It is important to understand the language of Republicans. Republican calls for “policies to prevent voter fraud” must be translated. What is meant is “policies to suppress voting.” Every time a law is passed requiring picture ID, proof of citizenship, or an actual registration card to vote, that is an effort to discourage voters.
At the Rod and Gun Club polling site in Towamensing Township this November, a young Republican operative was sitting by the sign-in table all day. I heard him tell the poll workers that legally they needed to check picture ID for each new voter. If a poll worker knows a voter, why would he or she ask for picture ID?
What is amazing is that a party that managed to steal a presidential election in 2000 (and that has been established by independent research) would have the chutzpah to rail about voter fraud. And please do not bring up one isolated and unproven case of intimidation by the “New Black Panthers” in Philadelphia to justify a nationwide effort to discourage poor people or new voters from casting a ballot.
By the way, if we really are worried about people voting twice, why don’t we adopt the method used in many countries and require voters to dip a finger into indelible ink. It has been proven inexpensive and effective. You don’t even need picture ID.
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