Idaho GOP leaders want to mandate voter photo IDs

[IDemo]

By JOHN MILLER - Associated Press Writer
Published: 04/02/09

BOISE, Idaho — Republicans want to require Idaho residents to present photo identification before registering to vote and casting ballots.

The bill's sponsors, House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, and Senate President Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, say it's an effort to curb fraud, after the U.S. Supreme Court last year ruled a similar Indiana law wasn't an unconstitutional hurdle to voting.

The measure cleared the House Ways and Means Committee 4-3 Thursday, with all three Democrats on the panel opposing it.

Among other things, it would do away with provisions of Idaho's law that now allow voters to register by mail.

Republicans said the bill, modeled partly after statutes in Indiana and Georgia, would help ensure voters "are who they say they are," even though proponents couldn't cite specific examples of alleged voter fraud in this state, where the GOP holds all statewide elected positions and controls three quarters of the Legislature.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/719478.html

[msongs]

1. this is another poll tax - gotta have $$ to have photo ID nt

[gratuitous]

2. Oh noes, not teh voter frod!

Another solution in search of a problem. One that just coincidentally happens to work in favor of Republicans by disenfranchising voters who would likely vote Democratic. Indiana seems to think this passes for fairness. Is this Idaho's sense of fairness, too?

[hedgehog]

3. Anybody from Idaho here? I live in a small town in Upstate New york.

The poll workers not only know me by name and face, they know enough to ask if the kids are coming in to vote or have sent in absentee ballots. Is that the way it is in Idaho?

[IDemo]

4. Answer: yes and no

Although I'm sure it certainly is that way in much of rural Idaho, the crowds have been fairly large at the past few elections in Boise.

[RubyDuby in GA]

5. I see he's been talking to our idiots down here in GA

[IDemo]

6. Our rethug idjits don't need idiocy schooling from anyone

They all wrote their Master's thesis on drooling idiocy in red crayon a long, long time ago.