in

With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead

Apr 29 2008 | By Daniel Vock & John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writers
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say.
The court’s 6-3 decision leaves the door open for future legal challenges, if proof is presented that voters couldn't cast their ballots because of the new rules— evidence that the court said was missing from the Indiana case. But the court didn’t specify how many people must be affected for it to consider striking down the law.
 
“It’s going to be an uphill battle for anybody who would want to (challenge the Indiana law) just because the state interests are so strong” in holding fraud-free elections, said Indiana Solicitor General Tom Fisher. Fisher defended the law at oral arguments before the high court.
 
Vermont Secretary of State Deborah L. Markowitz, a Democrat who weighed in against the restrictions, said lawmakers in other states might press ahead with pursuing similar measures after getting the all-clear from the high court.
 
Currently, only Indiana, Georgia and Florida require voters to show photo identification at the polls. Missouri passed a similar law, but it was struck down by the state supreme court.

“There are already bills pending in legislatures across the country. The fear is that this will breathe new life into some of those efforts,” Markowitz said.