Saturday, October 07, 2006

ACLU and 9th Circus Strikes Down Arizona Voter ID Law

A federal appellate court has blocked the enforcement of an Arizona law that requires voters to show identification before casting a ballot and submit proof of citizenship when registering to vote. The ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday came a month before the Nov. 7 general election, and just before Monday’s deadline to register. The law had already been used for the Sept. 12 primary and in some municipal elections. The 2004 law requires that voters at polling places produce government-issued picture ID or two pieces of other non-photo identification specified by the law. Other parts of the law dealt with ineligibility of illegal immigrants to receive some government services and benefits.
I cannot for the life of me understand what the problem could be with requiring a photo ID to vote. Is it too much ask that a voter be legal? I'd like for my vote to count, and not be canceled out by someone who has no right to vote.