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发帖数: 29846 | 1 June 4, 2014 - 1:35 PM
By JAY REEVES, Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — New laws requiring voters to present photo
identification at the polls were enforced in two Southern primaries on
Tuesday, but with mixed results.
In Alabama, there were few hitches, but a razor-tight U.S. Senate race in
Mississippi could hinge on provisional ballots, some of them cast as a
result of a new voter ID law.
Here are five things to know about voter ID laws:
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE PRIMARIES?
No major problems were reported in Alabama, where Republicans control the
Legislature and governor's office, although a Democratic-led group said poll
workers turned away an unspecified number of voters for not having the
right ID, including a 93-year-old man who has been voting since World War II
. The law may play a role in the outcome of the Republican U.S. Senate
primary in Mississippi. With incumbent Thad Cochran locked in a race that
was too close to with tea party-backed challenger Chris McDaniel. They
appear headed to a possible runoff.
Six other states held primaries Tuesday, but did not have voter ID laws.
DID THE LAWS WORK BY CURBING ANY FRAUD?
The absence of massive problems might mean the laws worked as intended, or
it might mean nothing at all. Primary voters often are fully engaged in the
political process, and their numbers are relatively small compared with
general elections. The laws could have a different effect in November, when
larger numbers of people could show up at polls without ID.
HOW MANY STATES HAVE SOME FORM OF THE LAW?
Thirty-four states have passed laws requiring some sort of identification
from voters, but only 31 of them are in effect, according to the National
Conference of State Legislatures. Courts have struck down voter ID laws in
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and a law passed in North Carolina won't take
effect until 2016.
WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE OR DISLIKE THE LAWS?
Supporters say the Republican-backed laws prevent fraud by making it more
difficult for people to cast ballots in the name of inactive or even dead
voters. Critics say such problems are virtually nonexistent, and they
maintain the laws suppress voting by making it tougher for people to cast
ballots because some poor and elderly voters don't have the right IDs.
THE NEXT BIG TEST FOR THE LAWS
Voter ID laws could come into play June 10 in Arkansas, where runoff
elections are scheduled and early voting is underway. A county judge ruled
the law was unconstitutional, but the state Supreme Court blocked the order
from taking effect. The new law was enforced in primary voting last month,
but officials said only a small number of voters were rejected. |
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