Nuns are turned away from Indiana polls under voter ID law

[Indiana_Dem]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-voterid7-2008may07,0,6706619.story



Nuns are turned away from Indiana polls under voter ID law
The recent requirement says voters must bring photo identification, which the retired sisters didn't have.
By Scott Martelle
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

May 7, 2008

A dozen nuns and an unknown number of students were turned away from polls Tuesday in the first use of Indiana's stringent voter ID law since it was upheld last week by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The nuns, all residents of a retirement home at Saint Mary's Convent near Notre Dame University, were denied ballots by a fellow sister and poll worker because the women, in their 80s and 90s, did not have valid Indiana photo ID cards.

Though state officials reported no significant problems, advocates monitoring polling places said there was occasional confusion.

"We were at one polling place for a few hours and picked up three or four different stories of people being turned away," said Gary Kalman of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group in Washington. "I don't have numbers about how widespread it is."

"It's the law, and it makes it hard," said Sister Julie McGuire, who was working at the polling place and had to explain to the nuns that they could not vote. "Some don't understand why."

Indiana requires voters who come to the polls show a photo ID issued by the state or the federal government. The law was pressed by Republicans citing voter fraud and opposed by Democrats and the ACLU, who argued that it would disenfranchise voters. <snip>

[boobooday]

1. Oooh, the law is obviously working

Protecting us from the shenanigans of 98-year-old-nuns! The true threat to democracy!

[SoonerPride]

2. Anotehr republican disenfranchisement scheme, ratified by a stacked court.

Look for all red states to pass similar laws to hurt Democrats.

The elderly and the poor votes don't count.

[Indiana_Dem]

6. I heard yesterday from an "insider" that there were ~900 students affected:

There were each candidate's lawyers involved but one candidate's lawyers said they couldn't do anything about what the others' lawyers were contesting.

I think this should be a learning experience for the GE. Encourage all college voters to get the proper IDs in Indiana!!

[JPZenger]

3. Strictest ID Law in the Country

Indiana has the toughest voter ID law in the country. In Indiana, you need a current Federal or State of Indiana photo ID. A photo ID from a private college or university is insufficient, for example.

In PA, a first time voter can show almost any identification. It does not even need to include a photo.

[Bicoastal]

5. In Wyoming, you can vote if you spell the name of the state correctly.

True story.

[L0oniX]

4. I guess voting is NUN of their business.

:evilgrin:

[newmajority]

7. Oh, for Christ's sake!!

er, pardon the pun O8)

Yes those NUNS are evil election fixing voter fraud criminals :eyes:

What the fuck is wrong with this world??

[ronnykmarshall]

8. and they are PISSED OFF!!

They are starting their own movement to stop this from happening in the general.

[JPZenger]

9. Locked and loaded and ready for Scalia nt