Posted on 10/20/2006 2:09:23 PM PDT by Babu
24 minutes ago: WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled Friday that Arizona may require voters to provide photo IDs when they cast their ballots next month.
The justices cautioned that they were not issuing a ruling on the constitutionality of Arizona's law. "As we have noted, the facts in these cases are hotly contested," the court said in an unsigned five-page order.
The ruling merely allows the Nov. 7 election to proceed with the photo ID law in place. Federal courts still will have to resolve a lawsuit contending that the law will disenfranchise numerous voters, particularly the elderly and minorities.
Courts in Georgia and Missouri have blocked similar laws.
Justice John Paul Stevens, in a brief concurring opinion, said the high court's action makes it more likely that the constitutional issues "will be resolved correctly on the basis of historical facts rather than speculation."
The law requires voters to prove citizenship when registering to vote and to show photo IDs when they go to the polls. The law was meant to make sure illegal immigrants weren't casting ballots.
Opponents of the law contend it discourages some people from voting, including the elderly, poor and disadvantaged who don't always carry IDs. Arizona residents, Indian tribes and community groups filed suit in May.
A federal judge ruled the state could enforce the law. But the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later blocked it from taking effect for the Nov. 7 election.
In his bid to allow the state to go forward, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard told the justices that "voter registration at the polls is an emerging issue of national importance. States have a compelling interest in curbing fraud and protecting the integrity of elections."
Voters without proper ID may cast provisional ballots and furnish identification within five business days of the election.
Lacking photo identification, voters still can cast ballots during the state's early voting period. State officials said there is ample time to compare signatures on the ballot with those on registration rolls.
Interesting that Stevens (at this point anyway) voted in favor of rationality.
I'm actually surprised Terry Goddard pushed this through. He has acted like her pet poodle since he got into office.
WOO-HOO!!! Take that, Ninth Circus Court!
I'll be standing there with an ear to ear grin when I show the poll workers my driver's license. What a great day this is!
* dances the dance of joy *
If people have to show ID, and knowing how long that ballot is, those Dems will not stand in line for this. The ballot consists of four pages. Imagine how long many will be in line as a result.
Will be interesting to see how this plays out in a few weeks.
I keep hearing how great she does in the polls, yet I know of maybe one person who actually likes her. My husband has said everyone complains about her that he talks to -- and he works in Tempe.
Me, too, unless he has plans of his own in four years.
Your ID to show that you are eliglbe to vote, in order that you may vote.
Thanks!!
Don't be surprised. Light-in-the-Loafers Terry is a politician, and even though he is surely personally against the ID law, he too is up for re-election Nov 8, and he knows which way the wind of popular opinion bloweth ...
No it is not a ruling on the merits. It is simply another overturning of the nonsense that comes out of the 9th Circuit. In this case the 9th Circuit granted an injunction disallowing the Arizona law to take effect. However, the SCOTUS held that as usual the 9th Circuit had no basis for doing so. So the holding is a procedural one.
I took a federal test a few weeks ago. You needed to bring a photo ID with you to prove that you were the person signed up to take the exam in order to even be admitted into the exam room. Is not voting as important or more important than a test? If not, what's the difference?
Same with applying for jobs. Two forms of ID and tons of paperwork to complete!!!
I can tell you that the teachers in Tempe love her as well. My mom works for the school district and they all love Janet.
I loved that new South Park episode.
After all, it is the WILL OF THE PEOPLE who voted on it in majority.
Parker and Stone are on a roll as usual.
If "Janet" were a sting ray that just jumped in their friggin' boat, the teachers unions would lover her and vote for her, because she has that D after her name.
The teachers unions everywhere are all brain-washed Dummiecrats ...
Nappy has it. This Munsil character is a terrible candidate.
On the downside, what might the impact be if SCOTUS decides to invalidate elections in those states enforcing ID requirements a year from now? I'm sure Mr. Justice Kennedy would find that an appropriate remedy to the supposed disenfranchisement of these voters.
I'm proud to be able to say that here in Colorado we have to show a photo ID in order to vote at the polls. In my opinion it should be that way everywhere. Anyone who thinks voting is important will be willing to obtain the ID necessary to prove their eligibility.
I also think voting by mail should be discontinued except for the elderly and the handicapped who are physically incapable of getting to the polls, and those whose jobs (such as active-duty military members) require them to be out of their home state at voting time. Implementing such measures would greatly reduce the amount of voter fraud, and would also reduce voting by people who are simply too unmotivated to get to the polls. If they can't be bothered to go to the polls, they probably don't know enough about the issues to vote anyway.
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