LWVCT Letter to Editor Opposing Photo ID requirements 12/27/07
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December 27, 2007
The Editor The Norwalk Advocate
The December 23, 2007 article by William A. Collins misrepresented the League of Women Voters’ position on photo identification for voters. His contention—that the League supports picture IDs for voters—is totally inaccurate.
The League, at national, state and local levels, believes that voting is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed and actively protected. Since the passage of the Help America Vote Act in 2002, the League of Women Voters of the United States undertook a nationwide effort to oppose several proposed measures that threatened to disenfranchise voters. One such measure we opposed was a requirement for photo IDs when citizens registered to vote and when they voted at the polls. League chapters throughout the United States have fought this requirement through lobbying their legislators and joining in lawsuits brought by coalitions of good government groups. Also, the LWVUS filed an Amicus Curie brief in the Indiana photo ID case that is currently before the Supreme Court. Photo ID requirements have been repeatedly struck down by lower courts as unconstitutional.
In Connecticut, during the 2007 session, the League of Women Voters successfully fought off several legislative amendments that would have required anyone who applies in person to register to vote - or votes in person - to produce a photo ID. The Connecticut League successfully argued that this amendment would fundamentally alter the right to vote, would disproportionately affect the young, elderly, disabled, poor and minority voters, and, therefore, would constitute a poll tax. A 2005 report by the Commission on Federal Election Reform shows that approximately 12% of voting age Americans have no drivers licenses, the most common type of photo ID.
Far from being:”… conned by party bosses …”, the League has done its homework and acted upon its conclusions. We have testified and clearly demonstrated to legislators that, based on statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, there is little evidence of voter fraud that would justify more onerous photo ID requirements. Our current laws regarding identification at registration and at the polls have served us well, enabling citizens to exercise their right to vote while maintaining the integrity and security of Connecticut’s elections.
The LWVCT will continue to work with our elections officials and the Connecticut General Assembly to expand opportunities for voter registration and citizen involvement in government. We welcome Mr. Collins’ assistance in our efforts.
Jara Burnett President LWVCT 203 637-9244
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