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Photo ID for Voters Garners New Support

By Quin Hillyer on 10.28.11 @ 2:18PM

Last night on my radio show, former U.S. Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama, a centrist, black Democrat who was the first non-Illinois congressman to endorse Barack Obama for president, spent a half hour discussing his recent conversion in favor of requiring that voters show photo IDs. He first went public with his position in a Montgomery Advertiser column about 11 days ago, after contacting me to see if I wanted to write about it.

Considering that so many Democrats, including Bill Clinton, claim that photo ID requirements amount to vote-suppression, this apostasy from within their party ranks is a big deal. But it comes from an honest man -- the same man who I believe (unless I missed something) is still the only Demo congressman to admit that he and others were wrong about eight years ago to oppose reforms for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Indeed, Davis first got elected by defeating the Democratic machine led by longtime incumbent Earl Hilliard, who had beclowned himself with a series of outrageous remarks (if I remember rightly, those remarks were widely adjudged to be anti-Semitic). Anyway, Davis was absolutely terrific on my show last night, as befits a thoughtful man of integrity. If I ever get technologically savvy, I'll figure out how to post the audio of last night's show. Meanwhile, this passage from his column is worth noting:

The truth is that the most aggressive contemporary voter suppression in the African American community, at least in Alabama, is the wholesale manufacture of ballots, at the polls and absentee, in parts of the Black Belt. Voting the names of the dead, and the nonexistent, and the too-mentally-impaired to function, cancels out the votes of citizens who are exercising their rights -- that's suppression by any light. If you doubt it exists, I don't; I've heard the peddlers of these ballots brag about it, I've been asked to provide the funds for it, and I am confident it has changed at least a few close local election results.

Some issues should not be racial or partisan. Ensuring the integrity of elections is one of them. Bravo to former Rep. Davis for breaking with his party leaders to say so.

View all comments (6) | Leave a comment

TheNowIsTime| 10.28.11 @ 2:47PM

Voter ID is an excellent start. The people who have problems with this are almost entirely the leaches on society. People who work for a living have no problems getting an ID.

Ideally there should be two requirements for getting an ID that would allow you to vote. One, you have to pass a simple civics exam, in English. Two, you have to be a taxpayer who has paid federal income taxes in three of the last four years. Limit voting to the productive members of society and there isn't a problem we face now that wouldn't be solved in short order.

OreGun| 10.28.11 @ 2:49PM

In Oregon we have the secret ballot which is a secret how the outcome of the elections are. It is a mail-in ballot were you are required to sign the envelope which is tossed and the voting card itself has no identifying marks. This keeps you from ever questioning your vote count as there is no way to retrieve your ballot to see how you might if voted. You are putting all your faith in the machines and workers that the votes are indeed counted properly and the outcome is correct. It is based completely on faith with no checks possible since you can never retrieve your vote. Any kind of change here would be welcome and I think the voter ID would at least give us a chance to have a fair vote.

jane| 10.28.11 @ 4:36PM

As long as there has been a vote, there has been a way to tamper with it! Bring on the photo IDs please!

Tish| 10.28.11 @ 7:06PM

I'd be more impressed with Mr. Davis had he taken his principled stand while he was still in Congress.

Nite| 10.28.11 @ 10:46PM

Florida has voter picture I and now so does TX. There have been several states, where voter fraud has been rampant. It is likely to be much worse now with Obama running for re-election. Acorn is obviously up and running. Even though their name has changed, the goals don't change.

Oldefarte| 10.29.11 @ 3:43PM

Voter ID SHOULD be [but sadly is NOT solely for partisaned political purposes] a NO- BRAINER. If one is required to show a Photo ID for other purposes, then why should not voting be at the top of the list? If voting tests, poll taxes etc were rightfully outlawed as means to suppress votes of certain groups, why shouldn't voters be legally required to prove by photo who they really are? Democrats scream racism over same in their corrupt attempt to allow individuals unqualified to vote [because those votes will be naturally for Democrat candidates]. Democrats also are behind political schemes to prevent military members in foreign countries to timely vote, since same traditionally votes for Republican candidates; and which promotes such corrupt groups as Acorn etc since their activities solely benefits Democratic politicians. I've said it a million times before and I'll say it again.....IT'S THE DEMOCRATS, STUPIDS!!!!!!!!!!