Georgia's Voter ID law unconstitutional?

Question

The state of Georgia is trying to pass a law requiring voters to show a phot ID at the polls. The blacks and Democrats claim it is a poll tax, then the IDs were offered for free. They are still against this seemingly logical requirement to vote. If I need a ID to buy beer or cigarettes should i assume these people are teetotallers(usualy the Republican role) or cheaters. Last time I checked you also needed an ID to drive or cash a welfare or social security check. What is unconstitutional about requiring an ID to vote. Surely voting is more important than beer or cigarettes?



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/27/AR2005102702171.html

The idea of the law is to prevent people from voting multiple time under multiple identities...i.e. dead people.

In Australia if you don't vote you are fined..any feedback on this idea. I am just trying to put forth ideas such as one man one vote and evryone counting equally.

If I am required to wear clothes to vote could clothing be counted as a poll tax?

They have offered these IDs for free...ffs

Answer 1

If they are giving away the IDs for free to those who cannot afford them, then I guess I don't understand the argument against it. It seems like common sense to me that you should have to prove your identity so that each person gets one vote and only one vote. Or we could resort to dying people's thumbs with purple ink like they do in some middle east countries, but I'd imagine other groups might howl against that for a number of reasons from Biblical prophecy ("taking the mark") to ink allergies.

One more comment - and this pains me to say, because I am a staunch Dem and fighter for rights of the oppressed - but the arguments against getting an ID to vote weaken considerably when you consider other things that our society requires ID for, and no one balks or complains when they are required to produce a birth certificate or government ID in order to, for example, obtain food stamps or welfare benefits. I am not claiming that this is an issue indemic to any one race - I am saying that when the benefit is desirable enough, people find ways to get around to get those documents together. I've worked with the homeless, and when a monthly payment was due them, they found a way to prove their identity, gather or obtain papers, get rides to the agencies' buildings, etc. If only people valued their right to vote as much as their money.

Answer 2

The South has a long history of schemes and devices to prevent people from voting. I'm suspicious of this law, and will read your article and comment. Thanks for the link.
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It's not just a photo ID, voters would be required to go to the state DMV to get this new digital voter ID. This would be difficult for some people. The state recently closed down many DMV offices and there is no DMV office in black majority Atlanta. "Fewer than 60 of the state's 159 counties have DMV offices." Many more black voters do not have cars than whites.

Voters have always had to present some id at the polls in Georgia, this law would now require the particular ID from the State DMV. Was there a real fraud problem with the prior ID requirement? I doubt it.

This law would clearly limit the ability of some minorities to vote for a while -- i.e. the ones who could not get to the DMV before the next election. If it is solely intended to prevent fraud, several types of ID should be acceptable, and/or a longer phase-in should be given to obtain the ID and/or it should be available at more locations in the state. But as it was written, the law makes it clearly more difficult for blacks to get the ID in time. The law can be amended or rewritten easily, to accomodate BOTH the interest of the state in preventing fraud and the rights of qualified voters to vote.

Answer 3

Asking for a voter id is a horrible idea. It will mostly affect the poor, the elderly, and the uneducated. This has nothing to do with any comparison about being carded for beer or cigarettes. We are talking about a constitutional right guaranteed to all citizens. We are not talking about local laws that reflect local custom. Even though Georgia said they would 'pay' for the ids, there will still be a cost to the person who has to travel, or pay for parking, etc to obtain one. The lower GA court just ruled this law to be unconstitutional, as it should have. It is now up to the GA Supreme Court to weigh in, if the case ever gets there.

Answer 4

No it is not. We live in a day an age where people steal identities everyday. There is nothing wrong with checking to make sure you are who you say you are. I read the article, but I don't understand why GA is requiring a special ID. Why can't they take the old list of 17 ID's?

Answer 5

Is the voter ID free? If it is, barring the condition that some overzealous attorneys may interpret the time spent getting the ID on your own time as paid time lost, I can't see this as a poll tax. I consider myself a Democrat, but I can't see protesting this idea from this standpoint. Then again, when you deal with Southern Democrats they are a breed of their own (remember Zell Miller--crazy quack!)

Answer 6

ID requirement to vote is an AWESOME idea. I imagine the only people who would have a problem with it would be the people who are trying to be deceptive. People (no matter what they believe or where they come from) are always against any idea that might expose them.

Answer 7

Only someone that has something to hide would object to a photo ID. It's the only way to make sure illegals don't vote and they know it.

Answer 8

I think it is a great idea here in fla you have to show photo id in order to vote . I think it is great. if someone is not breaking any laws then they should not be worried about showing an id. You know?

Answer 9

I live in Georgia, and I think it is a great idea!! It won't hurt the people who should be voting, and it will make it harder for all of the people who shouldn't (illegal aliens) be voting!

Answer 10

The ultimate courtroom already ruled that voter identity rules ARE constitutional as long as there is not any fee for the identity.. That has been the regulation in my state in view that 2008. I basically use my drivers license.