Legitimizing the Voting Process

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Last time they marched in the streets, this time there's no excuse:

ATLANTA - A birth certificate might not be enough to vote in Georgia this year — legislation sent to the governor Wednesday would require photo identification before voters could cast their ballots.

The legislation would require voters to have a driver's license, military ID or state-issued identification card with a photo.

Supporters said it would help fight voter fraud. Critics argued it would disenfranchise the poor, minorities or elderly — people who are less likely to have driver's licenses.

Similar legislation last year was blocked by a federal judge because a state ID fee would have amounted to an unconstitutional poll tax. This year's bill waives that fee.

I find it a bit stretchy to equate a driver license fee to a poll tax, but that’s what a federal judge ruled last time. Now Georgia residents won't have to pay a single penny to obtain an identification card, so using the poverty card isn’t going to work.

Vigilant critics, however, will now probably argue that the process of obtaining an ID is disenfranchising and will take too much of an effort. Well maybe you shouldn't be voting if you're that lazy.