[EL] Rhode Island and voter ID

[David Segal]

I've been in politics in this state for 10 years, and the answers to this question are probably almost as opaque for me and most political actors here as they are for outsiders.  But I'll try:

I see this issue as wrapped up in the bigger ball of issues that relate to immigration, where Rhode Island's a similar outlier:  Rhode Island's come closer to passing immigration restrictions, such as state-wide E-Verify requirements (compelling employers to check immigration status of potential employees) than any other blue state. These bills are frequently sponsored by Dems, and E-Verify passed the House by a vote of 54-17, I believe, even though the partisan breakdown of the chamber was 65D-10R.  The Senate killed it.  And our former Repub governor actually signed an exec order that required anybody getting state funds to use E-Verify.

The Dem Party here, even moreso than in other New England states, encompasses the entire political spectrum, with several Dems as conservative -- or more conservative -- than most Repubs.  The Church has a lot of power here (most Catholic state in the country) and has focused much of energy on supporting candidates who are opposed to gay marriage and abortion.  In the minds of most candidates and voters those positions generally coincide with support for increased restrictions on immigration (even though the Church supports, at least nominally, more lax restrictions on immigration).

The actors behind the Voter ID push are almost precisely congruous with those who propagate support for more restrictive immigration.

Chafee hasn't made a statement on ID yet, but was backed by much of the Common Cause sphere for his bid for Governor, so there's a decent chance they'll be able to convince him to oppose.  

Hope that helps bit.

David Segal
(Former Providence City Councilman, RI State Rep, and CD1 candidate for Congress.)
Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2011 08:59:42 -0700
From: rhasen at law.uci.edu
To: law-election at uci.edu
Subject: Re: [EL] Rhode Island and voter ID



  


    
  
  
    D'oh.  I
        meant supported almost exclusively by Republicans and
        opposed almost exclusively by Democrats.

        

      

    On 6/8/2011 8:57 AM, Rick Hasen wrote:
    
      
      I noted
          on the blog a few weeks ago that the Rhode Island Senate
          approved a voter id bill.  According to this

            report, it is going on to the House.  I have no idea if
          the governor would sign it.

      

      Everywhere else I'm aware of, these bills have been supported
      almost exclusively by Democrats and opposed almost exclusively by
      Republicans.  Yet the effort in Rhode Island
        appears bipartisan.

      

      Can anyone shed any light on why Rhode Island is different?

      

      Thanks.

      -- 

        Rick Hasen

        Visiting Professor

        UC Irvine School of Law

        401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000

        Irvine, CA 92697-8000

        949.824.3072 - office

        949.824.0495 - fax

        rhasen at law.uci.edu

        http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html

        

        William H. Hannon Distinguished Professor of Law

        Loyola Law School

        http://electionlawblog.org

      
    
    

    -- 

      Rick Hasen

      Visiting Professor

      UC Irvine School of Law

      401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000

      Irvine, CA 92697-8000

      949.824.3072 - office

      949.824.0495 - fax

      rhasen at law.uci.edu

      http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html

      

      William H. Hannon Distinguished Professor of Law

      Loyola Law School

      http://electionlawblog.org

    
  


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