Voters' league challenging ID law

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The League of Women Voters of Indiana is challenging a state law.

The organization filed a complaint last week in Marion County Superior Court requesting that Public Law 109-2005, which requires Indiana residents to present a government-issued photo ID before casting a ballot at the polls on Election Day, be declared unconstitutional under the Indiana Constitution.

"The League of Women Voters' goal is to encourage citizens to participate in the democratic process," said Leslie Hanson, a member of the Greencastle chapter of the League of Women Voters. "The most fundamental right we as citizens have is the right to vote, and the league feels the Indiana Voter ID Law may unnecessarily discourage some people from going to the polls."

The Voter ID Law was passed in 2005. The league contends that it goes against Article 2, Section 2 of the state's constitution, which outlines the only qualifications for voting eligibility that can be legally imposed on voters without amendment to the Indiana Constitution.

"As the Indiana Voter ID law imposes an additional voting qualification on the citizens of Indiana that is not provided for in the Indiana Constitution, the league has filed its complaint challenging the law," a press release from the League of Women Voters of Indiana said.

"In crafting this law, the legislature failed to acknowledge that not all Indiana citizens have a printed birth certificate or the transportation to travel to various government agencies to gather documents, or the funds to purchase the documents required to get the necessary documentation," said Joanne Evers, president of LWVIN. "The populations most affected by this law include the aged, disabled, homeless, lower income, minorities, rural residents and women who have hyphenated names or whose names have changed as the result of marriage, divorce or remarriage."

Evers said the Voter ID Law is a "disenfranchisement of Indiana voters."

"The law hinders and discourages Indiana voters from participating in our representative government of checks and balances," she said. "Casting a vote on Election Day and having it count is the process by which 'of the people, for the people and by the people' is realized."

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  • This is typical of the League of Women Voters! There is absolutely no valid reason not to be able to get a voter ID. You can get one free at the license bureau. And, don't give me that excuse that they can't get there, etc. They can get anywhere else they want to go. Sonicfilter doesn't have a clue to what really goes on in regards voter fraud. I, for one, do not mind showing my driver's license to vote, even though the clerks know me personally. This requirement is really meant to stop the illegal voting in the big cities, but must be applied to all.

    -- Posted by not gullible on Wed, Jun 25, 2008, at 7:37 AM
  • This stuff REALLY gets OLD!!! There is NO reason not to insist on a valid ID before you vote. I agree with "Not Gullible" these people manage to get every where else they want to go, why not to the BMV to get an ID card too. I thought it was FREE. I'm so sick of living a life of good citizenship only to find that it just doesn't pay off in the end. If you are a valid citizen then getting an ID card shouldn't be a problem.

    -- Posted by SamHill on Wed, Jun 25, 2008, at 9:26 AM
  • The League of Women Voters of Indiana is challenging a state law.

    The organization filed a complaint last week in Marion County Superior Court requesting that Public Law 109-2005, which requires Indiana residents to present a government-issued photo ID before casting a ballot at the polls on Election Day, be declared unconstitutional under the Indiana Constitution.

    I can't believe The League of Women Voters of Indiana are to LAZY to go down to the BMV and get a FREE id card. Give me a break ! I bet it took longer to type up the complaint than getting an ID just something else to B**** about.You are ridiculous!

    -- Posted by victory on Wed, Jun 25, 2008, at 1:50 PM
  • When will you liberals quit wanting to cheat in elections? You know that is all this is about. When liberals don't get what they want at the ballot box, they go to court and whine.....whaaah

    whaaaaa. Give it a rest and follow the law or stay home. Good grief, there is a law requiring ID on your person when in public anyway. Go back to tree hugging and saving the whales for cripes sake. You make me want to wrap duct tape around my head to keep it from exploding!!!

    -- Posted by keith on Wed, Jun 25, 2008, at 1:57 PM
  • vlcrod: The law was previously tried in federal court under the US constitution. This suit is in Indiana courts under the Indiana constitution which has different provisions concerning voting than the US one and may have a different outcome.

    To everyone else bloviating about the ID being free, keep in mind that not everyone can obtain one. Many elderly people do not have printed birth certificates or passports and are therefore ineligible for obtaining an ID card and a number of such people (including nuns) were prevented from voting in the previous primary election. I personally have no problem with showing an ID, but wouldn't the law be much better/constitutional if it had an exemption/alternate method for these people?

    -- Posted by boilerup on Wed, Jun 25, 2008, at 3:27 PM
  • I am glaring at my computer in disbelief over what I have just read. What the League is trying to do is just make available to everyone (everyone legal...jeez)the simple right to vote. What this has to do with cheating the elections, I'm not sure. What I do know is that maybe keith should wrap duct tape around his head anyway. The whales and trees would appreciate it :)

    -- Posted by townielove on Wed, Jun 25, 2008, at 3:28 PM
  • Additionally, the immaturity of people on this thread is amazing. Do you think this gives us independents a positive view of the conservative movement? Or do you just not care?

    -- Posted by boilerup on Wed, Jun 25, 2008, at 3:29 PM
  • It is not about fake id's sonicfilter, it is about NO ID. what rock have you been under? It is common knowlege that the democratic party is the master at voter fraud.

    -- Posted by keith on Wed, Jun 25, 2008, at 8:53 PM
  • Go to the license branch and get an ID, it's not hard! Many people who do not have a drivers license so this.

    -- Posted by sad_but_true on Wed, Jun 25, 2008, at 10:36 PM
  • I thought the League of Woman Voters was a "non-partisan" institution? Seem to be holding the Liberal line in this case, even though the previous US Supreme Court decision found no persons hindered or discouraged from voting.

    I have no problem with the law. Citizens and residents of Indiana are entitled to vote here. What's wrong with proving you're a citizen and a resident?

    The suit is just another waste of our money. The State of Indiana will have to defend the law and that will cost us. So we lose either way.

    -- Posted by whatsup on Fri, Jun 27, 2008, at 12:08 PM
  • If you so proud of being a communist, sonicfilter, why don't you use your name? Tell us who you are.........

    -- Posted by keith on Fri, Jun 27, 2008, at 12:22 PM
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