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Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Congressional Hearing Sought Over Voter ID Laws Sweeping States

Washington - Does requiring a photo ID to vote return America to the days when poll taxes and literacy tests made it hard for minorities to cast ballots? Are state lawmakers trying to make it harder for people to vote?

Two top House Judiciary Committee Democrats want to know, and on Monday they asked Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, to hold hearings on those laws, which have been adopted or are pending in 37 states.

The chairman is reviewing the request, and he had no immediate comment.

"As voting rights experts have noted, the recent stream of laws passed at the state level are a reversal of policies, both federal and state, that were intended to combat voter disenfranchisement and boost voter participation," said Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.

Conyers is the committee's top Democrat. Nadler is the top Democrat on its Constitution subcommittee.
They're concerned about new laws in 13 states that they say will curb access to the ballot box.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

The dems are apoplectic over these laws that require voter IDs-- it makes Chicago-style elections ever-so-much more difficult to conduct, and when you're party is facing what they're facing in 2012, well..

Daddio said...

Of course, it will curb ballot box participation! As long as we are curbing ineligible voters, I'm all for it.

Anonymous said...

Maybe we should ink the index finger of the right hand Iraqi style. Then, only the handless will complain (although I guess we could ink the stump).

Anonymous said...

If you don't have a picture I.D. you should not be allowed to vote,period.