If all had gone as supporters of new voter identification requirements had planned, Gov.
Mike Beebe’s veto would now be history and Arkansans would face a higher standard of proof of citizenship before casting their votes.
House Speaker Davy Carter, however, kicked the can a little ways down the road. Citing a crowded legislative schedule last week and a desire among lawmakers to get home for Easter weekend, Carter pushed the House’s vote to override Beebe to this week.
That didn’t sit well with bill sponsor Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest. He accused Carter of “playing games” and “stupid politics.”
We don’t quite get the rush. As far as we know,planned during the Easter weekend.
Beebe vetoed the bill that would require voters to show photo identification when they go to the polls. In his veto letter on March 25, Beebe called King’s measure “an expensive solution in search of a problem” that “is not supported by any demonstrated need.”
Nonetheless, the state Senate voted 21-12, along party lines, to override Beebe’s veto. Apparently, when it comes to this matter, Republicans support an expansion of government. King’s measure would instruct the secretary of state to create rules requiring 75 county clerks to issue voter identification cards at no cost to individuals who have no other valid forms of identification and want to vote. This will cost about $300,000 to purchase equipment and additional unfunded work on the part of county clerks.
We believe Gov. Beebe did the right thing. King and his cohorts have provided little evidence the photo identification approach solves any real-world problems happening at the polls. But it makes for good politics for Republicans to tout how they fought back a ghostly tide of illegal voting, no doubt largely by those evil illegal immigrants. One gets the sense the Republicans’ “proof” of voter fraud is simply that President Obama got elected to a second term.
The legislation creates another governmental hoop for legitimate voters to jump through. The ones most likely affected are the poor and the elderly, who will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot. That ballot will not be counted unless the person appears before the county election commission by the following Monday to provide proof that they can legally vote.
Our legislators have approved hundreds of new laws since going into session in January. It seems reasonable to limit new laws to matters where there is a demonstrated problem and where there is evidence the proposed law will resolve the problem.
King and other lawmakers have not demonstrated either.
Perhaps Carter’s delay will create an opportunity for a lawmaker or two to come to their senses. The measure narrowly passed the House originally, so there may be a hint of hope that the House cannot sustain an override of the veto.
We believe that would be an outstanding outcome. CASUALTIES OF WAR To honor the men and women in our armed forces and remind our readers of their sacrifices, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers is publishing Department of Defense announcements identifying Americans killed in active military operations.
Army Chief Warrant Officer James E. Groves III, 37, of Kettering, Ohio, died March 16 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. The incident is under investigation.
Opinion, Pages 5 on 04/01/2013