Senator Mitchel McConnell (R-KY) has proposed an amendment to the immigration reform bill now being debated in the Senate that would require
all voters to show a photo ID before voting in any federal election, starting in 2008.
The text of the amendment, and a short discussion, are below the fold.
McConnell's proposed amendment reads as follows:
SA 4021. Mr. McCONNELL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2611, to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. . IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
(a) REQUIREMENT FOR IDENTIFICATION CARDS TO INCLUDE CITIZENSHIP INFORMATION.--Section 7212(b)(2)(D) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (49 U.S.C. 30301 note) is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (vi), by inserting ``and'' at the end of clause (vii), and by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(viii) whether the person is a United States citizen;''.
(b) IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR VOTING IN PERSON.--
(1) IN GENERAL.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.) is amended by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 and 306, respectively, and by inserting after section 305 the following new section:
``SEC. 304. IDENTIFICATION OF VOTERS AT THE POLLS.
``(a) IN GENERAL.--Notwithstanding the requirements of section 303(b), each State shall require individuals casting ballots in an election for Federal office in person to present before voting a current valid photo identification which is issued by a governmental entity and which meets the requirements of section 7212 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (49 U.S.C. 30301 note).
``(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.--Each State shall be required to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) on and after January 1, 2008.''.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.--Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15511) is amended by striking ``and 303'' and inserting ``303, and 304''.
Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/...
HAVA -- the help healthy white Americans vote act of 2002 -- already requires anyone who registered by mail in 2003 or later to show ID the first time they vote in an election. McConnell's proposed amendment expands this requirement in two ways: (1) by requiring all voters (even granny who's been voting at the firehouse for 50 years) show ID, and (2) by requiring ID to be shown every time we vote, not just the first time. It also narrows the range of identification states can accept to "current valid photo identification ... issued by a governmental entity." HAVA itself -- in the section 303(b) that McConnell's amendment would supersede -- allows you to prove your identity or place of residence with "a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter."
McConnell's amendment would exacerbate the existing requirements of HAVA, which are more burdensome on newer (i.e., younger and immigrant) voters and others who are less likely to have currently-valid government-issued photo IDs (e.g., the poor, the elderly, people with disabilities).
McConnell's amendment would also make for longer lines and more frustration at the polls, as voters search for their IDs and poll workers review them. It provides another avenue for partisan "challengers" to make voters' lives difficult -- again, adding time and frustration to the process.
It also bears no meaningful relationship to the non-existent problem McConnell cites in his amendment: the need to ensure that voters are U.S. citizens. This is determined by the state election officer when a voter registers to vote. Simply put, if your name is in the poll book, you're a citizen because you made it through the registration process; no further "proof" or investigation is required. If your signature looks like the one in the book, your identity is proved. Even if you don't have a driver's license or a social security number, HAVA allows you to register to vote. And if you're not in the poll book, you're going to vote using a provisional ballot anyway -- meaning that the later review of your ballot envelope (to determine whether your vote should be counted) will serve the same purposes.
Is this chapter one of the Republicans' 2008 election day playbook?