Friday, May 9, 2008

INDIANA POLL TAX

The Republican's have done it again, this time with the help of their Supreme Court. To vote in the Indiana nominating primary you had to have an Indiana or federal issue photo-identification card.

I blogged this last week when the "Supremes"made their decision. In a year when thousands of young voters were showing interest for the first time and, of course, to make it more difficult for the minority voters to qualify, it worked.

Not only were voters turned away at several polling places, but a dozen nuns were not allowed to vote. The nuns, in their 80s and 90s and all residents of a retirement home near Notre Dame University, were turned away because of the stringent voter ID law upheld by the "Supremes."

Sister Julie McGuire, who was working at the polling place, had to explain to the nuns that they couldn't vote because they didn't have the proper ID card. She said, "Some of them really didn't understand why."

In addition an unknown number of college students, many voting for the first time, were turned away. You see, this new law does not recognize out of state drivers license, thus causing problems for 18 year old and above students. Also, the local DMVs would not allow students to use their out of state photo-identification drivers license to qualify for an Indiana drivers license so they could vote.

It reminded one student of a family story about her aunt, who years ago went to vote in the south side of Chicago and was told, "Your mother voted this morning." Her aunt replied, "That's strange, my mother is dead."

Let's hear it for Indiana and for the United States Supreme Court. It's the "American Way."

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