PittsburghAfterDark
04-19-2006, 11:02 AM
Dean Response to Indiana Court Ruling on Voter ID
April 18, 2006
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement on Indiana's voter identification law, one of the most stringent in the country:
"Today, I join Democrats in Indiana and throughout America in expressing my profound disappointment over the federal court ruling on Indiana's voter identification law. While Democrats are working to protect the fundamental right of all Americans to vote and have their votes counted, Indiana Republicans have joined national Republicans in pursuing unfair voter ID laws that disproportionately prevent countless poor, minority, elderly, rural, disabled and student voters from casting their ballots.
"Indiana's voter ID law, widely regarded as one of the most restrictive in America, creates unfair obstacles that will prevent citizens who are lawfully eligible to vote from casting their ballots. I applaud the Indiana Democratic Party's decision to appeal this ruling. As part of our Party's commitment to doing whatever we can to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to participate in our democracy, the DNC will assist the Indiana Democratic Party's legal challenge to this unfair law and continue our fight to make it easier for all Americans to exercise their right to vote."
DNC Press Release (http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/04/dean_response_t_1.php)
Voter ID law looming for Hoosiers
Indiana Senate OKs strictest rules in U.S.; Daniels has said he'll sign
About the bill
A voter would be required to show a photo ID issued by the U.S. government or the state of Indiana that, at the least, contains their name and an expiration date. Those who cannot afford an ID can obtain one for free, if proper documents are presented.
Exceptions
People who vote by absentee ballot or who are patients at a nursing home or other health facility that is also a polling place are exempt.
If you don't have ID
People who show up at the polls without the ID could cast a provisional ballot that would be counted only if that person takes the required ID to the county clerk's office by the Monday following the election.
By Mary Beth Schneider
mary.beth.schneider@indystar.com
April 13, 2005
A bill that would give Indiana the strictest voter ID requirements in the nation is on its way to Gov. Mitch Daniels' desk -- and, apparently, to a courthouse as well.
The Senate voted along party lines, 33-17, to concur with changes made in the House to Senate Bill 483. The session contained none of the drama and emotionally charged speeches of previous hearings, where Democrats accused Republicans of trying to suppress voting during elections.
Under the bill, most voters would have to show a photo ID issued by the federal or state government, such as a military ID or driver's license. People who do not have a driver's license and cannot afford to pay for a state-issued photo ID will be issued one for free.
The bill now goes to Daniels, who already has said he will sign it into law, and would take effect July 1. The next major election in Indiana is the primary election on May 2, 2006.
Daniels said Tuesday that while he wants to take a look at the bill first, "I said before, I likely would sign it. It reflects the sentiment of the state."
A recent poll taken for The Indianapolis Star and WTHR (Channel 13), The Star's news-gathering partner, showed that 75 percent of the 1,003 Hoosiers surveyed support requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID. The poll, conducted March 25 through March 30 by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, Iowa, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
The Indiana Civil Liberties Union will file a lawsuit, said Legal Director Ken Falk, because of concerns that the bill is unconstitutional and unfair to those who don't have a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, and may not be able to get one.
Such a requirement would prevent some people from voting, said Falk and other opponents of the bill. He did not say when the lawsuit would be filed but said he did not have to wait until after the election is held.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Victor Heinold, R-Valparaiso, said the bill is needed to guard against voter fraud.
"I want everyone in this state to have the right to vote -- one time," Heinold said.
Sen. Larry E. Lutz, D-Evansville, said the only cases of voter fraud in Indiana that have been documented involve absentee ballots -- a problem the bill does not address.
"We should do all we can to make it easier to vote," Lutz said, "not make it more restrictive and intimidating."
While five other states require photo IDs, all allow for more variety -- such as a school ID -- or an alternative, such as a signed affidavit from the voter as to his or her identity. Indiana's bill would allow people who show up at the polls without a photo ID to cast a provisional ballot that would be counted only if the person takes the ID to their county clerk's office by the Monday following the election.
Lutz said many people won't bother to do that, and that surveys have shown that in Indiana's last election, most provisional ballots went uncounted anyway -- many because of errors by poll workers.
Other critics say the bill treats voters differently by exempting some people from the requirements, and hinders the exercise of a constitutional right.
"Everyone is saying all you have to do is go get a free ID," Falk said.
They forget, he said, that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles has made it harder to get that ID by requiring the person to show several pieces of identification that some people don't have, such as a utility bill and a birth certificate. And, he said, it costs money to obtain a birth certificate, while voting should be free.
Indianapolis Star (http://www2.indystar.com/articles/6/236465-2566-009.html)
You'll notice what has Democrats in a tizzy.??A state requires picture ID to vote.??It's a major scandal!??Despite the state of Indiana offering free ID services to anyone for voting purposes, this is a problem???Exceptions being made for nursing home residents and absentee balloting?
Are Democrats really so unsure that their constituancy doesn't have the wherewithal to obtain a free government ID???Is this what they're telling us???Well, indirectly, yes.??They are saying their voters are too damn stupid to know how to vote if they can't just show up.
Hell, you need a picture ID to make a return at most retailers.
This is so typical of liberals, 75% of the state is in favor of it yet they are against it.??Again showing that if they can't win in the legislature try the courts.??The courts will surely be more receptive to their agenda that goes against the will of the people and their elected representatives.
Bottom line: the dead can't go get picture ID's and that is a major Democratic voting block.
April 18, 2006
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement on Indiana's voter identification law, one of the most stringent in the country:
"Today, I join Democrats in Indiana and throughout America in expressing my profound disappointment over the federal court ruling on Indiana's voter identification law. While Democrats are working to protect the fundamental right of all Americans to vote and have their votes counted, Indiana Republicans have joined national Republicans in pursuing unfair voter ID laws that disproportionately prevent countless poor, minority, elderly, rural, disabled and student voters from casting their ballots.
"Indiana's voter ID law, widely regarded as one of the most restrictive in America, creates unfair obstacles that will prevent citizens who are lawfully eligible to vote from casting their ballots. I applaud the Indiana Democratic Party's decision to appeal this ruling. As part of our Party's commitment to doing whatever we can to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to participate in our democracy, the DNC will assist the Indiana Democratic Party's legal challenge to this unfair law and continue our fight to make it easier for all Americans to exercise their right to vote."
DNC Press Release (http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/04/dean_response_t_1.php)
Voter ID law looming for Hoosiers
Indiana Senate OKs strictest rules in U.S.; Daniels has said he'll sign
About the bill
A voter would be required to show a photo ID issued by the U.S. government or the state of Indiana that, at the least, contains their name and an expiration date. Those who cannot afford an ID can obtain one for free, if proper documents are presented.
Exceptions
People who vote by absentee ballot or who are patients at a nursing home or other health facility that is also a polling place are exempt.
If you don't have ID
People who show up at the polls without the ID could cast a provisional ballot that would be counted only if that person takes the required ID to the county clerk's office by the Monday following the election.
By Mary Beth Schneider
mary.beth.schneider@indystar.com
April 13, 2005
A bill that would give Indiana the strictest voter ID requirements in the nation is on its way to Gov. Mitch Daniels' desk -- and, apparently, to a courthouse as well.
The Senate voted along party lines, 33-17, to concur with changes made in the House to Senate Bill 483. The session contained none of the drama and emotionally charged speeches of previous hearings, where Democrats accused Republicans of trying to suppress voting during elections.
Under the bill, most voters would have to show a photo ID issued by the federal or state government, such as a military ID or driver's license. People who do not have a driver's license and cannot afford to pay for a state-issued photo ID will be issued one for free.
The bill now goes to Daniels, who already has said he will sign it into law, and would take effect July 1. The next major election in Indiana is the primary election on May 2, 2006.
Daniels said Tuesday that while he wants to take a look at the bill first, "I said before, I likely would sign it. It reflects the sentiment of the state."
A recent poll taken for The Indianapolis Star and WTHR (Channel 13), The Star's news-gathering partner, showed that 75 percent of the 1,003 Hoosiers surveyed support requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID. The poll, conducted March 25 through March 30 by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, Iowa, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
The Indiana Civil Liberties Union will file a lawsuit, said Legal Director Ken Falk, because of concerns that the bill is unconstitutional and unfair to those who don't have a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, and may not be able to get one.
Such a requirement would prevent some people from voting, said Falk and other opponents of the bill. He did not say when the lawsuit would be filed but said he did not have to wait until after the election is held.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Victor Heinold, R-Valparaiso, said the bill is needed to guard against voter fraud.
"I want everyone in this state to have the right to vote -- one time," Heinold said.
Sen. Larry E. Lutz, D-Evansville, said the only cases of voter fraud in Indiana that have been documented involve absentee ballots -- a problem the bill does not address.
"We should do all we can to make it easier to vote," Lutz said, "not make it more restrictive and intimidating."
While five other states require photo IDs, all allow for more variety -- such as a school ID -- or an alternative, such as a signed affidavit from the voter as to his or her identity. Indiana's bill would allow people who show up at the polls without a photo ID to cast a provisional ballot that would be counted only if the person takes the ID to their county clerk's office by the Monday following the election.
Lutz said many people won't bother to do that, and that surveys have shown that in Indiana's last election, most provisional ballots went uncounted anyway -- many because of errors by poll workers.
Other critics say the bill treats voters differently by exempting some people from the requirements, and hinders the exercise of a constitutional right.
"Everyone is saying all you have to do is go get a free ID," Falk said.
They forget, he said, that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles has made it harder to get that ID by requiring the person to show several pieces of identification that some people don't have, such as a utility bill and a birth certificate. And, he said, it costs money to obtain a birth certificate, while voting should be free.
Indianapolis Star (http://www2.indystar.com/articles/6/236465-2566-009.html)
You'll notice what has Democrats in a tizzy.??A state requires picture ID to vote.??It's a major scandal!??Despite the state of Indiana offering free ID services to anyone for voting purposes, this is a problem???Exceptions being made for nursing home residents and absentee balloting?
Are Democrats really so unsure that their constituancy doesn't have the wherewithal to obtain a free government ID???Is this what they're telling us???Well, indirectly, yes.??They are saying their voters are too damn stupid to know how to vote if they can't just show up.
Hell, you need a picture ID to make a return at most retailers.
This is so typical of liberals, 75% of the state is in favor of it yet they are against it.??Again showing that if they can't win in the legislature try the courts.??The courts will surely be more receptive to their agenda that goes against the will of the people and their elected representatives.
Bottom line: the dead can't go get picture ID's and that is a major Democratic voting block.