Group Objects to Requiring ID to Vote

A new Idaho voter registration law requiring that persons prove their identity and residency when registering to vote sparked a lawsuit from a youth advocacy group called Babe Vote. Leaders with Babe Vote say that the new law’s requirements will disenfranchise students, people without a driver’s license, seniors, people with disabilities, people without a vehicle and homeless people.

Secretary of State Phil McGrane asserted that "protecting the integrity of our elections requires that we be able to verify that every ballot is cast by an eligible voter. People who have a current Idaho driver’s license with their current address can use that to prove both their identity and their residency. The new law also creates a new no-fee ID card offered by the Idaho Transportation Department for people age 18 and older who do not drive."

"People who fill out a voter registration card or register online but cannot prove their residency will not be issued a ballot and cannot vote until they do so," McGrane said. "These people will automatically receive a letter reminding them they are not registered to vote until they provide documents to prove their residency. To prove their residency, voters may update their driver’s license or ID records with the state or visit their local county clerk’s office to provide one of the accepted documents for proof of residency. Voters also may wait until Election Day and then provide their proof of residency documents when they check in to vote at their polling place."

Saumya Sarin, a student leader with Babe Vote, claimed that "having to prove residency is too onerous for too many voters. Since voting is a human right every human should be given a ballot regardless of where they live. Denying humans this right is a threat to our democracy. The risk that too many ballots will be cast is less damaging than the risk that too few will be cast."

SEMI-NEWS/SEMI-SATIRE by John Semmens