Voter Identification

The House approved a bill Wednesday requiring voters in the 2008 federal elections to present a picture ID, and by 2010 proof of citizenship is required. The Senate may pick up the legislation next session.

Supporters say this is the only way to prevent fraud at the polls. The measure is mostly supported by Republicans who claim its purpose is to keep noncitizens from voting and deter the overall laxity of the voting system.

Opponents suspect Republicans of actually preventing citizens from voting. Those who most likely would have difficulty receiving an ID -- minorities, the poor and the elderly -- would be shut down when trying to vote.

Even though the bill stipulates that those who can't afford an ID will be provided one for free by the state, this is a silly issue. This whole notion seems somewhat like the Orwellian national ID cards proposed in Great Britain. Just another way to possibly invade privacy by creating a potential national database complete with photographs.

-Dippold

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