Texas’ Voter ID law hot topic at NAACP convention
By: Damali Keith
Posted: July 9th, 2012
A new Texas law has some claiming it’s really a Republican strategy to get President Barack Obama out of office.
The Texas Voter Identification Law is being fought in federal court in Washington D.C., but it’s the talk of the NAACP convention in Houston.
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“We are living through the greatest wave of legislative assaults on the right to vote in more than a century,” says NAACP President Benjamin Jealous.
There are strong claims coming from the convention.
“In 2011/2012, we saw more states pass more laws pushing more voters out of the ballot box than in any legislative cycle in more than a century,” adds Jealous.
“Instead of making it easier for people to vote, there is a strategy to prevent people of color and older people from voting,” says Democratic Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy.
“They (the Republicans) are trying to steal it. That’s exactly what they’re doing, just like George W,” says A.B. Lampkin who came from Fort Worth to the convention in Houston.
“This is a piece of legislation that’s been supported by 75 percent of all Texans. That’s Republicans and Democrats. It’s common sense reform,” explains head of the Harris County Republican Party Jared Woodfill.
The state says the law is an effort to prevent voter fraud. Texas officials are battling to keep the law after the US Justice Department rejected the legislation which would require voters to show a driver’s license or state identification in order to cast a ballot.
“It’s kind of hard for people to go and get a license if you don’t have a car,” says Houstonian Felicia Perkins.
The hearing is expected to take five days. A ruling is expected late this month or in early August. An estimated 600,000 registered Texas voters do not have a government-issued ID. Many are poor, even homeless.
“If they can’t exercise their right to vote and elect people, who will represent them then? They will only be pushed further into the trenches on the fringes of society,” says Houstonian Sapphire Jule King.
“You can go to the Department of Public Safety and if you don’t have the ability to pay for one, they’ll actually give you one,” counters Woodfill.
“Every individual has the right to vote and when you put limitations on those rights, you’re taking away their liberty,” says Lampkin.
US Attorney General Eric Holder was scheduled to speak at a luncheon at the convention Monday, but we’re told a delayed airplane kept him from it. Holder is now set to say a few words Tuesday. Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney will speak on Wednesday. Vice President Joe Biden will have his turn on Thursday.
The NAACP says it will register one million new voters before November.
Kevin Jackson
He is a former management consultant having some of the world’s largest companies as his former clients. Interaction with prominent business leaders, as well as being a business leader himself has provided Jackson real world perspective to politics.
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Theresa Null
July 30, 2012 at 7:51 am
I like to think of "worst case scenario." Let's say Hitler wanted to take over the political scene in USA. Now, do you want non-citizens voting?
I understand the financial aspect of obtaining government issued ID. In Colorado, one can get free ID by accessing services from Dept of Human Services or the Work Force Center. I don't know about Texas, but I have to guess many people lose purses, ID, or were just too lazy at some point in their lives to get ID. Texas or any state would have to have remedies for those situations.
guest
September 17, 2012 at 9:31 pm
It is just plain common sense to have some form of id at a polling place, especially in a place like Texas with a high number off illegals. Whats to stop say a few million from crossing the border just to vote? Think worse case. Anyone who is too lazy to get a state dl or a photo id doesn't deserve to vote. What do these people us to cash checks or spend food stamps?
JJJessee
September 19, 2012 at 9:16 pm
This is a case of where the past injustices, of poll taxes and more overt and illegal methods to keep blacks from voting comes back and haunt our Union. I'm not particularly against a Federal ID card, but I'm surprised the TP hasn't picked up on it as More Government Invasion of Our Privacy. Could those whose advocate Voter ID be hoping it will disenfranchise voters not friendly to their case. Of course not! The Party of Lincoln would not attempt to under-cut someone's right to vote considering the blood (all American) that was spilled to gain and protect it -regardless of what Rep. PA Mike Turzai said.
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