AP - Tens of thousands of Georgia voters recently received letters telling them they must show a photo ID to cast a ballot Nov. 7 — a message some fear will create confusion on Election Day, since a judge recently struck down the requirement.
Tens of thousands of Georgia voters recently received letters telling them they must show a photo ID to cast a ballot Nov. 7 — a message some fear will create confusion on Election Day, since a judge recently struck down the requirement.
The State Board of Elections mailed more than 300,000 of the letters — about 20,000 of them after the judge issued his ruling Sept. 19.
Board of Elections vice chairman Claud "Tex" McIver said he does not expect voter confusion will be a problem this fall.
"Just walk in the door," McIver said Friday.
For months, lawyers have been battling over the new photo ID law in state and federal court. Supporters of the law — primarily Republicans — have said it is needed to prevent voter fraud.
Opponent claim it is intended to discourage minorities, the poor and the elderly — who are less likely to have a driver's license or other photo ID — from casting ballots.
Last month, a state judge declared the law unconstitutional because it establishes a voting requirement not contained in the Georgia Constitution. After that ruling, state officials said voters will be able to cast a ballot merely by presenting something such as a utility bill or a Social Security card.
McIver said he let the last batch of 20,000 letters go out because he was confronted with two different rulings: the state judge's order, and a federal judge's decision to block the law but consider reinstating it before Election Day.
McIver said the board is trying to minimize confusion by talking with county registrars and updating its Web site. The are no plans to send out additional mailings or make public service announcements; McIver said there is not enough money in the budget to do that.
Some groups are working to counteract possible confusion. The Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda said it plans an automated call campaign next week to the 305,000 voters who received letters. The group is also reminding voters to cast an early or absentee ballot, and said it will issue public service announcements.
"I'm concerned because those letters went out and they really shouldn't have gone out until the ruling was made by the judge, but they went out anyway in a rush to prevent people from voting," said the group's executive director, Helen Butler. "I'm saying, `Don't let anything prevent you from voting. Exercise your rights.'"
10-06-2006, 03:50 PM
