Common Cause - Holding Power ResponsibleCommon Cause - Holding Power Responsible

Topics
Our Issues
Money in Politics
Election Reform
Media and Democracy
Ethics in Government
Government Accountability
Press Center
Research Center
Register to Vote

Sign Up and join the Community - click here

Research

Georgia Voter ID Law

By Matt Caruso
Posted on Tue Jun 20, 2006 at 11:57:39 AM EST

Georgia has made changes to its voter ID law. Last year the Georgia legislature passed a law requiring all voters to present a photo ID when voting. Because all Georgians do not possess a driver's license or a passport, the GA legislature amended the law to provide voter ID cards free of charge. However, less than a month before the July 18 primary the voter ID cards still have not been issued.

The initial law was approved by the Department of Justice per the Voting Rights Act. Regardless, the state has yet to determine who gets the cards, and how and where Georgia voters get the cards. This uncertainty has been compounded by yesterday's deadline for voter registration for the July 18 primary. Read the AP story here.

Mandatory photo ID's present problems for the elderly, the poor, and minorities who may not have the means of transportation to obtain voter ID's.


Tags: georgia, photo id cards, voting, in the states (all tags)


Display:

Georgia Voter ID Law :: 3 Comments

obtaining voter ID's

It still seems to me the obvious solution is to create and distribute new picture ID cards to registered voters when they go to vote.  It would add some overhead to the polling places, but especially if it's done at all of the primaries the load would be spread out fairly well.  For the voters, it wouldn't increase their wait much - maybe a minute to get their picture taken on the way in, and they can pick up their new ID on their way out.

Voters who already have picture ID's, of course, don't do anything different at all, and future voters not yet registered should be given IDs when they register.

(I'm really more concerned with weather the voting machines actually count the votes anyway.)

by Polyergic on Thu Jun 22, 2006 at 11:50:51 PM EST


Voter ID's

While I think that giving out Voter ID's at each polling station is a good idea in theory, I don't think it is feasible.  There are thousands of polling places in the state of Georgia and I think the cost to place equipment and qualified personnel to run the equipment at each polling station would be extremely high.

A better solution to the voter ID problem would be to implement it over a period of time as opposed to immediately.  Give people time to learn about the changes to the voting laws and make the necessary accomodations.  The members of the General Assembly frequently cite the findings in the Carter-Baker commission to back up their case for the necessity of photo ID's, but apparently they didn't read it very closely because the Comission recommends implementing the program after 2010.

If you are more concerned with voting machine accuracy, then you should take advantage of the new Georgia law that allows anyone to vote with an absentee ballot.

by Kris Sauriol on Wed Jun 28, 2006 at 10:15:36 AM EST


New ID's

The solution for this problem may be that the administration should take quick steps. In other way the voters, who have already ID's should do nothing and others might get their new ID's till a fix date.
_______________
John
Addiction Recovery Georgia

by John133 on Sat Jul 12, 2008 at 05:09:07 AM EST


You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account just by filling out the form below. It's quick and free.


contact us | volunteer/intern programs | employment opportunities | site map | privacy policy