Posted on 10/26/2004 2:03:36 PM PDT by Kokojmudd
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHOENIX - Voter fraud involving illegal immigrants is rare, with only a handful of people in recent years being prosecuted locally for such fraud, according to election officials.
"If we have one case a year, it's an amazement," said Karen Osborne, Maricopa County's director of elections.
While there is no question that some illegal immigrants vote, immigration experts believe the number is small because people here illegally typically don't want to expose themselves to the government.
"We really shouldn't shoot in the dark here," said Spencer Overton, a professor at George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. "If there's a cockroach, we don't want to use a cannon to deal with the cockroach,"
Still, supporters of Proposition 200, which would require proof of citizenship to vote, insist the initiative is needed to block illegal immigrants from the ballot box.
Backers argue that Arizona's honor-based voter registration system, which requires applicants to check boxes swearing they are U.S. citizens, is vulnerable to fraud given the state's large undocumented immigrant population.
"The system is basically set up to run on the honor system, and I don't think it works," said Kathy McKee, chairwoman of Protect Arizona Now, one of several groups backing Proposition 200.
If the measure passes Tuesday, it would require voters to show proof of their identity at the polls.
Some experts worry that attempting to keep undocumented immigrants from voting through tighter registration restrictions could end up blocking legitimate voters from exercising their rights.
It could invite discrimination and have a chilling effect on the electorate, legal experts say.
"It's important for elections to be fair and honest," said Overton. "The concern and the problem, though, is often those who push voter integrity ... ignore the impact that excessive restrictions may have on political participation by legitimate voters."
If it passes, legal experts say, Proposition 200's citizenship requirement makes it vulnerable to challenge under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which is intended to prevent discrimination against minorities at the polls.
"This seems to be a statement that not only do we want to disenfranchise non-citizens, but we also want to send a chill throughout the community. It's not a very friendly message," said Jamin Raskin, a constitutional law professor at American University in Washington, D.C.
ping
Thing is, would the illegals risk being deported just to vote?
I'm tired of this line that having to show ID will "disenfranchise" some small subset of (poor) voters. If they don't have ID, how do they cash their welfare checks?
I'll never forget the Mexican who assassinated Colosio(he would have been the next Prez of Mexico) in Tijuana had 2 voter registration cards in his wallet when he was arrested for the murder. He was NOT a U.S. citizen.
KMA Karen Osborne. Just because you don't prosecute it doesn't mean it isn't happening. They came over the border by the busload two years ago to vote in Cochise County, you idiot.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Flying airliners into skyscrapers on purpose was once unheard of.
""This seems to be a statement that not only do we want to disenfranchise non-citizens, but we also want to send a chill throughout the community. It's not a very friendly message," said Jamin Raskin, a constitutional law professor at American University in Washington, D.C."
What an idiot. How are non-citizens disenfranchised by Prop 200 when they are not supposed to vote anyway?
As if the number of cases prosecuted is any indication of the frequency of the deed...
"If we have one case a year, it's an amazement," said Karen Osborne, Maricopa County's director of elections.
John Fund has been explaining all month that almost no one gets prosecuted for vote fraud, anywhere.
The issue of a lack of incidences meaning that no law was needed was used against rape and domestic violence reporting laws once upon a time. Then it was found that the lack of reports didn't mean a lack of violations.
I've got a bridge I want to sell to anyone that thinks we don't have a voter fraud problem here with illegals.
What kind of documentation does one have to show to be allowed to vote? Do you have to show it at the polling place, or just to register? How easy would it be to duplicate/fake voter registration cards (where I live, I could do one on my PC).
Rare means it happens.
I suppose we should be happy that they at least used the word "illegal" instead of undocumented.
Clintonian doublespeak parsing at its finest. What's wrong with this picture?
I am certain that if only a "handful" were prosecuted, "bank robbery" would also be rare. Self-fulfilling circular reasoning.
What utter nonsense. As they caravan in Grey Hound buses to protest in mass in front of TV cameras while standing in middle of government in D.C. and other places around the nation, like standing in front of city halls in places like LA, while parading in front of cameras, protesting the governors temporary stand against giving them drivers licenses.
The could care less about exposing themselves as illegals. They know no one is going to do a damn thing. Our government is their best friend!
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