti-vote-fraud measures, but there is little evidence of vote fraud at the polls. The Republicans who have pushed these laws are trying to make it hard for poor and minority voters, who are less likely than other groups to have drivers’ licenses — and more likely to vote Democratic — to cast ballots. The court has traditionally championed voting rights, but a conservative majority may boost Republican chances in 2008 by endorsing this disturbing barrier to voting.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on September 30, 2007 11:14 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts