Sun
Dec 18 2011
07:18 am
Haslam has "concerns" about voter ID law
By: R. Neal

Tom Humphrey reports that Gov. Haslam has concerns about the voter ID law. So why did he sign it into law?

Yes, we know that the veto is constitutionally neutered in Tennessee. And maybe that needs to be repaired, given all the bad law coming out of Nashville under GOP mob rule.

But the governor can at least send a message. He can let people know where he stands. Instead, he chose to stand with the TNGOP voter suppression program by signing the bill.

The time to "raise the issue" that the bill makes it "unnecessarily hard" for some people to vote would have been when it was being debated or when it was on his desk awaiting his signature, not after the fact.

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bizgrrl's picture

His primary concerns seem to

Submitted by bizgrrl on Sun, 2011/12/18 - 7:42am.

His primary concerns seem to be that some people will not be able to get a picture ID in time to vote. Whereas, the law itself is not good. What problem were they trying to solve with this bill? The system worked pretty well as it was.

He didn't understand at the time he signed the bill that the driver's license offices are understaffed and overworked? Has he never been to a driver's license office?

Mary the prez's picture

He obviously did not read my Letter in the MetroPulse!

Submitted by Mary the prez on Sun, 2011/12/18 - 9:14am.

This week: "Voter ID Law is Unconstitutional".
This "Law" has the potential to charge not one, but 3 poll taxes. This Law is a direct violation of Amendment XXIV, "Poll Taxes". This Law is intended to make it so difficult for potentional new voters and current voters that they will give up and NOT apply to vote. The stated purpose "to prevent voter fraud" is a sham as a complete survey of all 95 counties found only 4 instances of fraud, ALL committed by Poll WORKERS, not voters.
Haslam can see this was a HUGE mistake...since the State has already been sued, and bills will be submitted this Session to REPEAL it. And it is hypocritical of him, since he allowed several Legislators to go to Phoenix, shake hands with the scourge of voting rights, Gov. Brewer. These lawmakers claimed to go, representing the people of Tennessee!
The TNDP is going to roll out a plan in January to help those who WANT to obtain a Voter/Photo ID card to do so. Only half of Tennessee's 95 counties even HAVE a DL Center...does that explain one of the 3 poll taxes? Paying for transportation to the nearest location is a huge expense for many. Yeah, he's worried, alright, but a little too late.

Tamara Shepherd's picture

*

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Sun, 2011/12/18 - 6:22pm.

Mary's absolutely right about this. Here is a map detailing the Tennessee counties that have driver testing stations.

Nobody already registered to vote should have to take an unpaid day off his/her minimum wage job, climb on a city bus to race to the local driver testing station before it closes, then pay to get a photo ID there in order to vote.

And certainly nobody living in a town lacking a driver testing station should have to incur all these same obstacles/costs AND take a Greyhound out of town to get a photo ID!

Again, among 400 million votes cast, 9 cases of voter ID fraud.

This photo ID requirement is a "solution" in search of a problem.

Micjhael 's picture

Voter Photo ID

Submitted by Micjhael (not verified) on Sun, 2012/01/01 - 4:16pm.

It has been almost 50 yrs. since the 24th Amendment outlawed the poll tax. How can any Republican justify this kind of garbage? Voter ID fraud has not been a problem. The only reason for this law is to keep the old, the young, and the poor from exercising their Constitutional rights. What a bunch of immoral hypocrites. My mom will be 84 this week. She is smarter than all of the idiots that voted for this nonsense, including the Governor.She does not drive and does not have a drivers license. I will make sure that she is qualified to vote by election time, but many older folks, etc. will not be able to cast their votes because of the roadblocks the Republicans have enacted to keep our citizens from participating in democracy. I would not be surprised if the Governor signed a law taking voting rights away from those citizens who do not own property or go to a Republican church. The Justice Dept. needs to file lawsuits as soon as possible to get the courts to throw out these state laws that are taking our citizens Constitutional righjts away.

LOL's picture

The "voter suppression" line is not working people!

Submitted by LOL (not verified) on Wed, 2011/12/21 - 9:11am.

(link...)

R. Neal's picture

69% of those polled are

Submitted by R. Neal on Wed, 2011/12/21 - 9:32am.

69% of those polled are misinformed.

WSMV Channel 4

One of the closest bus stops to the east Nashville driver testing center, where someone can get a picture ID, is about one mile from the facility. That can be a far distance for someone on foot and a real challenge for someone in a wheelchair.

bizgrrl's picture

Justice Department rejects

Submitted by bizgrrl on Tue, 2011/12/27 - 11:12am.

Justice Department rejects South Carolina voter ID law

The Justice Department invoked the Voting Rights Act on Friday and said the new photo-identification rule could deny the right to vote for tens of thousands of blacks and other minorities.

Still under review are new election laws from several other Southern states, including Texas and Florida.

I'm guessing Tennessee is still getting around having their voter ID law blocked because: 1) free (sorta, kinda) photo IDs (like in Indiana) and 2) doesn't have a history of racial discrimination like South Carolina, etc. I'm guessing, I don't know.

redmondkr's picture

Our Republican schoolyard

Submitted by redmondkr on Thu, 2011/12/29 - 11:08am.

Our Republican schoolyard bullies are depending on the fact that Tennessee does not appear on the preclearance list.

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