Governor's veto ignores people's will on voter ID (AZ)
http://sun.yumasun.com/artman/publish/a ... _15844.php
Editorial
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Governor's veto ignores people's will on voter ID
Apr 6, 2005
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano has thrown another roadblock in the path of attempts to implement Proposition 200 provisions, which were approved by voters last November. She vetoed a bill Friday that would have implemented the election requirements of the law.
The governor based the decision on her opinion that the requirement to present identification in order to get a ballot would be a violation of the federal Help America Vote Act because it could hinder the ability of people to get provisional ballots. Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard also raised issues about the provisional ballots and identification, delaying efforts to use the identification procedures in local elections in March.
Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer, who requested the implementation law, disagrees with the governor, saying the issue of provisional ballots is separate from the voter-mandated identification requirement, which she says meets federal muster because it applies to everyone who seeks to vote.
She contends that the provisional ballot issue would only come up after the identification is provided and the person is determined to be who they say they are. It is only after that identification point that questions might arise about whether the person is properly registered to vote or at the correct poll. In those cases, a provisional ballot, for which there are already steps available, would be provided. Those ballots are not counted until the person is determined to be an eligible voter.
Brewer's position makes sense. It also would seem to be supported by the U.S. Justice Department, which oversees voting requirements, and has already reviewed and given its approval to the Proposition 200 identification rules.
Nevertheless, the governor's veto could end up preventing use of the new requirements in the upcoming September elections unless a new bill that is acceptable to her can be passed by the Legislature before it adjourns, which is targeted for April 15.
We are disappointed in the apparent efforts of the attorney general and the governor to thwart the will of the people. Proposition 200 has withstood every legal challenge to this point and been given the go-ahead by the Justice Department.
At this time, the correct place to decide any issues about the constitutionality of the voting provisions is not in the governor's office, but rather in the court system. The governor and the legislature should implement the provisions of the law unless the courts or the Justice Department say otherwise.
It makes no sense to continue to stall this process. The voters have spoken. Gov. Napolitano should be listening to them.
