Durbin wants no ID in voting

[PHargis]

Durbin's complaints about voter ID law are groundless

 

 

Published September 17th, 2011 7:36 pm Comments 0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, believe voting should be conducted on the honor system? That, in essence, seems to be what passes for an argument against voter laws in Tennessee and a growing number of other states that require voters to show a valid photo ID when they cast a ballot.

 

Durbin, who was in Tennessee this past week to rail against the requirement, made the extraordinary claim that requiring voters to show a photo ID — thus proving they are who they say they are — is a violation of federal civil rights law. The Illinois Democrat seems to have overlooked a Supreme Court ruling on an Indiana case three years ago that said such requirements are, indeed, constitutional.

 

Tennessee’s law, which is modeled on Indiana’s, provides prospective voters with a free photo ID through state DMV offices if they don’t have a driver’s license or some other valid form of photo identification already. Incredibly, Durbin argues that the time needed to travel to these offices and wait for a free photo ID card is also an impermissible hurdle to voters.

 

What stuff and nonsense.

 

Opponents of voter ID legislation like Sen. Durbin have claimed that it will somehow discourage voters from participating in the political process, but they provide no evidence that such a circumstance has occurred.

 

There are probably many factors that either encourage or discourage voting — everything from the weather to the perceived paucity of talent possessed by those running for office. But a requirement that voters adequately identify themselves cannot possibly harm anyone on the basis of race, religion or ethnic origin.

 

Indeed, honest, open elections are the best protection society has against those who would try to subvert and steal political power.

 

It is a rare individual who does not already carry some sort of picture identification in the form of a driver’s license. It is just this sort of identification that businesses routinely require when a check is cashed or merchandise is purchased.

 

Should a lesser standard apply to voting? Should foreign nationals, for example, be able to cast votes for the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate and the presidency?

 

Beyond all the calamitous claims made against it, merely affirming one’s identity scarcely qualifies as an unreasonable impediment to voting.

 

Government has an obligation to ensure elections are conducted honestly and fairly. A momentary verification of a voter’s identity does just that and presents no hardship to anyone — except, perhaps, someone who is attempting to commit voter fraud.

 

It speaks volumes about Democrats like Sen. Durbin that they would rather maximize their voting base than inquire whether those votes were legitimate.