Nuns Turned Away At Ind. Polling Station

Some Complain About Indiana's New Strict Photo ID Election Law

(AP)  About 12 Indiana nuns were turned away Tuesday from a polling place by a fellow bride of Christ because they didn't have state or federal identification bearing a photograph.

Sister Julie McGuire said she was forced to turn away her fellow sisters at Saint Mary's Convent in South Bend, across the street from the University of Notre Dame, because they had been told earlier that they would need such an ID to vote.

The nuns, all in their 80s or 90s, didn't get one but came to the precinct anyway.

“One came down this morning, and she was 98, and she said, 'I don't want to go do that,”' Sister McGuire said. Some showed up with outdated passports. None of them drives.

They weren't given provisional ballots because it would be impossible to get them to a motor vehicle branch and back in the 10-day time frame allotted by the law, Sister McGuire said. “You have to remember that some of these ladies don't walk well. They're in wheelchairs or on walkers or electric carts.”

Nonetheless, she said, the convent will make a “very concerted effort” to get proper identification for the nuns in time for the general election. “We're going to take from now until November to get them out and get this done. You can't do this like school kids on a bus,” she said. “I wish we could.”

Elsewhere across the pivotal state, voting appeared to run smoothly, despite the fears of election experts that the Supreme Court's recent refusal to strike down Indian's controversial photo identification law could cause confusion at the polls.

A voter hot line set up by the secretary of state's office had no complaints regarding photo IDs as of 3 p.m., said spokeswoman Bethany Derringer. In a primary expected to draw record numbers, most calls concerned precinct locations.

“The No. 1 call they've heard so far is just people asking where they can go to vote,” Derringer said.

But a group of voting rights advocates that established a separate hot line reported receiving several calls from would-be voters who were turned away at precincts because they did not have a state or federal identification bearing a photograph.

One newly married woman said she was told she couldn't vote because her driver's license name didn't match the one on her voter registration record, said Myrna Perez of the Brennan Center Justice at New York University's law school, coordinator of the 1-866-OUR-VOTE hot line. Another woman said she was turned away from casting her first-ever ballot because she had only a college-issued ID card and an out-of-state driver's license, Perez said.

“These laws are confusing. People don't know how they're supposed to be applied,” she said.

Indiana's photo ID law is the strictest in the country. The Republican-led effort was designed to combat ballot fraud, said supporters, who also have acknowledged that no case involving someone impersonating a voter at the polls has ever been prosecuted in Indiana.

The state's American Civil Liberties Union sued, calling the law a poll tax that disproportionately affected minorities and elderly voters, those most likely to lack such identification. On April 28, the Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3 that the law did not violate the Constitution.

Since then, advocacy groups have fretted that people showing up to vote in Tuesday's primary would not understand their rights under the law, which include being able to cast a provisional ballot and obtain a proper ID within 10 days so that ballot would be counted later.

Rick Rice, a precinct judge at the Charles Martin Youth Center in South Bend, said one person complained about the voter ID law when he attempted to use a federal identification that didn't have an expiration date on it.

“I didn't know who it was put out by, but we couldn't accept it,” Rice said. “He had a driver's license, he was just trying to make a point. He wanted to push it and the law is very clear.”

Rice said the man voted, then asked where he could write to file a complaint.

Sean Greene, of the nonpartisan electionline.org, was monitoring precincts in the Lafayette area of Tippecanoe County. “It's going pretty well,” he said, despite long lines. “Most of the people I've seen today are prepared and used to this. They have their IDs out already.

That thought was echoed in South Bend, where Elizabeth Bridges, 63, said half of the people working in her voting precinct were family members, but still she showed her ID.

“I think the law is a good thing because a lot of people are crooked,” she said.

John Parker III, agreed.

“I think it's a good thing because I don't want anyone coming in and voting for me,” he said. “Someone could come in here and just use my name.”

[jack3213]

%u201CI think the law is a good thing because a lot of people are crooked,%u201D she said.

INCLUDING THESE TWO CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

[vancouverboo]

Nuns shouldn''t be voting anyway. They''re not supposed to be in politics. And if they have to vote they should be doing it in a lawful manner. Just because they''re nuns doesn''t mean they are above the law.

[aguilaverde-2009]

aw ffs its a 98 year old nun. what harm would it do? just let it have its way and itll go back into hibernation.

[gkc99]

The Klan doesn''t like Blacks OR Catholics!

[bobnjersey]

[Nuns shouldn''''t be voting anyway ... And if they have to vote they should be doing it in a lawful manner. Just because they''''re nuns doesn''''t mean they are above the law.]
[Posted by vancouverboo at 08:18 PM : May 06, 2008]

i was just thinking the same thing ... they''re always trying to push the limits all the time ... those freakin'' nuns.

[rushlimpdrug]

So nun of them could vote?

[blackbug99]

Now don''t you think that if it had been a big issue previously, that the Diocese or nunnery would have done the proper things to get them eligible to vote?

Do it now! Campaign elections are shams anyway. People, whether 98 or 18, should feel empowered to vote.

[wlmrtpatriot]

I''m laughing at your comment:)jack3213

[rational_1]

So nun of them could vote?
Posted by rushlimpdrug at 09:19 PM
LOL! Oh hey now that was funny! But you know, voting could be habbit forming.
Posted by dragonwagon5 at 10:12 PM : May 06, 2008

I guess they just had too much faith in the whole voting process.

[wogerwabbit]

I bet those nuns are part of the vast left wing conspiracy of voter fraud that the vast right wing conspiracy tells us is so rampent these days.

[agnim]

DISGUSTING VOTER SUPPRESSION!

Voter suppression by the un-patriotic Republican powers that be.

Only the destructive forces of the Republican party would make it difficult for real Americans to participate in their election process!

The US Constitution is being undermined by anti-American Republican forces, who will try any dirty tricks to win power.

And when Americans mindless vote for these traitors, they turn around and trash the country, kill off our young in wasteful wars and drive up the national debt.

WAKE UP, AMERICANS!

You can''t vote for KNOWN liars, deceivers and Constitution subverters, and then complain when America is damned!

[nothappyatall]

Good! maybe the right wingers who voted for our disaster in chief TWICE can STAY HOME!

Well SISTAH, maybe you''d better get your azz in gear and get a PHOTO ID

[nothappyatall]

DISGUSTING VOTER SUPPRESSION!

Voter suppression by the un-patriotic Republican powers that be.

Only the destructive forces of the Republican party would make it difficult for real Americans to participate in their election process!

Posted by Agnim

I think you got that backwards, those nuns would be voting for their right wing favorite- the bush clone, anti abortion anti g@y rights man McBush. They WANT the votes.

[nothappyatall]

hey had been told earlier that they would need such an ID to vote.

The nuns, all in their 80s or 90s, didn''t get one but came to the precinct anyway.

%u201COne came down this morning, and she was 98, and she said, ''I don''t want to go do that,%u201D'' Sister McGuire said. Some showed up with outdated passports. None of them drives."


Oh GEZUS! just what we need, a bunch of alzheimers riddled rightwing nuns who cant follow instructions and cant even drive- voting for THE most important election ever.

Anyone who is ill enough mentally to waste their lives with a Santa Claus in the sky and be involved with a pedo shielding hypocritical thing like a church is not going to vote right- STAY HOME SISTAHS!
let *US* get the vote right this time cause you idiots couldnt do it the last TWO elections.

[sjbj2322]

Why is this funny? What humor can anyone truly find in anyone''s vote not being counted simply because the diacease that knew it had elderly who needed assistance didn''t take the time to do it. These nuns have committed their lives to the service of others. They have a better first hand grasp of human disparity than any politician running for office, as well as a vested interest in the direction this country takes in the future. I don''t have a problem with liberals but for most of us the term means acceptance of those who are different - not condemnation. It is exactly because of this rude mentality that many migrate toward the middle with those who still know what it means to have some sense of respect and courtesy for others rather than the far left-wing mentality that anything goes. So much for the fascade of hope that''s more realistically masked by some of the ugliest negative sentiments for anyone that doesn''t swallow its bull. Way to go Obama fans. You never cease to show your true colors.

[trbundro1277]

In all honesty, the probably would have voted for Clinton, she gets the elderly vote! But they may also have voted for Juan Amnesty McCain, the bush clone!

[nishaboston]

So what they should have had an ID. Why is this a story because they are nuns?

[nonayabiness]

Virginia''s law states no ID is required, but you have to fill out a special form to vote. My husband has never been asked for an ID. Voting in my district, they asked for it, and they told him he could not vote without it. Va''s webpage says you have the right to vote and not present ID. I''ve always been asked for mine, and given it willingly, but my husband was right, and the election volunteers were wrong.

[abbe91]

"I think you got that backwards, those nuns would be voting for their right wing favorite- the bush clone, anti abortion anti g@y rights man McBush. They WANT the votes.

Posted by newster1 at 01:37 AM : May 07, 2008"

Yes, for them, McCain is still a kid. LOL.

[kesac4650]

This is not a new law in Indiana. It is 4 years old. What we have here, is posturing for the press, and their infomercial, pretending that somehow this is a bad law.

[timtravelr]

So much for the fascade of hope that''''s more realistically masked by some of the ugliest negative sentiments for anyone that doesn''''t swallow its bull. Way to go Obama fans. You never cease to show your true colors.
Posted by sjbj2322
------------------
Great post. I can''t help but think. These nuns have lived good, long lives. I wonder why....

[pattykonz]

You guys really need to brush up on your editing. This article was too painful to read til the end!!!
"None of them drives"???!

[mudrose-2009]

"I think you got that backwards, those nuns would be voting for their right wing favorite- the bush clone, anti abortion anti g@y rights man McBush. They WANT the votes.

Posted by newster1 at 01:37 AM : May 07, 2008"

Yes, for them, McCain is still a kid. LOL.

Posted by abbe91

Uh, last time I looked this was a free country where anyone''s vote counted whether the vote was for a Republican or a Democrat. They will have their vote. I believe the have 30 days or so to get IDs. By your statements it''s obvious you people don''t want a free election you want to win and you don''t care how you get there.

[libh8er]

Just because you are a nun or clergy doesn''t mean you are above the law. If they didn''t want to get picture ID''s they could have probably voted absentee ballot. The polling officer did the right thing.

[nothappyatall]

Uh, last time I looked this was a free country where anyone''''s vote counted whether the vote was for a Republican or a Democrat. They will have their vote. I believe the have 30 days or so to get IDs. By your statements its obvious you people dont want a free election you want to win and you dont care how you get there.

Posted by mudrose

"you people"? what group do you THINK am I in mudrose that makes me part of the group called: "you people"?, FYI: I am a registered libertarian- Ive had it with BOTH main parties- the re-pubic-cons and the dumbocraps, one thing''s for sure, if McBush gets in we are done and over with- we need someone in who will REVERSE 8 years of destruction and damage, not another Bush clone to keep the policy of failures and borrowing going like they have been.

The religious reich is the one who put BUSH in power solely due to his anti abortion anti g@y agendas.

[libh8er]

we need someone in who will REVERSE 8 years of destruction and damage, not another Bush clone to keep the policy of failures and borrowing going like they have been.
Posted by newster1 at 09:15 AM : May 07, 2008

So Captain America will be your write in candidate? :) In your wildest hallucinations, who do you think will fulfill your fantasy???

[libh8er]

Yes, for them, McCain is still a kid. LOL.
Posted by abbe91 at 05:14 AM : May 07, 2008

Now THAT was funny! :)

[parrot123-2009]

The religious reich is the one who put BUSH in power solely due to his anti abortion anti g@y agendas.
Posted by newster1 at 09:15 AM : May 07, 2008

Whatever happenned to those promises - 8yrs after the fact ??? Anyone ?? Any Repug ?

[lochlan-2009]

So, a bunch of people didn''t read the rules (including some old "nuns"), tried to slip past the rules, (unintentionally or intentionally, who knows), and got turned away.
Are we suppose to be upset about this. If they let them through, then I would be upset. It''s bad enough the majority of people do no research into the candidate they vote for, atleast they have to research the rules on voting.

[locke10]

You posters are not on your game today. First of all, to those who say the nuns were probably voting for McCain: I doubt that seriously, since this was the Democratic Primary. Next, to pattykonz: None of them drives is grammatical; None stands for not one. It would be correct to say Not one of them drives. Them is the object of the preposition and None is the subject. (Sorry, I am an English teacher.)

[In-Correct]

By preventing nuns to vote does this mean that there is a huge Conspiracy to mess up the votes in states where Clinton is favorable to win??

[missybelle-2009]

By preventing nuns to vote does this mean that there is a huge Conspiracy to mess up the votes in states where Clinton is favorable to win??


Posted by in_correct at 10:01 AM : May 07, 2008

Prevent nuns from voting? I don''t think anyone prevented them from voting, they didn''t obey the law. Right?

[missingamerica]

Prevent nuns from voting? I don''''t think anyone prevented them from voting, they didn''''t obey the law. Right?

Posted by missybelle at 11:37 AM : May 07, 2008

And we certainly can''t have "nun" of that, especially since nuns are notorious for actually voting their Christian principles instead of just professing them as a ploy to gain power and wealth...

[bobnjersey]

[Prevent nuns from voting? I don''''t think anyone prevented them from voting, they didn''''t obey the law. Right? ]
[Posted by missybelle at 11:37 AM : May 07, 2008]

yes ... they have a ''habit'' of doing that.

[bobnjersey]

[we need someone in who will REVERSE 8 years of destruction and damage ...
(Posted by newster1 at 09:15 AM : May 07, 2008)

In your wildest hallucinations, who do you think will fulfill your fantasy???]
[Posted by LibH8er at 09:19 AM : May 07, 2008]

i think a monkey would be able to do this ... after a little time to adjust to the surroundings.

[nler1]

they could be terrorists...

[kidofstl]

those nuns just might have Obama supporters and just what he needed to push him over the top. It was probably some white, middle class, blue collar workers that turned them away and made sure that they didn''t vote. Oh wait....Obama isn''t drawing the Catholic vote either!

Never Mind!

[nothappyatall]

Oh wait....Obama isn''''t drawing the Catholic vote either!
Never Mind!
Posted by KidofSTL

The cathoholics will only vote for a rightwing buybull thumper type like bush the anti choice anti g@y rights nut who claimed god talks to him and told him to invade Iraq.

[obamasgranny]

those nuns just might have Obama supporters and just what he needed to push him over the top. It was probably some white, middle class, blue collar workers that turned them away and made sure that they didn''''t vote. Oh wait....Obama isn''''t drawing the Catholic vote either!

Never Mind!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by KidofSTL at 01:05 PM : May 07, 2008
______________________________________________________
Of course they were,..I mean anybody who would devote their whole life to Christ most certainly believes in Pastor Wrong!! NOT!!

[Marie Zarankevich]

Whoever was in charge of arranging for this trip to the voting place for the nuns was also responsible for making sure that they were not going there for nothing. -- THAT person/people should have gotten all the information WAY before the trip. -- Just like, with any persons of advanced age, you must ascertain that there will be a restroom available at the destination. -- It''s all just common courtesy, to the elderly nuns, that is. -- Have a fun day!

[rf35]

"Brides of Christ." I haven''t heard that term in a while. It makes me think that the polygamist group in Texas was maybe just doing what Jesus is doing. That guy has more wives than you can shake a stick at.