ID law could depress black turnout in Ind.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By: Ben Adler

Experts say African-American voters — a key constituency of Barack Obama in the primaries thus far — might be disproportionately affected in Tuesday’s Indiana primary by the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold the state’s voter identification requirement.

Studies show that African-Americans are especially likely not to have the identification necessary to vote on Tuesday. Several other groups, notably elderly voters, disabled voters and young voters, are also more likely than the general population not to have the necessary identification.

“The research is pretty clear that in Indiana this will disproportionately affect certain groups and African-Americans are certainly one of them,” said Julia Vaughn, Indiana policy director for Common Cause. Common Cause and verifiedvoting.org issued a report on May 1 detailing which groups are least likely to have a government-issued photo identification card that meets the Indiana law’s requirements.

As the report noted, a University of Washington study found that 28 percent of African-Americans in the state of Indiana do not have the proper ID to vote. African-Americans make up 9 percent of the voting population in Indiana.

By comparison, slightly less than 20 percent of Indianans over 70 do not have the necessary ID, according to the same study. Older voters tend to favor Hillary Rodham Clinton, while Obama has strong support among youth. According to a recent Rock the Vote poll, 19 percent of people under 30 do not have a valid photo identification with their current address as the Indiana law requires. Since young people move frequently they are less likely to have identification cards with their current address.

And young African-Americans are especially likely to not meet the requirements. A study by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee found that in Milwaukee County, Wis., 74 percent of African-Americans and 66 percent of Hispanics aged 18 to 24 did not have a valid driver’s license — which is the most common form of photo identification.

Experts say that beyond the voters who do not meet the requirements, the law could have a further disproportionate impact on African-Americans because of discouragement and uneven enforcement.

Many voters may simply not try to vote, even if their identification is valid. “I think there is a chilling effect of the voter ID law,” said Vaughn. “People don’t want to get hassled when trying to vote.”

This is exacerbated by the fact that there may be widespread confusion about what constitutes a valid identification under the law, potentially causing some voters who do have a sufficient ID to think that they do not and some voters to be told incorrectly that their ID does not suffice. "If your name has changed you may be afraid you won't be able to vote," explained Vaughn, "even though the law doesn’t say your name needs to conform exactly."

Also there have been reports in the past that identification laws are imposed more often on minorities. “We’ve seen in the past that voter ID provisions are only implemented on people who fit into certain categories,” said Jonah Goldman, of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Voting Rights Project. “We’ve gotten hotline calls from, for example, an African-American voter who says he was IDed but not the person in front of him or behind him."

But the Obama campaign says it is not worried about any impact the law will have on the candidate’s performance Tuesday. "We planned based on the law as it was" wrote Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan in an e-mail. "So, even before the ruling we had already launched an aggressive campaign to educate voters." The Clinton campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uui...08B6CEC3CDD3982

[GaryC 7]

By: Ben Adler

Experts say African-American voters — a key constituency of Barack Obama in the primaries thus far — might be disproportionately affected in Tuesday’s Indiana primary by the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold the state’s voter identification requirement.

Studies show that African-Americans are especially likely not to have the identification necessary to vote on Tuesday. Several other groups, notably elderly voters, disabled voters and young voters, are also more likely than the general population not to have the necessary identification.

“The research is pretty clear that in Indiana this will disproportionately affect certain groups and African-Americans are certainly one of them,” said Julia Vaughn, Indiana policy director for Common Cause. Common Cause and verifiedvoting.org issued a report on May 1 detailing which groups are least likely to have a government-issued photo identification card that meets the Indiana law’s requirements.

As the report noted, a University of Washington study found that 28 percent of African-Americans in the state of Indiana do not have the proper ID to vote. African-Americans make up 9 percent of the voting population in Indiana.

By comparison, slightly less than 20 percent of Indianans over 70 do not have the necessary ID, according to the same study. Older voters tend to favor Hillary Rodham Clinton, while Obama has strong support among youth. According to a recent Rock the Vote poll, 19 percent of people under 30 do not have a valid photo identification with their current address as the Indiana law requires. Since young people move frequently they are less likely to have identification cards with their current address.

And young African-Americans are especially likely to not meet the requirements. A study by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee found that in Milwaukee County, Wis., 74 percent of African-Americans and 66 percent of Hispanics aged 18 to 24 did not have a valid driver’s license — which is the most common form of photo identification.

Experts say that beyond the voters who do not meet the requirements, the law could have a further disproportionate impact on African-Americans because of discouragement and uneven enforcement.

Many voters may simply not try to vote, even if their identification is valid. “I think there is a chilling effect of the voter ID law,” said Vaughn. “People don’t want to get hassled when trying to vote.”

This is exacerbated by the fact that there may be widespread confusion about what constitutes a valid identification under the law, potentially causing some voters who do have a sufficient ID to think that they do not and some voters to be told incorrectly that their ID does not suffice. "If your name has changed you may be afraid you won't be able to vote," explained Vaughn, "even though the law doesn’t say your name needs to conform exactly."

Also there have been reports in the past that identification laws are imposed more often on minorities. “We’ve seen in the past that voter ID provisions are only implemented on people who fit into certain categories,” said Jonah Goldman, of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Voting Rights Project. “We’ve gotten hotline calls from, for example, an African-American voter who says he was IDed but not the person in front of him or behind him."

But the Obama campaign says it is not worried about any impact the law will have on the candidate’s performance Tuesday. "We planned based on the law as it was" wrote Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan in an e-mail. "So, even before the ruling we had already launched an aggressive campaign to educate voters." The Clinton campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uui...08B6CEC3CDD3982

A total load of BS. Indiana is giving away the ID's for free. Even if they don't have one they can still cast a provisional ballot and then prove their ID to make their vote count. Stop the whining. The SC said its constitutional. It isn't going to change. Unless of course your making excuses ahead of time for a poor showing for Obama.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

By: Ben Adler

Experts say African-American voters — a key constituency of Barack Obama in the primaries thus far — might be disproportionately affected in Tuesday’s Indiana primary by the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold the state’s voter identification requirement.

Studies show that African-Americans are especially likely not to have the identification necessary to vote on Tuesday. Several other groups, notably elderly voters, disabled voters and young voters, are also more likely than the general population not to have the necessary identification.

“The research is pretty clear that in Indiana this will disproportionately affect certain groups and African-Americans are certainly one of them,” said Julia Vaughn, Indiana policy director for Common Cause. Common Cause and verifiedvoting.org issued a report on May 1 detailing which groups are least likely to have a government-issued photo identification card that meets the Indiana law’s requirements.

As the report noted, a University of Washington study found that 28 percent of African-Americans in the state of Indiana do not have the proper ID to vote. African-Americans make up 9 percent of the voting population in Indiana.

By comparison, slightly less than 20 percent of Indianans over 70 do not have the necessary ID, according to the same study. Older voters tend to favor Hillary Rodham Clinton, while Obama has strong support among youth. According to a recent Rock the Vote poll, 19 percent of people under 30 do not have a valid photo identification with their current address as the Indiana law requires. Since young people move frequently they are less likely to have identification cards with their current address.

And young African-Americans are especially likely to not meet the requirements. A study by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee found that in Milwaukee County, Wis., 74 percent of African-Americans and 66 percent of Hispanics aged 18 to 24 did not have a valid driver’s license — which is the most common form of photo identification.

Experts say that beyond the voters who do not meet the requirements, the law could have a further disproportionate impact on African-Americans because of discouragement and uneven enforcement.

Many voters may simply not try to vote, even if their identification is valid. “I think there is a chilling effect of the voter ID law,” said Vaughn. “People don’t want to get hassled when trying to vote.”

This is exacerbated by the fact that there may be widespread confusion about what constitutes a valid identification under the law, potentially causing some voters who do have a sufficient ID to think that they do not and some voters to be told incorrectly that their ID does not suffice. "If your name has changed you may be afraid you won't be able to vote," explained Vaughn, "even though the law doesn’t say your name needs to conform exactly."

Also there have been reports in the past that identification laws are imposed more often on minorities. “We’ve seen in the past that voter ID provisions are only implemented on people who fit into certain categories,” said Jonah Goldman, of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Voting Rights Project. “We’ve gotten hotline calls from, for example, an African-American voter who says he was IDed but not the person in front of him or behind him."

But the Obama campaign says it is not worried about any impact the law will have on the candidate’s performance Tuesday. "We planned based on the law as it was" wrote Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan in an e-mail. "So, even before the ruling we had already launched an aggressive campaign to educate voters." The Clinton campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uui...08B6CEC3CDD3982

A total load of BS. Indiana is giving away the ID's for free. Even if they don't have one they can still cast a provisional ballot and then prove their ID to make their vote count. Stop the whining. The SC said its constitutional. It isn't going to change. Unless of course your making excuses ahead of time for a poor showing for Obama.

Gary - I completely agree...

[PlatyPius 5]

I have to agree with Gary as well. I found the article to be total BS. First of all, we are Hoosiers - not "Indianaians". I don't believe the alleged bias either. Last time I voted, I had to show ID. As did everyone else in line with me. Maybe they're biased against white guys, white women, and older black men....

If someone isn't intelligent enough to have or get an ID, then do we really want them voting? We've seen what happens when the ignorant vote.... George W. Bush and now Hillary being as close as she is.

[*JG* 2]

ID questions come up every single time we have a big election. Nothing new here.

[Fandango 1,440]

By: Ben Adler

And young African-Americans are especially likely to not meet the requirements. A study by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee found that in Milwaukee County, Wis., 74 percent of African-Americans and 66 percent of Hispanics aged 18 to 24 did not have a valid driver’s license — which is the most common form of photo identification.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uui...08B6CEC3CDD3982

Did this just say that blacks and hispanics can't drive as well as whites?

Aside from the obvious 'get a state ID if you can't drive' which has NOTHING to do with 'meeting reqs'

I agree with Charles and everyone else. This is utter tripe.

[Ban Hammer 13,678]

I agree with Charles and everyone else. This is utter tripe.

[Fandango 1,440]

I agree with Charles and everyone else. This is utter tripe.

Whoops....I meant Gary.

hahahah

ETA: 'sowwy Charlie'

Edited May 5, 2008 by Happy Bunny

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I know people who don't have licenses because they've never been able to afford a car.

But they're smart, they have non-driver photo ID. Everyone can do that!

[Fandango 1,440]

I know people who don't have licenses because they've never been able to afford a car.

But they're smart, they have non-driver photo ID. Everyone can do that!

Huh? They can meet the reqs to get an ID!?

That's remarkable!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Yeah NJ will give you a non-driver Photo ID. I don't get why that's so surprising.

[Fandango 1,440]

Yeah NJ will give you a non-driver Photo ID. I don't get why that's so surprising.

Sarcasm, G...sarcasm

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Oh.

[Fandango 1,440]

dont u feel silleh

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]