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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2011 > June > 22 > Entry
Voter ID provision yanked from bill
After discussion with Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, Senate Republicans removed a provision in an elections reform bill on Wednesday that would require Ohio voters to present government-issued photo identification at the polls.
Husted opposes the voter ID requirement that was inserted into the bill on Tuesday.
But the issue lives on in a separate bill that is slated for a hearing and possible vote on Thursday morning.
Requiring photo ID to vote sparked outrage from voting rights groups, unions, the League of Women Voters of Ohio, the Ohio Democratic Party and others.
Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and the ACLU of Ohio promised to file federal lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the photo ID requirement, saying it amounts to a poll tax and disenfranchises low-income, disabled and minority voters.
Ohio State University law professor Daniel Tokaji, an elections law expert, said there is no evidence that Ohio has problems with voter impersonation at the polls. In his research, he said he found only one instance of voter impersonation in Ohio over the past 10 years and it involved an absentee voter.
“You don’t have to be an election law professor to figure out what is going on here. This is a power grab. It is a transparent effort by Republicans to make it more difficult for Democrats to vote,” Tokaji said at an Ohio Legislative Black Caucus press conference.
State Rep. Tracy Heard, D-Columbus, said that even if the voter photo identification requirement is eventually adopted, Ohioans need to pay attention, get the required ID or vote absentee.
“People forget very quickly. This is not a time to have amnesia. It is not a time to be absent. And it’s not a time to whine,” Heard said. “We have to suck it up and accept what’s going on and step forward and do what we can do to turn this around, to get them out of office, to get the majorities back and take control back of the state of Ohio.”
The House passed the voter photo identification requirement in March. House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, has said it would not suppress the vote and that the measure would help improve confidence in elections.
Husted reserved judgment on the other voter ID bill pending in the Senate, saying he needs to see how it is written and amended before commenting.
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By Brett Bellmore
June 25, 2011 8:32 AM | Link to this
“In order for there to be a law requiring a (going to a polling place) to vote, then the state MUST provide (Taxi rides) FREE to all eligible voters. Otherwise, the cost of the (trip) constitutes a POLL TAX, which is ILLEGAL in this country. “ Does that make it clear how absurd the argument is? Proving that you’re the person whose vote you’re going to cast isn’t an artificial barrier to voting, it’s just a normal incidental expense, which we are normally subject to for all sorts of things.
By Squirrellygirl
June 24, 2011 8:36 AM | Link to this
Too bad you don’t know history, Bill. We all know he warned us the British were coming, but Palin expanded and gave you more information, and she was right. There’s more to the story, and she knew and you didn’t. She “gotcha!” You betcha!
By Anders
June 23, 2011 11:32 PM | Link to this
Convicted felons can still get a state ID or driver’s license, can’t they? So how is this proposed law going to restrict Democrats from voting? They have the funds to buy their drugs, so they must be able to afford a state ID for voting.
By Curtis Fields
June 23, 2011 4:00 PM | Link to this
It’s a shame every time the lawmakers come up with a great idea they yank it in fear of hurting someones feelings. With so many illegals running around there needs to be some form of government ID for voters. Stand up for America put it back in the bill.
By Leslie
June 23, 2011 3:49 PM | Link to this
Republicans in the Senate need a spine! Illegal immigrants do vote in our elections! Haters like Bill just want to see our Constitution wiped out and replaced.
By Bill
June 23, 2011 12:52 PM | Link to this
Paul Reveres’ ride had no intent to warn the British. It was “The British Are Coming” not the”Militia Is Coming” only Palin and a rodent would think otherwise. They to were fighting for voting rights
By Perspective
June 23, 2011 12:52 PM | Link to this
The Constitution contains many phrases, clauses, and amendments detailing ways people cannot be denied the right to vote. You cannot deny the right to vote because of race or gender. Citizens of Washington DC can vote for President; 18-year-olds can vote; you can vote even if you fail to pay a poll tax. The Constitution also requires that anyone who can vote for the “most numerous branch” of their state legislature can vote for House members and Senate members. Note that in all of this, though, the Constitution never explicitly ensures the right to vote, as it does the right to speech, for example. It does require that Representatives be chosen and Senators be elected by “the People,” and who comprises “the People” has been expanded by the aforementioned amendments several times. Aside from these requirements, though, the qualifications for voters are left to the states. And as long as the qualifications do not conflict with anything in the Constitution, that right can be withheld. For example, in Texas, persons declared mentally incompetent and felons currently in prison or on probation are denied the right to vote. It is interesting to note that though the 26th Amendment requires that 18-year-olds must be able to vote, states can allow persons younger than 18 to vote, if they chose to.
By null
June 23, 2011 11:47 AM | Link to this
@Steve - people moving from Dayton to Kettering do not vote for Dayton City issues. Former Dayton residents vote for the county issues where they currently live (Montgomery, Greene, etc.) Only Dayton residents vote for Dayton issues as well as Montgomery County issues.
By Squirrellygirl
June 23, 2011 11:23 AM | Link to this
Here is the link to one article that says Sarah Palin was right. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2011/0606/Sarah-Palin-says-she-s-right-about-Paul-Revere.-Is-that-wrong Her supporters noted that at the end of that long night Revere was detained by a British patrol, and by his own account told them that in a short time they would be facing a force of 500 Americans, because he (Revere) had “alarmed the country.” Look, from the point of view of strategic communications, Revere’s ride did indeed warn the British that fighting in the colonies was going to be tougher than they’d thought. That’s a sort of meta way of looking at it, we suppose, but that’s what they teach in the colleges these days. If we were her that’s the defense we’d use – it has the virtue of being both logical and vague enough to avoid further discussion.
By Steve
June 23, 2011 10:40 AM | Link to this
I think Mr Husted is posturing for a higher office when he needs to show some back bone. No flip flops take a stance man!!! All of us should be ashamed that we let politicians waver down the middle to the point they can say they really did or didn’t support some issue depending on who they are talking to. Every time I have voted I have shown my ID. This isn’t just a Dem/Rep thing. It isn’t a National or State thing either. Folks who live in Dayton, move to Kettering, should not be able to vote for Dayton issues. Certainly there is not widespread voter fraud but there definately are precincts and districts in this state where more folks voted than were registered. There are numberous dead people who voted in the last election. None of us know who they voted for but all of us should agree that it is wrong.
By J
June 23, 2011 10:09 AM | Link to this
In order for there to be a law requiring a photo ID to vote, then the state MUST provide photo ID’s FREE to all eligible voters. Otherwise, the cost of the ID constitutes a POLL TAX, which is ILLEGAL in this country.
By Bill
June 23, 2011 9:34 AM | Link to this
Moose, are you one of those trying to change the ride of Paul Revere in Wikipedia? Voting is a RIGHT according to the 14th,15th,17th,19th,23rd,24th,26th Amendments plus the 1966 Voting RIGHTS Act. Stop watching Fox news, it’s burning your brain
By JS
June 23, 2011 9:29 AM | Link to this
Folks, voting reforms are ALWAYS about limiting the ability of the opposing party’s constituents to vote. Period. No further discussion neccessary. The Dems have tried the same.
By Bill
June 23, 2011 9:12 AM | Link to this
Repugs are terrified after the amount of voters signed petitions to overturn SB5. They will go to any length to stop Democrats from voting. It doesn’t matter how “lazy” the voter be, they still have the right to vote if they are within the Law. There is NO problem with illegal voting, this is to hinder Democrats from voting. Look for more hindrance at the polls come election day.
By Perspective
June 23, 2011 8:57 AM | Link to this
Well Josh is wrong,there is no right to vote in the constitution. Also I would say that most of the people who vote already have a photo ID. I know I show my license every time at my polling place just like Dr. Real.
By rm miamisburg
June 23, 2011 8:44 AM | Link to this
Why is voting any different then cashing a check? I must prove who I am VIA a ID of some kind, when I cash a check, Buy Beer, Get on a Plane, If I was to go to a strip culb- OK I did when I was 18 and used a fake ID- I would have to show an ID. Oops I said it. I once used a fake ID at a Strip Club. I was 18 you had to be 21 then. Still I show more ID today then I did when I was 18, so how hard is it to get a State Issued ID card. Not hard. Voting in OHio is easy . you can vote absentee , which is what I do, now with out giving them any reason, or you can show up with a DP&L bill that has your name listed on it,or some kind of something that lists your name and address. Even a Paycheck or Cell Phone Bill. If what you show matchs, you can vote. Even if you don’t have an ID, you can vote via Provisonial ballot. Just have to show up at the BOE with in a certain amount of day to prove you are who you claim to be. Voting with a ID is not the boogeyman people think it is..
By Becky101
June 23, 2011 8:44 AM | Link to this
Remember HANGING CHADS? I finally heard a reasonable explanation of them. It wasn’t a bunch of confused old people. It was someone with a STACK of ballets that was too thick punching a hole for the candidate Gore. They didn’t even bother lining up the edges!
By Dr. Real
June 23, 2011 8:33 AM | Link to this
What are we talking about? I show my drivers license each time I vote (and all poll workers know me).
By Brett Bellmore
June 23, 2011 7:12 AM | Link to this
I don’t think this is at all about fraud. Rather, the Democratic party is simply reliant on a lot of constituency groups which are, to put it mildly, poorly motivated to vote. Anything that makes voting even slightly more difficult is a threat to the Democratic party’s vote totals. But we should make voting more difficult; What are the odds that somebody who can’t be bothered to vote if the polls aren’t kept open for a week, or they have to show ID, has actually bothered to become informed about the candidates? Lazy voters are just noise in the system.
By george
June 23, 2011 2:01 AM | Link to this
I favor a voter ID law. Those opposing voter ID claim that some groups of people may have a hard time obtaining a card. Well - we have organizations driving people to the polls, supplying them with lists of people to vote for, and so on. If a voter ID was required, I sure those same groups would see that people would get their voter ID.
By meg
June 23, 2011 1:58 AM | Link to this
I understand why the democratic party would oppose this measure. It would make it harder for illegal immigrants and convicted felons to vote democratic.
By M005E
June 22, 2011 5:41 PM | Link to this
First off, voting IS NOT a “constitutional right.” Anyone who says that it is flat out wrong. It isn’t there. Second, saying the voter fraud has not/will not occur is like says that the wind doesn’t exist because we cannot see it. It is amazing how naive people are.
By Thommyboy
June 22, 2011 4:01 PM | Link to this
Some of us just need not say anything at all.If only you guys could’ve had computers 400 years ago, would you even make a statement.?
By Josh
June 22, 2011 3:29 PM | Link to this
This is just to clarify something that OhioDemon said. The ability for all US citizens to vote is not a privileged, it is a constitutional right. Privileges can be taken away, rights cannot. With that in mind, if I were to show up at my polling place and was refused my constitutional rights based on a law that a state has made, it is a violation of the constitution. Yes, the majority of the people have some form of state id, however that does not mean a state can put limits on the federal constitution; the voter id idea would have to be amended in the US constitution to make it legal.
By Squirrellygirl
June 22, 2011 3:29 PM | Link to this
Haven’t they taken the ID requirement portion out of the bill? I think it needs to be in there to protect the integrity of our voting system. Without it, you have organizations like ACORN abusing it. Please tell me they will put the ID requirement back in the bill!
By OhioDemon
June 22, 2011 2:30 PM | Link to this
If I hear the word “disenfranchised” one more time, I’m going to vomit. If you are an adult legal citizen of Ohio, then believe me, you’ve got proof of identity SOMEWHERE. “Take it with you or you will not be permitted to vote” seems pretty basic. Your duty and privilege as a CITIZEN is to vote; you are now potentially going to be asked to prove you have earned that duty and privilege because others have abused the system. OH WELL. Get over yourselves and take your ID with you, or shut up, lay back, and let other people make the choices for you.
By Dave
June 22, 2011 12:02 PM | Link to this
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. A single case of voter fraud in 10 years says the system isn’t broke. The legislature needs to fix the economy. Most of them ran for office on a “jobs” program, after all!
By Squirrellygirl
June 22, 2011 11:45 AM | Link to this
I think an election is important enough that you should have to show picture identification that you are who you say you are. We have all heard in the news about all of the fake ballots, etc., and it would be harder for organizations such as ACORN to interfere with elections if this was a requirement. The only people who shouldn’t want this are the people who fix elections. Most people already have picture IDs anyway.