Posted on 11/01/2007 9:26:19 AM PDT by AuntB
Requiring photo IDs to vote in federal elections would be banned under legislation introduced Wednesday by Rep. Keith Ellison, who said such requirements disenfranchise minorities, the poor, women, elderly and young people.
"While photo IDs seem harmless, they are in fact the modern day poll tax," Ellison, D-Minn., said in a statement.
Ellison, who serves on the Judiciary Committee, got an important backer for the bill, as the panel's chairman, Michigan Democrat John Conyers, signed on a co-sponsor.
Ellison proposed the bill the day after the chief of the Justice Department's voting rights division, John Tanner, apologized at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing for saying that aging is not a problem with black voters because they die before they become elderly. Ellison and other Democrats grilled Tanner at that hearing.
At a National Latino Congreso in Los Angeles earlier in the month, Tanner had discussed state laws that require photo identification for voting, saying that elderly voters disproportionately don't have the proper IDs.
"That's a shame, you know, creating problems for elderly persons just is not good under any circumstance," Tanner said, according to video posted on YouTube. "Of course, that also ties into the racial aspect because our society is such that minorities don't become elderly the way white people do. They die first."
Tanner had also been criticized for clearing a Georgia law requiring voters to show government-issued photo IDs at the polls. A subsequent photo ID law was upheld by a federal judge last month, and the U.S. Supreme Court will consider Indiana's photo ID law, which is similar to Georgia's, this term.
Ellison noted that people do not need a photo ID to vote in Minnesota.
"In Minnesota we go to great lengths to make voting as inclusive as possible," he said, arguing that has helped with voter turnout. But advocates of voter ID laws argue they're needed to prevent voter fraud.
Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, said that requiring a voter ID helps preserve the integrity of the voting process.
"The right to vote is one of the most fundamental liberties we have as Americans," he said. "And to protect that right, we must ensure that those who vote do so legally."
these people are absolutely destroying our country. we are going down the toilet, and in the end it will have been the Democrats’ fault.
After all, what good is a phot ID if the women are in veils and headscarfs?
This guy is dangerous.
Apparently Ellison has a difficult time distinguishing between money and not-money, if he thinks a photo-ID is a “poll tax.”
I'm sure that the well-being of the elderly is a prime concern of the "National Latino Congreso."
As long as banks and merchants can require ID for cashing a check, it makes sense to me that we ought to be able to require ID for voting. Can there be any argument but that the latter’s integrity is even more important than that of the former?
Well, shoot, just let me wander into any polling place, several of them, in fact. Give me a ride in the school bus with everyone else, and a bottle of cheap whiskey. Now who was it you thought was a good candidate?
We knows what ellison is really saying. The ID requirements will keep thousands of his friends the head-choppers out of this country or from voting for fellow jihadi-sympathizers.
Then how do they apply for services of any kind?
So allocate some money, or raise some private donations, in order to waive the fee for anyone who can demonstrate financial hardship arising from paying $5 for a voter ID card.
WELCOME TO FREE REPUBLIC’S MINNESOTA PING LIST!
85 MEMBERS AND GROWING...!
FREEPMAIL ME IF YOU WANT ON OR OFF THIS LIST!
ellison does not want people in burkhas or towels on their heads to present photo id’s and of course conyers...the great legal mind of michigan supports ellison!!!
support the uncf....a wasted mind is a terrible thing!!!
I just shake my head in utter amazement at these BLATANT Democrat attempts to enable MASSIVE voter fraud...
While Bev Harris was collecting checks for her “Stolen Elections!!” scam, Democrats were going to jail for Voter Fraud, and Wonks like this one are doing everything they can to enable MORE of it!!!
What happened to the “Journalists” in this country whose job it was to expose scams like this?
“At a National Latino Congreso in Los Angeles earlier in the month, Tanner had discussed state laws that require photo identification for voting, saying that elderly voters disproportionately don’t have the proper IDs.”
Elderly American citizens or elderly illegal aliens? Tanner never said that the elderly dont have ANY ID just “proper ID”
BTW Ellison is a Moslem and the Moslem women would be required to have photos taken sans the burka head and face gear...what’s the betting the Imams put Ellison up to this?
Also there is an open door for unidentified terrorists etc to vote also...
This wonk, Ellison, being a Muslim, doesn’t want Muslim women to have to take off their veils for photo ID’s, period. And, then, add the voter fraud into the equation. The Dems will get themselves in power by hook or by crook, because they are crooks.
How amazing is that? Boggles the mind.
He is very right to be cautious and to protest photo ID’s. Everyone knows that photographs capture the soul and allow the government to cast evil spells against people who have voted against them. Next thing you know the gov’t will be asking for nail clippings and blood drops so they can control our very souls.
When my mom convinced my grandfather that he had "bumped" into too many other cars with his Oldsmobile, she took him to the DMV to turn in his driver's license and get a photo ID. It isn't that hard.
“modern day poll tax,”
No, that would be if we made you pay to vote with a check and produce an ID to verify your check.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.