The Impact of the Voter ID Law

The primary election for the President and a host of other elected offices will take place on April 24th, 2012.  Many Democrats are protesting the requirement that all voters will need picture ID in the general election in November.  As a registered Democrat, my concern is not with the fact that all citizens should have some form of picture ID.  My concern is the declining participation rates of registered voters.  Stu Bykofsky, a Daily New reporter, indicated that more people will stand in a lottery line than will participate in an election.  In a country such as ours with human rights a one of our ideals, we take too much for granted.  We protested, rightfully so, the shooting of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin.  The continued protests led to an arrest of the suspect in this tragedy.  This weekend in Philadelphia, an unarmed teenager was shot and killed at a bus stop.  There will probably be no protest for this young man.  One positive response to the picture ID requirement is the fact that many organizations have formed to assist the seniors, poor and other people that might be affected.  We hope that it turns into a higher turnout in an election in which Barak Obama will be unopposed.  Our younger voters and college students will begin to follow the lead of voters who assume that their vote does not count.  We do not need this level of mailaise.

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