Now the WashPost Tells Us: Virginia Voter ID Law 'Not As Severe' As South Carolina, Texas
When the Virginia General Assembly was debating a new voter ID law, the Washington Post did its level best to paint the measure as a vote suppressing measure that was akin to "Jim Crow" laws. The Post's editorial board also weighed in by charging that making the voter ID laws stricter was evidence of "institutional racism" in state government.
But now that the debate is over and the bill is likely to be signed by Gov. Bob McDonnell (R), the Post's Richmond correspondents Laura Vozzella and Anita Kumar today admitted that, well, the legislation is fairly lax compared with stricter legislation that absolutely requires photo IDs in other states:
[S]ome observers say Virginia’s legislation is less likely to draw Justice objections than the Texas and South Carolina legislation, which required voters to present government-issued photo identification at the polls.
Although Virginia’s measure requires some form of ID, it would expand the types of acceptable voter identification to include such things as utility bills and bank statements.
“I do believe the Virginia law is much more narrowly tailored,” said state Sen. Tom Garrett (R), a Louisa County prosecutor who successfully tried two people for voter fraud in 2009. “You won’t find the words ‘photo ID’ in our law.”
State Sen. Stephen H. Martin (R-Chesterfield), who sponsored the voter ID bill, said the Justice Department actions are unlikely to come Virginia’s way.
“There’s a huge difference . . . because we do not require a photo ID,” he said.
Even some critics of Virginia’s legislation — which is among the most hotly contested of this year’s session — aren’t counting on the Justice Department to stop it.
“It’s not as severe as the other two laws, in South Carolina and Texas,” said state Sen. Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax), who nonetheless thinks the Virginia measure is intended to “hold down minority votes.”
Of course, as my colleague Jeffrey Meyer noted last week, even staunch photo ID opponents on the Left have to concede that requiring a photo ID to prove your identity at the polling place makes sense to most people. Indeed, public opinion polls bear that out, with a 2011
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I for one am pissed the feds
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Fri, 03/16/2012 - 1:06pm.
I for one am pissed the feds have control over Texas in this matter. We should squash all aspirations of Democrats running for office at the lowest level.
I went to the bank to cash a check without an ID..no go
Submitted by gopcongress on Fri, 03/16/2012 - 2:12pm.
Let's see...the bank refuses to cash a 10-dollar check because I have no id, but I can vote for president that can give them a multi-billion dollar bailout without an ID. Makes perfect sense.
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Any Libs 8itchin' about this???
Submitted by GregE on Fri, 03/16/2012 - 10:16pm.
Constant 8itching from the Left about voter ID laws, as if not allowing just any ol' illegal alien or dead person to vote is a travesty. All they want is more fraud in their favor. The cry is it's an infringement on the RIGHT to vote. It's an attempt to suppress the RIGHT to vote.
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I have to show photo ID when I make the purchase to exercise THIS RIGHT..........
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Where's the outrage?????? Where's the cry about suppression of a RIGHT???????? How about when I want to conceal???????? In all except a couple of states, I have to get a PERMIT, and produce PHOTO ID to get that permit. Where's the crying about the infringement of my RIGHT???????? Does that not make it more difficult for people to exercise this RIGHT??????????
In Ohio you need an ID to buy a lighter
Submitted by ohio granny on Sat, 03/17/2012 - 10:52am.
In Ohio you have to show an ID not just to buy cigerettes but to buy a lighter of any kind. At Credit Unions you have to show a picture ID to put money IN the Credit Union.!
Most people, when they need any kind of medical care, they have to show some sort of picture ID before they can be treated.
You need a picture ID before you get on an airplane, get into a government building, or to get a library card. Some middle and high school students are required to have a picture ID. Just to enroll in most schools, you have to have a birth certificate and well as one other form of identification. I think there are minorities enrolled in middle and high schools in this country.
So can someone please explain to me why it is so hard on minorities to get a picture ID to vote? Most of us know this is a lie the democrats tell because they are the party that steals elections. That is the only reason democrats are against people having to prove they are eligible to vote !!!!!
The democrat party - the party of liars and cheats.
⇒ In Mexico
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sat, 03/17/2012 - 10:55am.
In Mexico you need a Photo ID to vote.
Why do the President and Eric Holder think Mexicans are stupid?