New Voter ID Law Disenfranchises Our Poor, Elderly and Minority Citizens

One of my proudest moments was hearing my grandmother boast to everyone who would listen to her that she was voting for her granddaughter. Born in 1910, before women had the right to vote, let alone run for office, she knew that my accomplishment, even if only for a local office, was significant.

She and both my parents did not finish high school. Politicians, to them, were people you respected. To her, to be able to vote for me was evidence of just how far she and her family had come since her parents immigrated early in the 20^th century.

She was fortunate because, even though she lived in a nursing home, she was able to vote. Louis P. Cirillo, our Town Clerk, went to the nursing home where she lived before each election and provided ballots for the residents there. They are all of a generation that takes its responsibility to vote very seriously. They fought hard for that right and they are proud to participate in our democracy.

If my grandmother were alive today, though, she would not be able to vote for me if I run in 2014. You see, she did not have a photo identification card. She didn’t have a driver’s license. She didn’t even have her birth certificate. Nor did she have the ability – or funds – to get those items. 

On Wednesday, Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed a “voter ID” bill, requiring that anyone who wishes to vote must provide a photo ID. Essentially, he is disenfranchising our “greatest generation.” He is making it nearly impossible for our elders to execute their right as citizens of this country to vote for their leaders, coincidentally at the same time when their most cherished programs, Medicare and Social Security, are being attacked by some of those same leaders. 

Gov. Chafee says that he “spoke with representatives of our state’s minority communities, and I found their concerns about voter fraud and their support for this bill particularly compelling.” Personally, I have a hard time applying any credibility to that statement. When the quality of our education system ranks so low, our unemployment rate is so high, and our debt is off the charts, I find it hard to believe that our “minority communities” are really concerned about voter fraud – especially since there is NOT ONE documented incident of voter fraud in the state.

So what does this mean? It’s too late for my grandmother, but this state has many elderly citizens, most no longer have drivers’ licenses, few can put their hands on their birth certificates. And, I’ll bet none of them could get themselves to a place to apply for that photo ID, even if they had the proper documentation to prove their citizenship.

And what about our young citizens? Last spring, there was a voter registration drive at Mt. Hope High School. How many of those young people were carrying their social security card or their birth certificate with them on that day? Some may have had a driver’s license, but at that age, many still do not.

Sorry – didn’t think ahead? You can’t register to vote! But at least we don’t have voter fraud! Requiring a photo ID card at the polls is an exclusionary act that restricts the right to vote. It strikes most directly at the poor, at the elderly and at minorities. 

In addition to the issue of disenfranchising our citizens, there is the issue of cost!  Rhode Island can barely pay for its policemen, firemen, teachers, and other critical services. If not for the stimulus, we would still be faced with poor roads, falling down bridges, and deteriorating dams. And yet we will have the money to provide free photo IDs for everyone who needs one?

We charge people for IDs now, but because they will be required at the voting booth, they will have to be provided for free! Who is really going to pay for them? You and me, of course! Which critical program will we cut so that we can provide free ID’s for those who need them?

I don’t know what to do about this now. Perhaps I should have been paying closer attention. I knew that this legislation was pending. I also knew that reasonable governors around our country were vetoing their state’s version of this bill. I truly believed that our governor was one of those reasonable governors. I didn’t think that he would be duped into believing that there is reason to be concerned about voter fraud. Clearly I was wrong. 

As much as I miss my grandmother, I’m glad that she got to vote for me before this law was signed. It is an inexcusable abuse of power, essentially denying legal voters their constitutional right to have their vote count. Shame on you, Gov. Chafee. This new voter ID law is an unnecessary expense that disenfranchises the citizens who already have little voice in our democracy.