Associated Press
When Edward and Mary Weidenbener went to vote in Indiana’s primary in May, they didn’t realize that state law required them to bring government photo IDs such as a driver’s license or passport.
The husband and wife, both approaching 90 years old, had to use a temporary ballot that would be verified later, even though they knew the people working the polling site that day.
Unaware that Indiana law obligated them to follow up with the county election board, the Weidenbeners ultimately had their votes rejected — news to them until informed recently by an Associated Press reporter.
Edward Weidenbener, a World War II veteran who had voted for Mitt Romney in the Republican presidential contest, said he was surprised by the rules and the consequences.
“A lot of people don’t have a photo ID. They’ll be automatically disenfranchised,” he said.
As more states put in place strict voter ID rules, an AP review of temporary ballots from Indiana and Georgia, which first adopted the most stringent standards, found that more than 1,200 such votes were tossed during the 2008 general election.
During sparsely attended primaries this year in Georgia, Indiana and Tennessee, the states implementing the toughest laws, hundreds more ballots were blocked.
The numbers suggest that the legitimate votes rejected by the laws are far more numerous than are the cases of fraud that advocates of the rules say they are trying to prevent.
Thousands more votes could be in jeopardy for this November, when more states with larger populations are looking to have similar rules in place.
More than two dozen states have some form of ID requirement, and 11 of those passed new rules over the past two years largely at the urging of Republicans who say they want to prevent fraud.
Democrats and voting rights groups fear that ID laws could suppress votes among people who may not typically have a driver’s license, and disproportionately affect the elderly, poor and minorities.
While the number of votes is a small percentage of the overall total, they have the potential to sway a close election.
Remember that the 2000 presidential race was decided by a 537-vote margin in Florida.
Comments
ID laws for voting are a solution in search of a problem.
Well, voter fraud isn't really a problem so I think my comment is valid. How many times have you (or anyone you know) walked into a polling place and when you sign the registry, see that someone has already signed in as you?
Never?
That's what I thought.
redeye1....Could you provide some proof that backs up your statement that "people are signing up under different names at various polls and going from place to place to vote." ?
Thanks.
dear mr. redeye --- you sir, are a complete and utter douchebag.
Sincerely,
The Human Race
Redeye, are you saying people could sign up multiple times to vote or people have signed up multiple times to vote? There's quite a difference there.
I imagine an audit of the voter rolls would catch such a nefarious person quickly.
I'm against any law that makes it more difficult to vote or threatens to reject legitimate votes.
A DNA swab when you register to vote along with a photo and fingerprints, like the army does would solve most voter fraud, and might clear up alot of cold case files.
Heard our President say the other day that many folks would receive a voucher for Healthcare if they could not afford to pay for it.....Wonder if you have to have some sort of ID to get the voucher? If not, they would be like cash.. Traded for goods and services at the LITTLE BAGDAD convenience store like the other Govt. handouts..
The democrats main argument is there is never been proof of voter fraud. To which one must ask how do you tell if there has been any when the law forbids you from asking for photo id. T
Then they say since there has been no voter fraud we dont needs this law and one must think should we wait to some one steals a election. What whould happen if a close election like the election we had between bush and kerry was decide by false balots. If it came out a year latter should we have said to bush i am sorry but you didnt win you have 24 hours to pack your things and get out of the white house.
Since when has having an ID become soooo difficult? This is ridiculous.
You show me proof of a problem and I'll admit we need a solution.
In a country where high voter turnout is anything above 40% I don't think voter fraud is a problem.
This is really about the poor and minorities not being able to prove their identities so they can stay under the government radar and collect more public assistance.
I can't say I ever meet someone who didn't have some form of legal ID. I think if producing an ID is a problem for you, then there just might be a problem. It also will prevent people from voting 12 times!! Wow, good old voter fraud ridden Chicago isn't going to like this!
Tough ID laws will block illegal voters and stop multiple repeat voting, Wow, think of that, an honest election.