State elections officials: no complaints last week

Only eight voters in Georgia’s special elections last week needed to cast provisional ballots because they lacked the required photo identification—that’s the word from Georgia elections officials. State law allows those who cast provisional ballots to return within 48 hours and show a form of photo ID, so their vote can count. It was unclear whether the eight voters returned.
In the biggest test yet of the state’s photo ID law, officials say they received no complaints either by phone or email. Local elections were held in 22 counties with low turnout.

Voter ID gets test in Georgia today

The voter ID law is being put to the test today in special elections across 22 Georgia counties. State officials have covered the gamut in getting the word out to Georgians. A quarter million letters were sent out, radio commercials were run, a special hotline and Web site were established, and special training was held for poll workers. The Secretary of State’s office reported that about 300 free photo ID’s had been given out as of the weekend. Voter turnout for elections today is expected to be very low. Issues on the ballots include special-option sales taxes, as well as various local races.

Voter ID Testimony Ends

Today was the last day for testimony in Federal Court in Rome, to determine if making a photo ID a mandatory form ID at the polls is legal.

During closing arguments Attorneys for the state said that there is no way to measure in-person voter fraud and the photo id requirement will do so. But Ed Hines, a lawyer for the plaintiff, says a photo requirement could deter voters from going to the polls.

"Elections are sometimes won by tiny margins. Numbers matter; every vote counts," said Hines.

The plaintiffs, which include common cause and the NAACP, said in their closing argument that the state had not shown any proof that photo ID’s will help prevent voting fraud and that the law targets elderly African Americans.

Secretary of state, Karen Handel, says that this is the best way to get some numbers on voter fraud and that she has done and will do much more to educate voters on this new law if Judge Harold Murphy finds is legal. He's expected to rule within the next 2 weeks.

State Election Board: Yes for voter I-D

Georgia should move ahead with the effort to require voters to show photo I-D's at the polls--that's the word from the state's election board. A vote of 3-to-1 Wednesday by the State Election Board said Georgia should put the requirement into effect "as soon as the law allows".

This vote comes only days after the Georgia Supreme Court threw out a challenge to the voter I-D law. The Secretary of State's office says the law would not be in effect for next Tuesday's special election in the 10th Congressional District. However, it could be used in the September local elections, unless another legal challenge is issued.

The battle over Georgia's voter I-D law has been ongoing for over a year in state and federal court. Opponents claim the law would disenfranchise minorities, the poor, and the elderly who don't have a driver's license or other government-issued I-D. The law's supporters, including Governor Sonny Perdue, say it's needed to prevent voter fraud.

Voter I-D challenge thrown out

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday threw out a challenge to the state's voter I-D law on a technicality. The state Supreme Court decided that the plantiff in the voter I-D case did not have the legal standing to challenge the law. So no decision was made on the validity of the photo I-D requirement.

The ruling does overturn a decision last September by a Fulton County Superior Court judge, that said the law requiring a picture I-D at the polls was unconstitutional and an undue burden on voters. After that ruling the state election board decided not to require photo I-D cards for the November elections.

The battle over Georgia's voter I-D law has been going on for over a year in state and federal court. Opponents claim the law will disenfranchise minorities, the poor, and the elderly who don't have a driver's license or other government-issued photo I-D.

The law's supporters, including Governor Sonny Perdue, say it is needed to prevent voter fraud. No examples of in-person voter fraud have been presented in any of the court challenges. But supporters say the potential exists.