EDMOND — Gov. Brad Henry may sign as early as today a voter ID bill that continues to stir partisan controversy.
In essence, the bill requires voters to present a government-issued photo identification or their voter ID card at the polls. If someone forgets either form of identification, they may cast a provisional ballot. One part of the bill that is being overlooked in the heated debate about photo IDs is the legislation extends by a week the early voting time frame.
Weak arguments abound in this debate.
Many Democrats and groups such as the League of Women Voters are opposed to the photo ID requirement, claiming it could disenfranchise elderly, disabled and minority voters. They believe many of those groups might not have a photo ID, or that it would be costly for them to obtain one.
Let’s get real. In this technology-laden era, it’s difficult to believe large numbers of people do not have a photo ID. For example, if someone uses a credit card to pay for sending a package at a post office, they are required to show a photo ID before the transaction is completed. Ditto for many stores, including grocery stores. Photo IDs are asked for by many retailers before they accept a check or a credit card as part of their verification process to eliminate fraud. You even have to show a photo ID to enter a bar or purchase cigarettes.
But let’s dispense with the red herring issue of the photo ID. The legislation also allows the use of a voter ID card, too. Guess what? When a voter registers with their county Election Board, they are issued one of those cards. There is no added cost in this legislation, as some have claimed, because election boards are already issuing these cards to voters. Problem solved. Voters just need to be responsible and keep their voter ID cards with them and show them when they check in at their polling location.
Government is never going to stop those who truly want to commit fraud from doing illegal things. That’s why we have punitive laws on the books to deter those who might think about wrongdoing and to punish those who move past thinking and on to the doing.
Voter ID legislation is not the end of voting as we know it. Instead, we believe it will put some confidence back into our voting system.
Our View
Voter ID not all bad
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