Still More ID News
Who says Democrats are the only ones who care about election reform? The hot topic of the moment continues to be bills to require a photo ID, on which there's been movement in several states during the past few days, advanced mostly by Republicans:

- In Iowa, the state house has approved a bill that would require voters to show a photo ID when voting. It passed 51-48 along party lines, as the Des Moines register reports here. The bill would also close polling places one hour earlier.

- In Wisconsin, Democratic Governor Jim Doyle has proposed a series of election reforms which doesn't include an ID requirement, as reported here. His bill does include measures designed to prevent ineligible felons from voting and to add more and better poll workers. But the absence of an ID requirement has the Republican Assembly Speaker squawking, as reported here.

- In Arizona, Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano vetoed a bill passed by the Republican-dominated legislature, which would require voters to show ID before getting a ballot. The A.P. has this report. Gov. Napolitano stated that the requirement would conflict with HAVA, which requires that voters subject to its ID requirement be given a provisional ballot, when they arrive at the polls without it. Democrats are concerned that the bill would throw roadblocks in the way of those who lack ID, including some elderly, Latino, and native American voters who lack ID. You think?

For a summary of existing ID laws, see this nifty chart from electionline.org. - posted by Dan Tokaji @ 11:43 PM