Study: Steep hurdles for voters in states with ID laws

AP Photo/Steven Senne

(CBS News) Amid ongoing controversy surrounding a spate of new voter ID laws being enacted in the U.S., a new study by the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law argues that the laws sets up a series of hurdles that could prevent thousands of voters from getting to the polls this fall.

Ten such state laws have so far passed in the United States, adding fuel to the debate over whether or not voter ID laws prevent fraud, as proponents argue, or lead to disenfranchisement, as opponents contend. 

The study, written by NYU's Keesha Gaskins and Sundeep Iyer, who oppose voter ID laws, supports the latter argument, contending that free photo IDs are not equally accessible to all voters - particularly those who live in areas with high poverty rates, black and Hispanic voters, and voters who don't have cars.

"We really are talking about a population of individuals that could very well influence the outcome" of the November elections, said Gaskins, in a Wednesday conference call. "These laws undermine the principles of fairness and equality promised by the Constitution."

Citing long distances between state ID-issuing offices, limited hours of operation during which these offices are open, the high costs of documents needed to obtain an ID, and government bureaucracy, Gaskins and Iyer say thousands of voters will be unable to vote in upcoming elections due to their lack of government-issued ID.

According to the study, there are about 500,000 eligible voters without access to a vehicle who live more than 10 miles from a state ID-issuing office open more than two days a week.

For instance, in Wisconsin, Alabama, and Mississippi -- three of the states that have passed these voter ID laws -- fewer than half of all ID-issuing offices are open five days a week, according to the report, and none are open on the weekends. Some offices, the report states, maintain what it calls "truly unusual" hours, such as the ID-issuing office in Woodville, Mississippi, which is open only on the second Thursday of each month.

Pointing to counties in Alabama and Texas, the report also posits that black and Hispanic voters in certain rural populations will have an especially hard time accessing an open ID-issuing station, which they say are few and far between. Upon accessing these stations, the authors argue, the documentation needed to actually obtain a free voter ID are prohibitively steep.

"Instead of making it more difficult for citizens to go to the polls, we need new laws to modernize our voting system so all eligible Americans can vote on Election Day while reducing the potential for fraud or abuse," said Iyer.

"There will very likely be a significant number of citizens who will struggle to obtain voter ID due to structural barriers," added Gaskins. 

The laws are currently in effect in only five of the ten states. In the other five states, the laws are either awaiting federal approval, on appeal after being found unconstitutional, or not scheduled to go into effect until after 2012.

Read the full report here.

[BillyBonebrake]

This issue was manufactured by Attorney General Racebait for the exclusive benefit of aliens and felons, two groups vital to President Downgrade's re-election.

[greenlantern1]

Our only convicted AG was Nixon's first, John Mitchell!
Thanks to the FAST and FURIOUS actions, of Eric Holder's men, fiends like Viktor Bout are behind bars,
He was a Russian arms dealer.
Hed was caught when he tried to sell arms to Colombian outlaws.
Ever wonder why Republicans demonized Janet Reno for upholding our immigration laws in the Elian Gonzales case?
e

[RickSun5000]

So under federal law ID should be required to buy Sudafed, but not to vote--sounds legit

[greenlantern1]

Note that most state ID laws involve access to our national database and federal assistance in its use.
overloading?
Sabotage?

[hillzhavays]

If you are living in the stone age and do not have any ID whatsoever and no means of getting an ID, then you are probably existing on programs paid for by my taxes anyway.

If you're living off the government teat, you should be required to get an ID, if for no other reason than it's kind of difficult to get upwardly mobile and start being contributor instead of a deadbeat if no one can verify who you are. These people need to get out of the 19th century and join us in the current era.

[greenlantern1]

How about the deadbeats living off corporate welfare?
Do the names Donald Trump, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich Howard Stern and others ring a bell?

[normallydonotcomment]

HOOEY- if they can get to the polls they can get to the driver center- this is only to commit fraud!

[greenlantern1]

I am a native American.
I was born at Nesbitt Hospital in Kingston, Pennsylvania.
My my birthdate is January 26, 1928.
However, due to a blunder, my birth certificate does not have a raised seal.
To top it off, the records were destroyed in a flood.
As a result, the DMV could not issue me an ID.
I had to get a sheriff's ID.
Do Republicans accept that or not?

[naluca]

From what I saw in 2008 in my city, with buses pouring in from who knows where, and scores regitered and casting ballots on the same day, I say there is fraud. Anybody who wants to purchase alcohol or cigarettes or scores of other things needs an ID. The accusation that it is unfair is the boring cry of the liberal fascistas.

[greenlantern1]

Ever hear of dirty tricks?
The Republican party has picked up quite a reputation.
It is not favorable.

[barrysoweto]

These folks are able to get all the documents and travel when necessary to sign up for welfare, disability,unemployment and food stamps.

If you want to vote make the effort.

[kat1043]

sandiegopete, what I know is that, without a way of verifying a persons identification, there is no way of determining how voter fraud affects the outcome of elections. So, of course there is no "evidence" of it happening. It's the demwits that want to keep such things hidden behind chants of discrimination.

lg144, a "right" needs to be exercised. That means you need to put some effort into it. Get an ID or go back to the country you snuck out of.

[wastrelway]

Ah, and let me guess who you mean by "these folks"....

[politicacious]

So what if "500,000 eligible voters without access to a vehicle who live more than 10 miles from a state ID-issuing office open more than two days a week"

How many do not already have a valid ID?

How will they get to the polls if they can't get to a place to get a free ID?

[hiliftjack]

Most of these reasons for not being able to get a voter id seem pretty lame to me. I am poor. I live out in a rural area, am 80 years old and would have to travel 30 miles to the only place I could get one. But, if I didn't have a car and the Id registration place was only open 1 day a week, I would have no problem finding somebody to help me get there.

[hillzhavays]

Pete, brush up on your reading comprehension. He said he was poor. Try taking off your Lib glasses once in a while. Reality can be very refreshing.