Berger: Voter ID should require photos

By Mark Binker

Posted: January 16
Updated: January 17

Raleigh, N.C. — Sen. Phil Berger, the top leader in the N.C. Senate, says any new law requiring voters to show identification at the polls should include a photo ID requirement.

"It does not have to be a drivers license as far as I'm concerned," Berger said. "For me, there are two requirements. One, that it's a photograph -- a government issued some sort of photograph. And two, that the bill will meet the constitutional standards that have been laid down."

More than 600,000 registered voters may not have a valid state-issued ID, according to analysis by the State Board of Elections. Berger said that, while there are likely voters without ID, he doubted the number was quite that high.

A spokesman for House Speaker Thom Tillis said that the Mecklenburg Republican also believed the state ought to work toward a photo ID requirement.

Asked if the state would leave it to counties to pay for special voter identification cards for those without proper state identification, Berger said he did not think so. Such special IDs are one way states have ensured their voter ID requirements pass constitutional muster, but they can be costly.

"I don't see us passing along to the counties an unfunded mandate," Berger said.

30 Comments

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I have a friend that was working at a polling site checking voters in. He happened to notice in a line near his a man that had come through his line the day before. When he tried to point out that the man could not vote twice, he was told by the people in charge to keep it to himself. "That happens all the time."

We all know why certain people oppose picture ID's to vote. It's time we quit letting them stand on their absurd arguments.

DrJ
January 23, 2013 3:40 p.m.

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Voter ID should not be an issue. People on welfare send them one with their next check. Old folks send them one with their next SS check. Illegals they can pick theirs up at the closest democratic headquarters. That covers most people that are worried about people not being able to afford a photo ID

lumberman
January 21, 2013 4:28 p.m.

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I think we all should have to provide picture ID to vote. We show it now at the theatre - bank - department store etc. Why not as important as voting is it is an honor to void.

January 21, 2013 2:00 p.m.

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Sure would like to know by county where the 600,000 live! Also, would like to have a county by age groups -- less than 20, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49. etc.

Also has anyone considered that some of the 600,000 may not be eligible to vote, but did? Is any followup work being done on the 600,000 to identify why they did not have licenses.

Could we go the other way and identify how many licensed drivers are not registered to vote?

skeeter II
January 18, 2013 6:54 p.m.

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BTW, I generally agree with Voter ID. I just don't want to see anybody get disenfranchised...

twatts1000
January 17, 2013 11:10 p.m.

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"Requiring voter id is the only way to guarantee that the election is a clean election without people voting fraudulently."

Agreed that proper ID of a Voter is paramount, but there are other ways to verify a person is who they claim. Every time I've voted in NC, there was a lap-top in front of the poll-worker. What is to stop the BOE from accessing DMV and viewing my photo? There is no need to show an ID, the poll-worker can tell right away if I'm who I say I am.

We already have the pieces in place to counter fraud. Whether or not we use it (I believe we do) is probably a function of time vs. money vs. risk of fraud...

I think that before we really progress with this discussion we need more info: a statistical analysis of how many potential voter could be disenfranchised vs the number of potential fraud stopped, and the real in-depth review of how BOE goes about confirming Registration Forms and then again verifying the Voter at the poll.

Cheers!

twatts1000
January 17, 2013 11:09 p.m.

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Fingerprints ... everybody has those....

jackylieq
January 17, 2013 10:40 p.m.

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If so many people have no id how do they work? How do they do anything? If I try to write a check at the grocery store they want id. If I try to get a job they want it. If I try to use my credit card sometimes I need to show id. But to vote all I need to do is say who I am? Just stupid. You should show id!

joewalsh
January 17, 2013 8:22 p.m.

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How about giving the voter a pin number. But I like the idea of requiring an ID.

superman
January 17, 2013 7:44 p.m.

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How many people dont have an ID, 600,000 I think not, Younger people have school ID, and the older crowd that has ever visited a doctor have ID,,,Our govt trying to spend mors money we dont have,,, If you wanta vote get an ID,, Duh

oleguy
January 17, 2013 5:58 p.m.

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