By Rev. Al Sharpton
Last week, Florida’s former Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer appeared on my TV show, Politics Nation on MSNBC, and candidly discussed how the GOP in his state systematically pushed for harsh new voter ID laws in order to suppress the vote — specifically that of African Americans and young people. Blowing the lid off of insider meetings, Greer said his party gave up on courting minority voters and instead began seeking methods to disenfranchise and purge as many of them from participating as possible. He confirmed what some of us have long argued, and he provided a backdrop into what is transpiring all across the country in advance of the upcoming presidential election. Well today, in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, a judge ruled in favor of upholding the draconian Republican-supported voter ID law. This outrageous ruling is a slap in the face to democracy, and a slap in the face to all those who sacrificed so dearly in order to secure our liberties.
In what can only be described as a shocking and appalling ruling, Commonwealth Judge Robert Simpson has sided with those who would seek to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of otherwise eligible voters just a few months before Election Day. While Simpson said he was disturbed by statements made by Pennsylvania state House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (who openly said voter ID laws would allow Gov. Romney to win Pennsylvania), he believed that state officials would be able to enforce these laws in a “nonpartisan, even-handed manner.” But when the entire premise of a law is partisan to begin with, the idea of fairness is preposterous and insulting at best.
The Pennsylvania Transportation Department estimates that approximately 9 perent of registered voters — or 750,000 people — lack state-issued photo IDs in the state and will not be able to cast a ballot this November. And it should come as no surprise that a majority of these folks are the poor, the elderly, people of color, the disabled and young folks. In other words, they represent a massive voting block of the Democratic Party and came out in unprecedented numbers for the 2008 election. Judge Simpson, a Republican, stated that he was ‘skeptical’ of the 9 percent figure and that opponents of these voter ID lawsfailed to make a case of voter suppression. But what Simpson should have focused on instead was the inability of proponents of these laws to prove that voter fraud exists in the first place. Once again unable to provide valid proof that voter fraud is an actual threat, these Republican lawmakers have argued a solution looking for a problem. And the truly unfortunate part is that they have thus far succeeded in the state of Pennsylvania.
For the past few weeks, I have traveled to key areas like Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and Florida as part of my Voter Engagement Tour. Because these new voter ID laws range from an elimination of early/absentee voting to new photo ID requirements and more, citizens must be educated as to what tactics are in play in their respective state. They then must organize to get as many voters the appropriate IDs or other documents in order to counteract the repressive measures that will impact them this election. My organization, National Action Network, and I will now be sure to visit Pennsylvania in the immediate future. We will rally folks, and assist churches and civil rights groups with getting their congregants/members registered and helping them to obtain photo IDs.
While there may be time for people to appeal Judge Simpson’s ruling, we will not take the chance. Many of those impacted by these laws cannot afford to take time off from work or cannot make it to a state agency that can administer the IDs. Many are elderly who may not even possess a birth certificate, let alone a vehicle to get to the polls. And many just need clarity as to what will now be required. We will do our part to prepare people as much as possible, and get as many eligible souls to the polls, but all of us need to take action.
Today’s unfortunate ruling is a clear upholding of voter suppression, but it is not the first time we’ve witnessed systematic methods of blocking the vote in this nation. It was a broad coalition of activists, religious leaders, lawmakers and citizens from diverse backgrounds that fought disenfranchisement in the past. During that time, some even gave their lives. If we’ve survived church bombings, brute force and more, we should at least be able to empower and assist the less fortunate among us to combat those who simply cannot win based on their own Party’s platform alone. We must take action; no excuses. The ones who are attempting to block us aren’t hesitating, and neither should we.
Follow Rev. Al Sharpton on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheRevAl
This is Voter Suppression at its finest.
Watch the video and sign the petition to end Voter Suppression.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9TjVsQa57c
Making it the REQUIREMENT for service is the sticking point. And I entirely agree that these laws are being enacted by those who have no concern whatsoever as to why the people have no ID at all – and that they’re being entirely disingenuous, regarding the 'proven to be fantasy' claims of even the remote possibility these laughable proclamations regarding any rampant 'multiple voter' fraud.
No question these laws are being enacted by those who don't care as to WHY the people have no ID at all; but only because those affected by the law may not vote for their party.
I have no doubt that if these affected citizens were potential voters were right-leaning voters, the Republicans would be sending interns as volunteers in stretch-limo bus service to their homes and offering to assist in pulling the voting levers. (lol)
See the Truth Here – [Site URL: http://tinyurl.com/clqd2jc (pic)]
if you would like to understand the context in which voter ID laws are being passed, watch this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9TjVsQa57c
You need a photo ID to:
Drive a car, buy liquor, purchase tabacco, board a plane, board AMTRAK, go to a movie, enter a hospital, open a bank account, cash a check, apply for a loan, enter the country, pick up prescriptions, get a library card, enter a government building, enroll in school, the list continues on and on. BUT to execute one of our Country's most precious and fundemental PRIVALIDGES, voting in an election, asking for a photo ID so that you can prove that you are who you say your are is too much? You are kidding right? How do all these so called disinfranchised people do any of the above mentioned activities? Give me a break. It just makes allows for fraud.
Driving a car and riding AMTRAK is NOT A RIGHT. Voting is. This country has a long and well known history of racism against Black voters. Just because no one in your family didn't deal with it doesn't mean it didn't happen. Spending money on something so you can vote is a poll tax. Ask yourself: Why did all these vote laws SUDDENLY appear right after President O was elected??? Why hadn't it come up before?
PENN is asking for not just ANY photo ID but a specific voter ID. If this was about fraud why couldn't it be ANY photo ID? And there is no vote fraud.
BlaBlaBla VOTING IS A RIGHT!
Lets see, if you are old and poor you are unlikely to drive (gas and insurance cost money) and many people still use CASH rather than deal with bank accounts and checks. Plus, ID's cost about $20. If you are living pay check to pay check, $20 is a large amount. Voting is also not a priviledge, it is a right as an American citizen (Voting Rights Act of 1965). If the states that were enacting these laws actually took steps to help people get the ID's they need to vote, we wouldn't call it voter suppression but they are not taking those actions.
And all of them or the majority are US citizens who have a Constitutional right to vote and have been voting for decades! Being forced to produce documentation, photo id, which will make it difficult for the disabled, poor and elderly to produce new documentation? W hat are we gonna be seeing on TV on election night? Are they really going to turn down that 93 woman in a walker that doesn't have the proper id? Or the disabled in their wheelchairs? the poor saying they didn't have the means to get this new i.d? Is this really, truly about keeping the integrity of the election? I think not!
Exactly like in Virginia where they just send you the ID card.
This should not be a political issue at all !We are so divided politically, I just don't know why we can't come together as Americans and all uphold everyone's fundamental right to vote. Makes no sense..none. It doesn't matter who you support in this election. I am so disgusted by the monies being spent on both sides. When we have people in need of food, shelter, work, basic health care, infrastructure, fighting a war in Afghanistan, people have lost their homes. Many have gone before us and sacrificed their lives for this fundamental right to vote. We have to speak up as American's and citizens of this country. As citizens if our voting rights are infringed on or suppressed how do we separate us from a dictatorship? We may not always get what we want regarding the office of Presidency when we vote, but voting is the only recourse we have as citizens to make any changes. Reality is that both sides will lose votes, however, the Democrats will be hit the hardest. That is a fact.