Posted by Jonathan Adler:
Effectsof Voter ID in Indiana Primary:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2008_05_04-2008_05_10.shtml#1210171809
The Washington Post [1]reports that other than for a handful of nuns
and some college students from out-of-state, the state's Voter ID
requirement upheld by the Supreme Court in Crawford does appear to
have created a significant obstacles to prospective voters' ability to
cast ballots.
there were few other such incidents reported across the state,
which has one of the strictest laws in the country, requiring
voters to have a photo ID issued by the state or federal
government. After the Supreme Court upheld the law by a 6-3 ruling
last month, there was widespread speculation that the ruling could
hurt Barack Obama in the primary, since he was counting on strong
turnout among African American voters in inner city neighborhoods
in Gary and Indianapolis where many residents lack drivers'
licenses. But Obama spokesman Bill Burton said this evening that
the campaign had received only scattered complaints on the voter
hotline it set up to deal with problems at the polls. He credited
the campaign's aggressive voter outreach effort to make sure
supporters had the ID they would need. (Residents without driver's
licenses can obtain free picture IDs at department of motor vehicle
branches.)
Bethany Derringer, a spokeswoman for the Indiana Secretary of
State's office, said the office also had not received many
complaints on a hotline it set up for today's vote. She said that
should not come as a surprise, given that the state's voters have
had to contend with the strict law since 2005. "We've had nothing
earth-shattering," she said. "We've done extensive education on
this."
References
1.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/05/06/voter_id_law_consequences_mild.html?hpid=artslot
_______________________________________________
Volokh mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.powerblogs.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volokh
