Thread: 1 in 6 Maricopa Co. voter registrations rejected for no ID

Published: 08.16.2006
1 in 6 Maricopa County voter registrations rejected for no ID

The Associated Press
MESA - Nearly one in six people who tried to register to vote in Maricopa County this year have been turned away because they lacked proof of citizenship required under a new state law, officials said.
The county recorder's office rejected 4,903 of 28,467 registration applications, or 16 percent of those wanting to vote, spokeswoman Yvonne Reed said.
Most of those people were probably legal citizens who for one reason or another lacked the required identification, Reed said. Rejected applicants are told why their applications were denied and how to reapply.
Pima and Pinal counties have lower but still significant rejection rates. Pinal County officials said they rejected 8 percent of new registrations, while Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez said her office turned away 6 percent of those who tried to register.
The Maricopa County figures are down significantly from last year, the first since the law took effect, when 35 percent of the applications were disqualified.
"I think people are beginning to understand what they need to have when they register," Reed said.
The rules are mandated by Proposition 200, approved by voters in 2004. It requires new voters to show a driver's license or two other forms of identification when they register.
It also requires identification to be shown at the polls. If a voter does not have identification, they are allowed to vote but must provide proof of citizenship to the registrar before the ballot is tallied.
State and local officials have been working to let voters know about the new rules, with the Arizona Secretary of State launching a campaign earlier this year to remind voters to bring identification to their polling place.
The deadline to register for the Sept. 12 primary was Monday, and the deadline for the general election is Oct. 9.
Critics of the new law are worried that it will stop thousands of eligible citizens from voting in November's general election, the first statewide vote since the law took effect. Although targeting illegal immigrants, the law also impacts the poor and elderly, said Alessandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Phoenix,
"For many of these people, it's not easy to get identification," Meetze said.
Supporters say the law is needed, especially in light of recent protests by those who support immigrant rights.
"They marched under the banner of 'Today we march, tomorrow we vote,"' said Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa. "There is a massive effort under way to register illegal aliens in the country."He called the voting requirements "fair and reasonable" and said most residents should be able to provide photo identification.

Most of those people were probably legal citizens who for one reason or another lacked the required identification, Reed said. Rejected applicants are told why their applications were denied and how to reapply.

Shouldn't this say, "most of those people were probably ILLEGAL citizens..." ???

Although targeting illegal immigrants, the law also impacts the poor and elderly, said Alessandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Phoenix, "For many of these people, it's not easy to get identification," Meetze said.

What! You have lived long enough to be called elderly and you don't have ID. What a crock! Poor people can get ID just like everyone else. That's more BS.

I'm so tired of them hiding the illegals behind the elderly, indigent and less fortunate. That's a bunch of crap.

They pulled that same excuse out somewhere else and it came back that only one person required the exception out of all the registered voters.

Dixie

Although targeting illegal immigrants, the law also impacts the poor and elderly, said Alessandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Phoenix,
"For many of these people, it's not easy to get identification," Meetze said.

Really?

So I guess they can't write or cash checks, rent movies, drive, get a Social Security check, or even get a library card.

The lies these people come up with get more outrageous every day, and no one in the media ever calls them on it.

The proof is in.

W

Added to homepage with link to LOCK THE VOTE effort.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=N ... e&sid=1442

Originally Posted by CountFloyd

Although targeting illegal immigrants, the law also impacts the poor and elderly, said Alessandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Phoenix,
"For many of these people, it's not easy to get identification," Meetze said.

Really?

So I guess they can't write or cash checks, rent movies, drive, get a Social Security check, or even get a library card.

The lies these people come up with get more outrageous every day, and no one in the media ever calls them on it.

Lord what Lies is right,they are like plague on the land and Bush is Pharo!
what a combination.

Folks, the enemy is desperate. The problem is, how many uneducated Americans will fall for thier lies, hook, line and sinker

Where is the link to the original source of this article? Please put in a link to URL of original article on the newspaper website. I would like to use the article in working toward tightening voter registration, but a printout of the original article is more persuasive to others than something copied from a 3d party website. Maybe the link is posted somewhere on your website but I could not find it.