Nothing wrong with photo ID to vote

Nothing wrong with photo ID to vote

Michael Madigan's proposed constitutional amendment on Nov. 4, says "No person should be denied the right to register to vote or to cast a ballot in an election based on race, color, ethnicity, status as a member of a language minority, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or income."

But the amendment would prohibit any law that disproportionally affects the rights of eligible citizens to register to vote or cast a ballot per the above.

The measure seeks to counter a Supreme Court ruling that dislodged part of the 1960s federal Voting Rights Act and prompted eight states to attempt to restrict access to polling booths, "That has brought on legislation in other states that some of us would consider voter suppression," Madigan said, pointing to how voter photo identification laws have disproportionately impacted minorities and the poor.

In the past decade, 34 states, including nearly a dozen since 2011 enacted new or stricter voter-identification laws. Critics say the requirements have prevented a significant number of people from voting, but research indicates turnout in recent years has been strong.

Counting the number of people who cast a vote is relatively easy, setting aside such problems as hanging chads and malfunctioning voting machines, but gauging whether voter-ID laws, or any other measure, suppress votes is much more difficult. Critics say the requirements are unconstitutional, and Attorney General Eric Holder has sued Texas and North Carolina.

This year, for this election only, the Democrat-controlled Illinois General Assembly suspended safeguards the state has in place to prevent voter fraud. Examples: now you can register to vote at the same time you vote and no photo-ID, such as a driver's license, is required to vote early.

Vote yes on amendment and a voter photo identification law cannot be passed in Illinois.

Robert Meale

Woodstock