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Legislation would require photo ID to vote

Legislation to require photo identification for voters who cast their ballots on election day or cast absentee ballots in person is expected to come up for a House committee vote on Tuesday.

Under current voter ID requirements, there have been instances of people voting more than once, said Rep. Lou Blessing, R-Cincinnati, joint sponsor of House Bill 159. Blessing also is House speaker pro tem, the House’s number two leadership post.

“Anybody and everybody will be able to get an ID that doesn’t have one at no cost,” Blessing said.

Ellis Jacobs, senior attorney for the nonprofit Advocates for Basic Legal Equality in Dayton, said, however, that the bill would make it harder for people to vote.

“It creates an obstacle course for the 11 percent of the public that doesn’t have an ID,” said Jacobs.

Under current law, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document showing the voter’s name and address may be used as well as photo ID to vote on election day or to cast an absentee ballot in person.

House Bill 159 would continue to allow forms of ID other than photo ID to be used for those casting absentee ballots by mail.

Photo IDs acceptable under the bill would be:

*Ohio driver’s license

*Ohio identification card

*U.S. military identification card

*U.S. passport

The bill would require the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and deputy registrars to set up a system to provide a state ID card free if an applicant produces evidence that he can’t afford the fees for such a document.

Secretary of State Jon Husted, the state’s top elections officer, has not taken a position on the bill but is working with the committee chairman to find the “right balance between voter access and elections accuracy,” said Matt McClellan, spokesman for Husted.

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By jay

March 29, 2011 7:05 AM | Link to this

Anything William Hershey writes or comments on is called the Hershey Squirts

By Show ID to Vote

March 23, 2011 12:19 PM | Link to this

Democrats present the same silly arguments in each state: Republicans want to disenfranchise the elderly; a group statistically most likely to vote for Republicans. And they are afraid of the high costs and the growth of government Voter ID will cause. When was the last time you saw Democrats who did not want to spend more of your money on anything? When was the last time you saw Democrats fight for an even smaller government? Only when trying to prevent political corruption do Democrats need to save money. Voter ID should not be a partisan issue.

By Perspective

March 22, 2011 3:12 PM | Link to this

@Thomas Perhaps you’d care to make a point Thomas instead of just slurring Retired Sgt.. I may not always agree with him but he usually makes very good points in a rational manner.He also doesn’t make personal attacks like you.

By NCF

March 22, 2011 2:06 PM | Link to this

Would you care to elaborate, Thomas? I am curious as to what in his posts leads you to that conclusion.

By Thomas

March 22, 2011 1:47 PM | Link to this

To Retired Sgt: Every post you make it becomes clearer why you never made it past Sgt.

By Paul1

March 22, 2011 11:11 AM | Link to this

We’re asked to show I.D.— for much lesser things and no one complains.

By Fishsticks

March 22, 2011 9:32 AM | Link to this

OOOOOO— another Republican conspiracy!! Asking someone to present identification, OMG!! how evil is that! Karon and Paul are amazingly and consistantly stupid.

By NCF

March 22, 2011 9:16 AM | Link to this

Paul, you and the other liberals who have “lost faith in this state” do not have to vote. And if you truly have lost faith in the state, you wouldn’t vote. The thing that doesn’t make sense in this, to me, is the lack of implementation of the available technology. Here’s how I would set this up: Every Ohioan of voting age re-registers, their photo is taken and stored digitally with their new registration record. (This photograph is updated any time you move to a new voting district. You have update your registration at that time anyway.) Then, when you arrive at your polling place and state your Social Security number, your digital picture shows on the computer screen on-site. You never have to carry or present your voter ID (which could be lost, misplaced on voting day, or stolen.) Just show up, state your name and SS number, and done. Nothing “unconstitutional” or “voter suppression” about it — except maybe for the Amish. But the photo ID exception as proposed in HB 159 already covers them. Also, there would be no costs for “free IDs” in my suggestion. That is just bureaucratic bloat, IMO. We should be able to just bring our face as our ID, and let them confirm their record picture with our face, and the expense is nil. If there’s any sense in “losing faith in this state”, it’s with the reliance on costly old tech when low-cost high-tech solutions are available. They already have our image on record at the DMV, by the way, and the “Motor Voter” Act could be updated to allow the use of the same photo. It’s updated every 4 years, and is connected to the RealID system, no?

By Joe

March 22, 2011 9:07 AM | Link to this

This is targeting college students who are allowed to vote in Ohio because they spend more than 6 months here, but have an out of state driver’s license. Repulicans trying break the Democatic base…again.

By Originalthought (really?)

March 22, 2011 7:55 AM | Link to this

Trapped in the minutia (look it up)..You all argue about a SMOKESCREEN! You “citizens” actually think & believe Your “VOTE” means anything to THE STATES of UNITED CORPORATE AMERICA? HmHm…HMPH… MHahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahaha…most of you don’t know C’mere from Sick’em

By Retired Sgt

March 22, 2011 5:43 AM | Link to this

Karon, please point to where requiring identification to vote is unconstitutional? What part? What Article, Provision? Typical mindless rant. Voting fraud has been shown time and time again. Requiring ID, provided free of charge, would reduce voter fraud. It is nothing like the old literacy tests. It just requires an ID. Geez people, wake up!

By paul

March 22, 2011 5:30 AM | Link to this

This is just another perfect example the republicans real agenda. It has nothing to do with jobs or the budget and everything in the world to do with their poltical agenda. Just one more case of republican voter suppression based on a lie. Five minutes of research would reflect that it just doesnt happen but then again this is all meant for the low information faux noise crowd. To incite and misinform, again all for poltical gain and to retain power. When will Ohio wake up? I for one have no faith in this state, its failed and corrupt republican leadership or those that would put such dishonest people in power. Hope your happy Ohio with the garbage youve put into power to continue to the downward spiral of the state. Now deal with the end results of their failed and corrupt actions.

By karon

March 22, 2011 1:16 AM | Link to this

This is unconstitutional and will be thrown out!

By Kevin

March 22, 2011 12:14 AM | Link to this

I just had to show a picture id for an Emergency Room visit. The only people opposing this are those seeking to exploit loopholes. Voting integrity sounds like a worthwhile endeavor to me!

By Being honest

March 21, 2011 10:40 PM | Link to this

Every required step will lose voters because it is another hoop to jump through and some won’t bother. Further more, it is unnecessary as the current ID requirements are more than adequate. Old people who don’t get out of the house, mobile and transient people, and college students who are living in a new location will have to do something that, for example, I don’t have to do. And what about the stigma of “indigent” (that’s got a pleasant ring to it) people having to present the special ID — that’s sensitive, by jiminy!

By Paul

March 21, 2011 10:13 PM | Link to this

Good move, way overdue. Completely reasonable.

By Reality

March 21, 2011 9:17 PM | Link to this

It’s about time someone had a common sense idea. Require photo ID, and provide the ID’s free to those who can’t afford it. As much as I hate spending the money, it’s well spent to provide better election security. Now if they would just make absentee ballots tougher to submit… They are making voting TOO easy. You should have to get up off you but and go to a polling location…

By L Berry

March 21, 2011 7:08 PM | Link to this

The reason none of the illegals caught voting illegally in Ohio were not convicted is our EX-Sec’y of State Jennifer Brenner refused to bring charges. She was a Liberal Dem and Part of teh corrupt Strickland Administration. Mike Dewine is willing and able to prosecute if new Sec’y of State Jon Husted brings charges.

By L Berry

March 21, 2011 7:02 PM | Link to this

All one has to do is go sit in the Social Security Office and watch the line of people trying to get a SS card without any form of ID. And yes, the majority have trouble with English so they need a translator. These same Illegal Aliens will try to vote as well. They vote for liberal Dems who also think it’s a form of harrassment to ask a simple request to prove you are the person on voter registry. It’s a shame we have to ask people to prove they are legal, but the thousands of Illegals force teh issue. Last election saw hundreds vote illegally and guess what? Liberals don’t think that is a crime.

By Historian

March 21, 2011 6:43 PM | Link to this

Jess - that sounds like a literacy test to me. This is incredibly silly and a waste of time. Free ID cards sound like an unfunded mandate to me! Ah hypocrisy, in the name of chasing shadows. While we’re at it, let’s make marriage between a man and a brick illegal - someone might try it!

By Ummm

March 21, 2011 6:05 PM | Link to this

So how does a photo ID stop someone from voting twice? If the poll worker has done their job, then your signature should be in the log book…right? Someone with an alias can simply get 2 photo IDs…

By pntts

March 21, 2011 6:01 PM | Link to this

It is unbelieveable that people still blame ACORN, and are currently gearing up the fear of ACORN for ‘12. Oh yeah? What ACORN convictions? Who voted twice? Who then? C’mon, let’s get past Sean Hannity’s talking points and put up some proof. You have NONE.

By tonelle

March 21, 2011 5:45 PM | Link to this

It is unbelievable that photo ID is not required due to the massive voter fraud and convictions in 2008 of ACORN.

By Get Real

March 21, 2011 5:21 PM | Link to this

Why would you allow someone with no ID to vote? Not requiring some form of ID will help cut down on voting fraud. DUH!!!

By thomas paine

March 21, 2011 5:19 PM | Link to this

Soon to be added… Anyone receiving any type of welfare shall not be allowed to vote in any election until said person is off the taxpayers handout and taking responsibility for ones self. Those with no stake in the consequences of elections, that would be taxes, should have no voice in them if they do not pay taxes.

By Republican Nazis

March 21, 2011 4:57 PM | Link to this

Papers. Ve vant to zee your papers.

By clr

March 21, 2011 4:46 PM | Link to this

Why not bring back poll taxes or literacy tests? Or, better yet, only property-owning, white males should be allowed to vote.

By PLEEAASE

March 21, 2011 4:30 PM | Link to this

Amen to that.

By Dave

March 21, 2011 4:28 PM | Link to this

When and if Congress and the state legislature prove they can pass such a test, I will consider it. Until then, they should concentrate on JOBS!

By Jesse

March 21, 2011 4:22 PM | Link to this

This should be a hands down ‘NO BRAINER’. Now who is for a basic quiz on the USA and government, similar to Citizenship tests to qualify for a voters registration card ?

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