ARKANSAS HAS a recent history of playing badminton with its voter ID laws--back and forth between the Ledge and the courts. It's almost as entertaining to watch as badminton. That is to say, not much.
The voters want such laws on the books, and elect a legislature to pass these laws. But the courts don't approve often enough, so the Ledge rewrites the voter ID laws based on the guidance from the last legal ruling. The courts ponder, then rule again--and, most times, against. And it keeps going around and around until some of us get the wobbles.
Once again, Arkansas' voter ID law is in the courts, specifically a Pulaski County court. A poll worker has sued to overturn the latest version.
It wouldn't seem to be such a difficult issue. The law says if you don't have or have forgotten your identification, your driver's license, your (free) state-issued card, or any number of other photo IDs, you could still show up at the polls and sign a statement asserting your identity. This is a great hindrance?
The next time somebody makes the argument that voter identification laws amount to suppressing the vote, more specifically to help conservatives suppress the vote, we'd like them to explain why so many countries--liberal democracies--around the world have such laws on the books. And why those countries (the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Germany, etc.) insist that only their citizens vote in their elections, and only once per. And we'd also ask them why these United States, including the one called Arkansas, should be any less vigilant when it comes to protecting our democracy.
Conclusion: It shouldn't be easier to vote in this state than it is to write a $10 check at the grocery store.
It shouldn't be this hard.
Editorial on 03/14/2018