|
Click picture
to enlarge
NewsCurrents
wants to know what you think on the voter ID issue.
President Bush and
the Republicans have been leading an effort against voter fraud
for several years, even though it was the Democrats who claimed
that several widespread voting "irregularities" might
have cost them the last two presidential elections. Last year
120 people were charged with voter fraud. Most of them were people
confused about whether they had the right to vote, like immigrants
or people who had been convicted of serious crimes, who usually
lose the right to vote. Republicans claim that voter ID will
help make people think elections are fair and that all votes
are valid. Does this make sense to you?
The main argument of those who oppose voter ID laws is that voting
should not be costly or difficult. In the last century, some
Americans fought hard first for women's right to vote, and then
for African Americans', and voter ID to them is a step backward.
A federal judge in Missouri noted that voting should never have
to be difficult or make voters "jump through hoops."
"The photo ID burden on the voter may seem minor to the
mainstream of our society," he wrote. "However, for
the elderly, the poor, the undereducated or otherwise disadvantaged,
the burden can be great." Which argument do you agree
with? Cast your vote in the NewsCurrents poll by answering
the question you see here. Your teacher can send in your votes
and NewsCurrents will show the results in a few weeks.
CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLL
|
THOUGHT
QUESTIONS:
Summarize the
argument that says that voter ID cards will hamper voting.
Do you agree
with this argument? Why or why not?
Do you think
voter fraud is an important issue?
|
FOR
MORE INFORMATION:
The Associated Press covers the voter ID
controversy.
Read the BBC's analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court's
recent "swing to the right."
|
 END
OF STORY. NOW
TAKE THE STORY QUIZ
  
Top
of page
|
