Voters now will have to show identification before stepping into the voting booth, thanks to a bill recently signed into law by Gov. Bob Taft.
The main provision of the law requires voters to provide some sort of identification before they are allowed to vote. Potential voters must provide a government-issued ID, bank statement, paycheck or utility bill. Failing this, voters can provide the last four digits of their social security number and cast a provisional ballot. Or failing even that, voters can sign a statement of affirmation of their identity and cast a provisional ballot.
This bill is important in restoring trust in the electoral process, said Gov. Bob Taft's spokesman Mark Rickel. Through the elections of previous years, he said, a different world has emerged in elections. Many voters have become disenfranchised with the electoral process, and this new law is important to the renewal of their faith, he said.
This law takes measures to put back trust in elections
which is very important Rickel said.
Opponents of the bill criticized Gov. Taft for signing the bill so quickly after the legislature passed it, but Rickel said the speed was necessary to enforce the law in time for special elections in certain counties this summer.
Some say these reforms were brought on by the failed constitutional amendments proposed by Reform Ohio Now, said Secretary of State spokesman James Lee. However, Lee contends, legislation similar to what the voters rejected wouldn't be in the best interests of the state. If an issue were rejected by the voters, Lee said, it would not make much sense to propose similar legislation.
Refer to the results of the November 2005 elections Lee said.
The bill was surrounded by controversy for the ID requirement and passed the Ohio General Assembly divided largely down party lines, said Rep. Jimmy Stewart, R-Athens.
Stewart said the general idea of the bill was not bad, but he disagreed with the key provision. Therefore, Stewart voted against the bill, one of only a few Republicans to do so.
I understand what they were getting at
Stewart said, but if you accept the logic provided by proponents
then why accept questionable forms of identification such as a utility bill?
17
Archives
Chris Yonker
