"One small step toward honest elections" is the headline of this editorial in today's Munster NW Indiana Times. The editorial praises "an election reform package championed by state Sen. Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake." The bill referred to is a 118-page measure, SEA 72, available here. The digest of the bill is available here. Some quotes from the Times' editorial:
Potential voters now will have to show proof of residency if their names are on an inactive voter list; county voter registration offices will be required to keep their voter registration list up to date; and an absentee ballot signature must be compared with the person's voter registration signature.It would be interesting to know whether other states require that voters show a photo ID at the polls. I know that until recently I had to show one, plus sign-in, in order to get to my dentist's office in a downtown high-rise office building.The law addresses some of the concerns the Lake County Election Board's Subcommittee on Public Integrity was forced to deal with as a result of the absentee ballot scandals that led to trials over the fraudulent use of absentee ballots in East Chicago and Schererville.
Unfortunately, the new law does not go far enough, although not for trying on Landske's part.
One important provision of Landske's bill was left on the cutting room floor of an unenlightened General Assembly. It would have required that voters show a photo ID at the polls. But opponents worried it would be an invasion of privacy.
That is ridiculous. People cannot apply for a check-cashing card at the supermarket or get on a plane without having to show a photo ID.
That should be the next step in the ongoing effort to ensure honest elections, especially in Lake County, where cheating at the polls is a legacy handed down from generation to generation.
Requiring a photo ID should not create a hardship on honest voters, those who understand that voting is a privilege and not a right to dishonestly affect an election.
[Update] In response to my inquiry, Edward Still of VoteLaw reports:
The [existence of the] federal Help America Vote Act is pushing states to adopt picture ID laws because it has a requirement for picture IDs in certain, limited situations. Many states are going ahead and adopting an "everyone shows ID" policy.[Update 3/22/04] This morning I was required to show my "photo ID" in order to make a charge purchase at Borders. Posted by Marcia Oddi at March 21, 2004 09:21 AM