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Location: Blogs Mary's Blog |
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| Posted by: Mary Kiffmeyer |
1/11/2008 |
 Being required to have a Photo ID in order to vote has been a frequent issue in US legislatures including Minnesota. This year the matter has come to a head…the head court of our country, the U.S. Supreme Court. Whatever direction the ruling of the court goes, it will have far reaching implications to all states.
Indiana legislation requires citizens to prove their identification with a government issued picture ID which would be issued free of charge to those at the poverty level plus an affidavit process on Election Day. The legislation was challenged in Indiana and the Appeals Courts ruled that the legislation was reasonable and constitutional. The Appeals Court ruling is now being reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
A survey in Indiana of 1,003 Hoosiers in March, 2005 found that 75% supported requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID. NBC News and the Wall Street Journal nation survey found that 81% of the county favored the requirement. In Minnesota in 2000, Law and Politics Magazine conducted a survey with the same issue and around 75% supporting the requirement with large numbers from all political sides and all ages.
Requiring a photo ID makes a common sense provision for election integrity while increasing public confidence in the system and can increase voter turnout as it has in Indiana.
We have gone through great efforts in Minnesota to be sure we have paper ballots while using technology to help cast and count. All sides have agreed that public confidence in the outcome is critical. The same level of integrity in who gets a ballot should be the same as for counting the ballots. Fraudulent ballots when mixed with legitimate ballots, even when meticulously counted, makes a mockery of election integrity.
The Boston Globe reports that the court does not appear to be very interested in reversing the Appeals Court ruling.
The 2008 election may be the first election in modern times that uses a picture ID to connect the voter to the vote cast in certain states. Will it also be happening in Minnesota?
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Re: Photo ID Draws Supreme Court Attention |
By Gordon Lee on
1/22/2008 |
| The requirement for a government issued ID in order to vote is critical especially since confidence in the integrity of the voting process is becoming so critical. During the last election I questioned voting judges to explain what precautions are taken to avoid illegal aliens from voting if they had no proof of identity. I was told of several ways of "proving" identity, all of which are easily faked. This is outrageous and could end legitimate elections in Minnesota and the rest of the nation. |
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Re: Photo ID Draws Supreme Court Attention |
By charlie on
1/22/2008 |
| way to go, this should be done as a way of making sure that voting is correct and it's the person who is doing the voting, Lets quit the fraudm this would help eliminate it. |
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Re: Photo ID Draws Supreme Court Attention |
By Don Dahl on
1/22/2008 |
| We must have this in Minnesota ! ! ! |
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Re: Photo ID Draws Supreme Court Attention |
By Susan of Willmar on
1/22/2008 |
| YES! YES! and YES! |
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Re: Photo ID Draws Supreme Court Attention |
By Terry Mraz on
1/22/2008 |
| Citizenship must be verified to vote. |
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Re: Photo ID Draws Supreme Court Attention |
By John Carlson on
1/25/2008 |
When non-citizens are allowed to vote it disenfranchises the citizen's role in the political realm. Citizenship is a privilege, not a universal human right. Try to vote in another country as a non-citizen and your reward is commonly either prison or death. Yet, the element that is destroying the social and economic foundation of the state(s) and nation, the American dream haters, are doing everything they can to compel a global government and universal equality of lifestyle, except theirs, and economy. The cost of their feigned ignorance or sheer stupidity will ultimately result in the downfall of the U.S. and death of freedom around the world.
Citizens pay the lions share of the taxes, fund charities, generally do what needs to be done to prop up their communties, state and nation. Their rewards, other than the opportunity to do more of the same, is to select those who lead us. The 'vote' is 'priceless' to citizens who understand its purpose and value. Preserve and protect this sacred right and resonsibility for the citizens. A real ID is needed, not just a state identification card with a picture on it. |
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hypocrite demotwits holding anybody accountable but those that are |
By bobbie on
11/16/2008 |
| Gee, I know I'm kinda late on this, but isn't aiding and abetting illegal behavior against the law? Why isn't every legislator that voted in favor of aiding illegal immigrants in any way, immediately removed? Why is our time, money and lives compromised for the paid legislators continuing failures to do their job within the law? While we are left to pay the consequences! Their failure to set the example of the law? What a true conspiracy! the government and immigrants working to take over the country. There is truly too much ignorance with the governing majority, too much unnecessary expense. Too much danger and no positive leadership at all! Extreme amount of BIAS... HINT: PEOPLE with authority need to do something NOW! We don't get paid to deal with the ignorance of democrats. HOLD the legislators ACCOUNTABLE like we are held accountable to the law. |
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