Strike One Against The Voter ID Laws

Arizona Voter ID Law Barred by Ninth Circuit Injunction

There are law suits in Missouri, Indiana, Michigan, Arkansas and several other states that are requiring voters to provide a picture ID in order to vote. The arguments against such provisions of voter ID laws are manifold, but mostly that these laws discriminate against the poor, minorities and others. My personal view is that all vetting of voters should take place at the time of registration. Once a person is added to the rolls of the voter registration/election office in each jurisdiction, then there should be no requirement for ID at the polls beyond the name, address and voter registration card should a question arise.

In my own experience, after having attended the Porter County poll workers' training, I was asked to provide my picture ID, then they asked me to sign some documents and wanted a photocopy of my ID. When I refused to allow a photocopy of my ID, and I refused to sign the documents, they were going to discount my vote until I raised a stink and they called the main election officers... and there was not a requirement for a copy of my ID or my signature... but I was registered as a Democrat and the poll workers asking for these details were Republican.

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has granted an emergency injunction suspending the application of Arizona's controversial voter ID law a month before the November 7 general election. The law, which Arizonans approved in 2004 as Proposition 200, requires voters to show a government-issued ID at the polls. Last month, a federal district judge denied a petition for injunction, allowing the law to be applied to the primary election. The coalition bringing the petition, which included the League of Women Voters and the Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund, argued that the law caused an unconstitutional burden on minority, immigrant and elderly voters.

Last year, the Ninth Circuit refused to suspend application of Proposition 200 when immigrant groups challenged its denial of certain public benefits to non-citizens. Arizona has indicated that it will appeal Thursday's order.