Washington,
Sep 20 -
U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland voted in favor of the Federal Election Integrity Act, which will require voters to present photo ID in federal elections starting in 2008. The bill passed 228-196 and now goes to the Senate.
“I’ve consistently supported efforts throughout my legislative career to promote fair elections and cut down on voter fraud,” Westmoreland said. “I’m glad to see the House following the lead of Georgia, which has tried and tried again to implement a voter ID law.
“This vote shows that there’s support and a need for voter ID measures all across the nation. Georgia has faced down strident criticism over our efforts to ensure fair and valid elections, even though 81 percent of Americans support efforts to require photo IDs at the polls.
“Taking that criticism into consideration, I’m confused by the votes of some of my colleagues on this measure. Two months ago, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee said that Georgia’s photo ID law was evidence that our state needed to stay under the federal supervision of the Voting Rights Act. He implied in July that it was an effort to disenfranchise voters. It just goes to show how hollow the arguments against Georgia’s record actually are.”
Bill Highlights:
• Effective 2008, voters will be required to provide photo ID.
• Effective 2010, voters will be required to provide a photo ID that could not have been obtained without proof of citizenship.
• Effective 2008, voters who arrive at polling stations without the required ID, will be given a provisional ballot and 48 hours to present a qualifying ID.
• Effective 2008, people voting by mail must include a photocopy of photo ID.
• Bill requires States to set up programs to distribute the ID’s and provide them at no cost to the indigent. Funds are authorized to reimburse States for the cost of providing free ID’s to the indigent.
• Proof of citizenship, and an ID demonstrating such proof, will not be required until 2010, giving citizens and the states 4 years to comply.
• REAL ID Act will go into effect in May 2008. Pursuant to that law, people will be required to prove their legal status in the country to get a compliant ID. Bill allows people to use these ID’s to vote.
