A Sad Day for Voting Rights
The House of Representatives today passed the Hyde Vote Suppression Bill (H.R. 4844), which would require government-issued photo ID to vote, on an almost entirely party-line vote (228-196). Reports on the passage of the voter ID requirement may be found in the Washington Post and Atlanta Journal Constitution, among other places.

The House's action is particularly shameful, since it comes only a day after a state court in Georgia struck down a very similar requirement requirement, on the ground that it would would make voting so inconvenient for some people as to amount to the denial of the vote. Those particularly hard hit are likely to be elderly voters, people with disabilities, and racial minorities.
The House vote isn't a big surprise, as I anticipatorily noted here. Following their vote last week to build a 700-mile fence along the Mexican border, those who support the bill tout it as a measure to crack down on illegal immigrants. They're not fooling anyone ... except perhaps those so swept up in anti-immigrant fervor that they're beyond reasoned argument. There's no substantial evidence of undocumented immigrants attempting to vote and precious little of anyone else going to the polls pretending to be someone they're not. Discouraging eligible voters is the most likely effect of this bill. Regrettably, it also appears to be the motive behind it.

Civil rights advocates have aptly dubbed Hyde's bill the new poll tax. The Chicago Tribune has this particularly interesting piece, entitled "Want to vote? Passport please," which includes the views of both sides. It notes that there doesn't appear to be much support for the bill in the more moderate Senate. Let's hope that's correct. - posted by Dan Tokaji @ 7:50 PM