While it may be true that federal courts are reading the Constitution in a way that excludes such a right, they're wrong. Just as wrong as those who think gay marriage would be some sort of 'special right.' Amendment IX makes it clear that it was the framers intent not to limit the liberty of Americans via the Constitution: "The enumeration in the Constituion, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." In plain english: "hey, we're smart, but we can't think of everything." The Jeffersonian view is that we live in a state of liberty - unencumbered except as expressly and legally forbidden by laws. Presumably, just ones. No one can reasonably doubt an adult American citizen's right to vote, or, for that matter, to marry whomever they please.

There is a real benefit to an ID check: if I take the time to register to vote, I don't want someone who has my name and address voting for me. Of all the stupid things that Republican'ts do, I think that this one falls to the bottom of the pile.

gttim is exactly right about voter fraud issues. Frank Abignale (the inspiration for the movie Catch Me If You Can) wrote a book called the Art of the Steal about fraud and identity theft, where he lays out the techniques that crooks use and how to protect yourself. Bottom line: it's a lot easier to forge documents (like bank statements and utility bills) than you think! I hate to think what would happen if these techniques were applied to an election.

What the GOP fear-mongering fails to recognize is that in order to register to vote, you have to provide ID and proof of address anyway. So if you're registered, you've passed the litmus test of the "wrong-kind" of voters.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. By caving to the GOP with a "what's the big deal about ID's?", you allow them to validate the fear AND they waste our valuable tax dollar money without addressing the real problems with voting.

How much time and money is being spent on sending this message, writing this law and enforcing it? I feel like allowing the GOP to continue down this path during times with tinder-box current events and the middle class being squeezed is like propelling gay marriage to the top of the policy priorities.

While on the subject of national voting rights, I would also like to point out that the 600,000+ residents of the District of Columbia (more than the population of South Dakota, by the way), have ZERO voting representation in Congress. DC residents pay federal income taxes (some of the highest in the nation), have fought and died in wars since our nation's birth, yet to this day do not have a voice in Congress. In fact, we weren't even allowed to vote for president until 1961, and didn't have the right to vote for mayor or city council until 1973.

DC residents receive no "special treatment" just because they live in the capital city. Some might say that in fact they are punished for wanting to live here. This situation is unheard of other industrialized democratic nations and is downright unfair.

I emplore everyone out there who DOES have the luxury of representation and a voice in Congress to take a moment to visit the DC Vote web site (www.dcvote.org) and ask their representatives to support the upcoming DC Voting Rights legislation.

Thank you.

When I said educate people on the ID acquisition process, I didn't necessarily mean government funded. How about some kind of grassroots project, maybe a combined effort of groups like moveon.org? I hate to sound like a libertarian, but government isn't the answer for everything.

One other slightly off-topic problem to solve: I first saw the solution to the campaign finance reform problem in the movie Bulworth. The broadcast tv stations, in return for their tv frequency monopolies, currently do very little for the public good. Why don't the American people rise up and demand that they give each candidate serious airtime leading up to the election to explain his or her positions? This would make the issue of raising money for 30-second spots much less important, and thus dilute the effect of evil corporate lobbying.

I tried to explain this to a Republican friend of mine, and he said, 'But the tv stations are businesses. We can't tell businesses what to do! Free market rules!' I then said, 'OK, I'm going to build a tv tower and start broadcasting on Channel 3 next week. Isn't that the free market at work?' It's amazing how many Republicans would fail Econ 101.

In Georgia, you can register to vote by mail. You need no ID. You only need a copy of a paycheck, bank statement or utility bill, and who can't fake on of those on a copy machine? Nobody checks an ID. HEck, they do not even see you.

Previously to vote by absentee ballot, you need only get a copy of an absentee ballot, fill it out, and mail it in. No ID is needed. Again, nobody even sees you.

The potential for voter fraud is huge! You never even have to see an actual person to register and vote by absentee ballot! How did Georgia change the law with its new voter protection act? Now, anybody can vote by absentee ballot, and you do not need a reason. You do not have to be out of town or having surgery. You can do it because you feel like it. Any group who distributes absentee ballots, like the Christian Coalition, can now attach literature telling you who they think you can vote for. Oh, and dead people can legally vote absentee. Yes, they changed the law making it legal for dead people to vote by absentee ballot.

Why did Georgia, which is run by the GOP, not try and safeguard absentee voting? The vast majority of people voting absentee are Republican. They made it easier to vote and easier to commit voter fraud.

Voting in person, which most Democrats do? They made it harder and put up roadblocks, even though they could not prove that any voter fraud was taking place during "in person" voting.

What else do you need to know?