Voter ID long overdue

By Staff
April 18, 2004
It's hard to imagine God taking sides in the Mississippi's Legislature's debate over whether voters should produce some form of identification at the polls. But that's what one Delta lawmaker would have us believe.
Rep. Chuck Espy, D-Clarksdale, said several organizations, from the NAACP to AARP, have spoken out against voter ID. He said he is fighting ID because he thinks the fight is the will of God.''
I perceive it as doing what's right by the people who have no voice,'' Espy told The Associated Press last week.
Regardless of whether Espy has a direct pipeline to Heaven or not, the House action to adopt voter ID was long overdue and should be appreciated by anyone who wants to return integrity to the electoral process. The House vote was 92-28 and, if the bill makes it through the Senate and is signed by Gov. Haley Barbour, voter ID would require most voters to show ID starting next January.
The House bill would:
Exempt people born before Jan. 1, 1940, an exception put in to address concerns that requiring ID could be used to intimidate older black voters who once had to pay poll taxes.
Allow a variety of IDs, including a driver's license, a passport, a military or student ID, a gun permit, a voter registration card and others.
Allow a person not carrying ID at the polling place to sign a sworn statement affirming his identity. Signing a false statement would carry a $5,000 fine.
Set a penalty of $5,000 for intimidating voters.
Restore voting rights to some people convicted of nonviolent felonies, such as writing bad checks.
A different bill signed by Gov. Haley Barbour has put Mississippi in compliance with federal election mandates, but revival of the more comprehensive voter ID bill in the House was a good sign that lawmakers are not finished with the issue.
All in all, it's a good bill, one the Senate should also pass before the end of the 2004 legislative session on May 9.