[EL] Chafee signs voter ID

Wed Jul 6 10:09:06 PDT 2011

Eric  says "there is a big difference between Michigan and the states, like Indiana, Georgia, now Rhode Island, and the others that have a strict photo ID requirement."

In fact, as Eric agrees,  Rhode Island's new ID requirement will be far closer to Michigan's ID law in practice than the very restrictive requirements in Indiana and Georgia.

Until January 1, 2014 a RI  voter (in addition to an acceptable photo ID) may provide a birth certificate, social security card or government issued medical card to confirm identity.  After January 1, 2014, to cast a regular ballot, a voter must show a current document with a photograph of the person to whom the document was issued, including without limitation:

(i) Rhode Island driver's license;
(ii) Rhode Island voter identification card;
(iii) United States passport;
(iv) Identification card issued by a United States educational institution;
(v) United States military identification card;
(vi) Identification card issued by the United States or the State of Rhode Island;
(vii) Government issued medical card.

*Note that the "without limitation" language suggests that ANY photo ID that is valid and current will be accepted.

Most importantly, if a voter does not have any current photo  ID, she can sign an affidavit to that affect and cast a provisional ballot.  That provisional ballot will be counted if the signature matches the signature on the voter registration.

Lawrence Norden
Deputy Director, Democracy Program
Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
161 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10013

(P) 646-292-8326* (M) 646-463-1579 (F) 212-463-7308*

*Note that my phone and fax numbers have recently changed

From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of Eric Marshall
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 10:18 AM
To: Estelle Rogers; D. Stebenne
Cc: law-election at department-lists.uci.edu
Subject: Re: [EL] Chafee signs voter ID

There is a big difference between Michigan and the states, like Indiana, Georgia, now Rhode Island, and the others that have a strict photo ID requirement.  Michigan is requested, but not required.  If a voter doesn't have photo ID she or he can sign an affidavit and still cast a regular ballot.

From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of Estelle Rogers
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 10:15 AM
To: D. Stebenne
Cc: law-election at department-lists.uci.edu
Subject: Re: [EL] Chafee signs voter ID

Although it hasn't been updated in a few days (RI signing isn't on it yet), this NCSL chart might be of interest to you--Michigan is the one that strikes me.
http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16602

Estelle H. Rogers, Esq.
Director of Advocacy
Project Vote
202-546-4173, ext. 310

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On Jul 6, 2011, at 9:50 AM, D. Stebenne wrote:

Does anyone know offhand if any other strongly "blue" state has recently adopted a voter id law; or is RI unique in that respect?

David Stebenne
Associate Professor
of History and Law
Ohio State University
(614) 292-5359

At 07:02 PM 7/5/2011, David Segal wrote:

http://newsblog.projo.com/2011/07/ri-tea-party-lauds-chafee-for.html
Update: R.I. Tea Party lauds Chafee for signing voter-ID bill

1:47 PM Tue, Jul 05, 2011 | Permalink<http://newsblog.projo.com/2011/07/ri-tea-party-lauds-chafee-for.html>
Katherine Gregg  <a272e.jpg> <mailto:kgregg at projo.com>   Email<mailto:kgregg at projo.com>
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island Tea Party is cheering Governor Chafee for having signed legislation his office did not acknowledge he had signed, on Saturday, until mid-afternoon Tuesday.

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