Muleskinner

Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: Opinion

Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan struck down the new Republican-backed Missouri Voter ID law Sept. 15 requiring that individuals show a federal or Missouri-issued photo ID at the polls starting in November- citing that the measure was an unconstitutional burden during a decision.

The measure, which was backed by Gov. Matt Blunt, serves as a direct disadvantage to the underprivileged, elderly and the disabled-three groups that tend to vote more democratic.

In previous years, voters could use any kind of artifact that proved residency, such as a gas bill.

This is an attempt to maintain consistency with the last couple of elections, that is to keep people away from the polls.

The Missouri Voter ID law crossed the line of constitutional behavior by denying individuals the right to vote by not having an alternative photo ID.

Cries out of the Republican camp lay blame on Attorney General/2008 governor-to-be Jay Nixon, who defended the law for the state.

Whether or not Nixon put his best foot forward on this case could be argued for years, but the simple truth is that this law was nothing more than an attempt to make life more difficult at the polls for Republican opposition.

Big Brother needed another way to scam, and Big Brother found it.

On record, there are more than 200,000 Missourians who do not have a photo ID because many do not drive.
While this ID is issued for free, the paperwork involved creates problems for the underprivileged in the state.

More than 200,000 votes could be a big difference, especially as the U.S. Senate race between Jim Talent and Claire McCaskill heads into the stretch run.

Republicans know that the chance of losing this seat increases by the minute, and they are looking for new methods to the same school of thought: Keep the poor away, and we win.

In the new millennium, voting corruption has done little to instill faith in the election process by the many who do not show up on Election Day and even those who try to vote and are denied.

It is sad that we have reached a point in the American political landscape where the judiciary has to step in and tell one party enough is enough.

This victory is a big one for the Democratic Party, one that needs to be reflective come Nov. 7.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools