Democrats criticize voter ID suggestion
Associated PressPublished September 20, 2005
WASHINGTON - A private commission trying to restore public confidence in national elections recommended on Monday requiring a free photo ID for voters, drawing opposition from Democrats and some voting rights activists.
Critics suggested that having to acquire the ID cards in order to vote could be an obstacle for minorities, the poor and older Americans and might intimidate some people.
"We believe such a requirement would constitute nothing less than a 21st century poll tax," said a letter from Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and John Lewis, D-Ga. Poll taxes were once used in some states to prevent black citizens from voting.
Former President Jimmy Carter, a co-chairman of the commission, said he was hesitant about the free photo ID proposal at first, but laws passed in some states like Georgia convinced him that a national approach was a better idea. In Atlanta, voter and civil rights organizations challenged the Georgia law in federal court, contending in a suit filed Monday that it would disenfranchise minorities and the poor. Nineteen states require voters to show identification; five request photo ID, the National Conference of State Legislatures said.
The commission proposed that voters who don't have the card could cast a provisional ballot and produce the photo ID later. States also would have to promote the photo ID card aggressively.
Two principal Democratic sponsors of legislation aimed at dealing with shortcomings of the 2000 election - Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the House minority whip - also said they are concerned that the photo ID requirement could disenfranchise voters. In a statement, they said the proposal "strikes us as unnecessary and indeed unwise."
The commission recommended improved voter registration lists, requiring a verifiable paper trail for electronic voting machines, rotating regional primaries, and nonpartisan top election officials, while warning that "Americans are losing confidence in elections."
Carter's co-chairman, former Secretary of State James Baker, acknowledged that "there is room for improvement" in a system he believes remains strong. Carter and Baker presented the plan to President Bush on Monday and talked about their plan at the Capitol. Later, Bush thanked them for "the excellent work."
"It is critical to maintain America's trust in our election system," Bush said in a statement.