Georgia Voter I.D. Law On Hold

A federal judge in Rome today issued an order suspending a new state law requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls for the upcoming November municipal elections throughout Georgia.

U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy granted the injunction to lawyers for Common Cause of Georgia, the ACLU, the NAACP and other groups who challenged the law that requires Georgians to purchase a state-issued photo identification before voting.

The plaintiffs, Murphy found, have shown there is a substantial likelihood they will ultimately prevail in showing the photo ID requirement "unduly burdens the right to vote" and "constitutes a poll tax."

Murphy, in a 123-page order, said he had great respect for the Georgia Legislature, which passed the law earlier this year. "The court, however, simply has more respect for the Constitution," Murphy added.

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Gov. Sonny Perdue and other Republicans have said the measure is aimed at preventing voter fraud, not hurting poor voters. The governor has pointed out that state IDs would be given free to people who couldn't afford the fee or said they planned to use the ID to vote. "It will not be a hardship on any voter," Perdue said when he signed the bill in April.

Exactly how does the voter id law unduly burden the right to vote or constitute a poll tax? Everyone has a photo i.d. anyway! Of course, the courts and the screaming banshees who think this law is unconstitional will pay no attention to the fact that people need a photo i.d to drive, to open bank accounts, to cash social security checks, to buy alcohol, and to collect welfare.

The court may think it has more respect for the Constitution, but the Georgia Legislature obviously has more respect for the people and the legitimacy of their vote.

Those who think the Georgia Voter I.D. Law is nothing more than a poll tax or that it places some burden on the voter are just not using their heads.

Thinking. A process not often practiced by many people anymore.