The House could vote as early as this Wednesday, September 20, on a bill that would disenfranchise large numbers of legal voters. The so-called “Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006,” H.R. 4844, would create new barriers to voting by requiring every voter to provide government-issued, current and valid photo identification at the polling place in 2008. By 2010 every voter would have to provide ID that includes proof of citizenship.

Your Representative needs to hear from you today that H.R. 4844 is a politicized approach that would discriminate against voters and discourage voter participation!

Photo ID requirements discourage voting and discriminate against certain voters. Photo ID requirements disproportionately impact those who are least likely to have current photo ID: the elderly, young people, people of color, rural voters, the homeless, low-income people, individuals with disabilities, frequent movers and persons in large households. The expense involved in obtaining photo ID is an economic burden and has a real discriminatory effect.

At the polls, acceptance of the ID would be determined by poll workers and election officials. Such tests and devices have historically resulted in discrimination and disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

Voter fraud addressed in H.R. 4844 is a rare problem. There is no question that election misconduct exists, but the lack of evidence of instances in which voters misrepresent their identity at the polls suggests that the kind of voter fraud ameliorated by a photo ID requirement is an oddity.

Congress is using the pretext of voter fraud as a means to manipulate the voting process. If there is little misrepresentation at the polls, why is Congress insisting on passing more restrictions on voting? Congress should not be playing politics with the right to vote. Voter participation should be increased, not blocked by unnecessary barriers.

Proof of citizenship required by H.R. 4844 is like a 21 st Century poll tax. H.R. 4844 calls for every voter by 2010 to provide a government-issued, current and valid photo ID that proves citizenship. A newly issued U.S. passport currently costs $97 plus postage, and requires supporting documentation. Obtaining proof of citizenship imposes real costs in both time and money. If H.R. 4844 were enacted, many Americans would have to pay to obtain proof of their citizenship. This amounts to a 21 st Century poll tax.

Voting is the most fundamental expression of citizenship. Much of the last century was spent breaking down barriers to citizen voter participation – from literacy tests to the poll tax. We must continue to protect eligible voters from discrimination, and must not allow new barriers to be erected in the 21 st Century.

Don't allow Congress to turn back the clock on voting rights! Tell your member of Congress to oppose the creation of new barriers to voting!

TAKE ACTION

1. Contact your Representative in the House now , by phone and by email, and urge her/him to oppose H.R. 4844 and the barriers to voting it creates. Tell your Representative that H.R. 4844 discriminates against legal voters and discourages voter participation. Congress must not manipulate the voting process by blocking voters from participating in elections.

Phone calls are helpful and can be made through the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121. Click here to enter your zip code and send an instant message to your Member of Congress now!

2. Send this alert to other concerned citizens — your grassroots network, your friends and coworkers. Encourage them to contact their representative today!

Click here for more information about H.R. 4844 and voter ID requirements.

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Action Alert #109-37, ID, House, GLC, 9/18/06