Capitol Report
By State Representative, Leon D. Young
Leon D. Young
The U.S. Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, has weighed in on Wisconsin’s nefarious attempt to implement a voter I.D. requirement, just weeks prior to the Nov.4 election. In a dramatic 6 to 3 ruling, the Court obviously bought into the compelling legal argument that implementing a vote I.D. requirement so close to the November election would engender enormous chaos and confusion for both the voting public and the poll workers.
Truth be told, not having voter identification for the upcoming November election is a very big deal.
It ensures that hordes of eligible voters with not be summarily disenfranchised because of this doctrinaire requirement.
To further illustrate the point, the non-partisan congressional Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a study showing that voter turnout in two states dropped after they enacted photo voter ID laws.
GAO says it compared turnout in Kansas and Tennessee to turnout in four comparison states that had no changes in their voter ID laws from the 2008 to the 2012 general elections.
GAO says its study suggests that turnout decreased in Kansas and Tennessee more than in the selected comparison states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware and Maine.
Kansas turnout declined by an estimated 1.9 – 2.2 percentage points and in Tennessee voter turnout dropped by 2.2 to 3.2 percent. The decline was higher among young voters and among African-Americans.
It’s difficult to comprehend why so many residents of this state willingly vote against their own personal interests in supporting Scott Walker.
Equally vexing, if not more so, is the vast number of people who consistently elect not to vote; thus, undermining their ability to protect their personal interests. Make no mistake about it. Scott Walker, the Koch Brothers and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) are ALL counting on voter suppression and apathy, among Democrats and Independents, to steal this election.
Ultimately, the result of this, or any election, rests on who turns out to vote. A major voting impediment has been avoided for Wisconsin voters this election.
It’s time for the “would-be-disenfranchised,” the poor, elderly and student voters to come out in droves and hold Scott Walker and his cronies accountable for selling out to big money and special interests. Let your voice be heard — VOTE November 4!