Note: HERE
is an explanation of voter ID in Mexico. * Where apparently the requirement does not “have a particularly detrimental impact on Latinos…”

Mexican voter ID. Image: Twitter

GALEO and NALEO Strongly Oppose Proposed Voter ID Bills: Legislation Would Impose Unfair, Burdensome and Unnecessary Requirements for GA Voters

Found in GALEO
Written by Press Release
Posted on 2005-03-23

Atlanta, Georgia & Los Angeles, CA – March 23, 2005 The Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO) and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund today issued the following statement in opposition to HB 244 and SB 84, which would impose unnecessary new registration and polling place identification requirements on Georgia voters:

“We vigorously oppose the new photo identification requirements that would be imposed by HB 244 and SB 84 because they will create unnecessary and discriminatory obstacles for voters who wish to participate in Georgia’s electoral process. * These requirements would have a particularly detrimental impact on Georgia’s Latinos. From our experience working with Latino voters in Georgia and throughout the nation, we have learned that some pollworkers or election officials arbitrarily subject Latino voters to greater scrutiny during the registration and voting process. While we believe that most Georgia election workers treat voters fairly, there is still a significant risk that the new requirements will be used improperly to prevent Latino voter participation.

“These new requirements are unnecessary because Georgia law already requires its voters to provide identification before they can cast their ballots. The pending legislation reduces the list of acceptable forms of identification from 17 types of documents to just a handful, including a driver’s license, state- issued ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, government employee ID or student ID at select state universities. Restricting the acceptable forms of ID imposes new burdens on the elderly, poor, African Americans, Latinos and other population groups who may be less likely to possess these documents and may experience new financial challenges in obtaining them. In recent years, there have not been any cases brought to the State Election Board involving voters that attempted to vote fraudulently by assuming someone else’s identity. Thus, there is no evidence that the type of voter fraud that these burdensome requirements purport to address is even a problem in the state.

Finally, the enactment of these legislative measures would give Georgia the dubious distinction of having the most restrictive voter ID provisions of any state in the nation. As Georgia’s population becomes more diverse, it is critical that all of its voters become fully engaged in the electoral process. Latinos, African Americans and other population groups are helping to keep the state’s democracy vital and responsive to all of its citizens – this is not the time to take a step backwards with unfair and unnecessary burdens on democratic participation.”

GALEO is a statewide 501 © (6) nonprofit and non- partisan organization providing a voice for the growing Latino population in Georgia and a framework for collaborative and proactive legislative initiatives for Georgia’s Hispanic community.

The NALEO Educational Fund is the leading organization that empowers Latinos to participate fully in the American political process, from citizenship to government service.

About GALEO
GALEO is a statewide 501 © (6) nonprofit and non- partisan organization providing a voice for the growing Latino population in Georgia and a framework for collaborative and proactive legislative initiatives for Georgia’s Hispanic community.

Website: http://www.galeo.org
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