Judge issues restraining order Ga. ID Law

I am a resident of Georgia and have been for the last eight years. So this story is of particular interest to me. Opponents of this law, including a Federal Judge in 2005 say that the law is equivalent to a "poll tax". Early this year, the Republican-led state Legislature amended it to provide the free IDs and make them available in every county. Of course THAT would eliminate the "poll tax" theory.

Supporters of the bill say the law is needed to prevent voter fraud. How ironic, since Georgia is one of the first states to completely use Diebold voting machines in the entire state! These machines have been tested and proven to be hackable, and yet Georgia's Secretary of State has maintained that they will be used. Coincendently the Secretary of State, Cathy Cox, is running for Governor while maintaining her SOS position! Hmmmm....

The Chicago Tribune Reports:

ATLANTA, GEORGIA -- With less than two weeks to go before the July 18 primary, a judge on Friday issued a restraining order blocking Georgia's voter ID law, saying that requiring photos as proof of identity is an unconstitutional burden.Superior Court Judge Melvin Westmoreland ruled that the legislature doesn't have the authority to enforce the law and an amendment to the state constitution would be required instead.

The law, he said, "unduly burdens the fundamental right to vote rather than regulate it."The law requires that every voter who casts a ballot in person provide a valid, government-issued photo ID. The state made such IDs available throughout the state. Former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat, argued in court Thursday on behalf of two residents that the law would keep poor, elderly and minority voters from the polls. The 17 forms of identification that had been allowed in previous elections can be used for the primary, the judge ruled.