High Court Deals Blow to Voting Rights By Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn)

[Better Believe It]

Counterpunch
May 7, 2008
Limiting the Franchise
High Court Deals Blow to Voting Rights
By Rep. KEITH ELLISON

Eight years after Bush vs. Gore, the U.S. Supreme Court has delivered another blow to the rights of American citizens by upholding the most restrictive voter law in decades. The court's recent ruling effectively bars thousands of eligible voters from the franchise.

The decision in Crawford vs. Marion County Board upholds Indiana's requirement that voters in the state of Indiana present a state-issued photo ID if they wish to cast a ballot. The court upheld a statute that it admits:

• Does not prevent the fraud it was intended to prevent.
• Is designed to prevent a type of fraud that does not exist.
• Does not prevent the fraud that is a documented problem in the state.
• Places an extra burden on the poor, minority, elderly and college voters in Indiana.

Justice Antonin Scalia, in a scathing concurrence, indicated that the votes of those people who do not own a photo ID were "irrelevant" because they were unwilling to pay for the photo IDs required to vote. This opinion fails to appreciate the economic hardships faced by those in poverty. Scalia advocated for limiting the franchise among some of society's most vulnerable groups in the most severe and discriminatory fashion since the poll tax.

Minnesota consistently leads the nation in voter turnout. This is no accident. We have one of the most transparent and accessible voter systems in the country, with same day registration and no photo ID requirement. We also have a reputation for the cleanest elections in the country. We should be rightfully proud -- and the nation should follow our lead.

Please read the entire article at:
http://www.counterpunch.org/ellison05072008.html

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

1. deceptive post all around

"Marion County Board upholds Indiana's requirement that voters in the state of Indiana present a state-issued photo ID if they wish to cast a ballot."

Cant you submit provisionally without photo ID? Yes you can and you have 10 days to go with the id needed to validate that vote.

"he votes of those people who do not own a photo ID were "irrelevant" because they were unwilling to pay for the photo IDs required to vote."

Indiana allows free photo ID's for non drivers and all drivers *have* a photo ID

--

Whether you are for against or indifferent please use real facts...

[Better Believe It]

2. Have You Sent Congratulations To Justice Antonin Scalia On His Concurrence?

I didn't write the article.

Therefore, you ought to send an e-mail or letter to Congressman Ellison condemning his statement if you haven't already done so.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

3. I was not accusing you of writing the article sorry for the inference..

But as I said spitting out untruths left and right does *not* advance the cause of keeping these laws off the books. All the do is tear down any real arguments before you build them. I may follow the link and do that you dont serve the truth by lying..