ACRU Staff, Author at Voting Integrity Institute

Swing State Voters Support Voter ID

Voters in swing states Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are strongly in favor of requiring photo identification in order to vote, a Quinnipiac poll revealed Tuesday. Potential voters in Florida were most supportive of voter ID laws, with 77 percent supporting and 20 percent opposing voter ID requirements. Among likely Democratic voters in the Sunshine State, 60 percent supported voter ID laws while 36 percent opposed the laws. Support for voter ID laws in Ohio was almost as pronounced. Seventy-five percent of potential voters in Ohio favored photo ID requirements while only 22 percent opposed the laws. Democratic voters were more evenly split, with 50 percent supporting and 48 percent opposing voter ID laws. "Ohioans ... are overwhelmingly in favor of requiring a photo ID for anyone wanting to vote," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac poll. Opinions on voter ID laws in Pennsylvania were more split than the other two states, but supporters of voter ID laws still outnumbered opponents by 30 percentage points, with 64 percent supporting and 34 percent opposing the laws.

ACRU Staff2020-05-03T23:34:40+00:00May 10th, 2016|News, Voter ID|

Giving Violent Felons the Automatic Right to Vote Is Not Morally Defensible

By J. Christian Adams Giving violent felons the automatic right to vote is not morally defensible. In elections, just as in society, it is important that everyone follow the rules. Automatically restoring the right to vote for felons is a bad idea. Before felons enjoy the full measure of citizenship, at a minimum, they should seek an individualized determination that they deserve the right to vote. Redemption loses its value when redemption is automatically bestowed. If the goal of felon voting restoration is to integrate felons back into society, it should be an active and contemplative exercise by the applicant seeking redemption, not an automatic one. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe's decree that felons will enjoy automatic voting rights in the swing state of Virginia was a bad idea and contrary to state law. When the integrity and credibility of American elections is involved, it is essential that everyone follow the rules. Breaking the rules is particularly corrosive when it appears to have a brazenly partisan aim, as in Virginia. Giving violent felons the automatic right to vote is not morally defensible. Violent criminals who have shown contempt for other members of society and our laws should not have a voice in the process of writing laws. When a violent felon helps to choose lawmakers, laws will invariably skew more toward the criminal to the detriment of the law-abiding citizen. If you commit violent crimes, in nearly every state you forfeit multiple constitutional rights, including the right to vote and the right to own firearms. Most advocates for restoring rights never seem to get around to Second Amendment rights. That's no accident because the national campaign to restore felon voting rights is first and foremost an effort to help Democrats win elections. Studies have shown that felons vote overwhelmingly for Democrats, and the advocates for felon voting know it, and usually like it. Automatically restoring felon voting rights is the latest instance of normalizing criminal behavior. Voters with violent criminal tendencies are the last thing we need anywhere close to the American election process

ACRU Staff2020-05-03T23:38:01+00:00May 9th, 2016|ACRU Commentary, Early Voting, Proof of Citizenship, Voter ID|

Wisconsin Democrats Ask U.S. Justice Dept. to Oppose Voter ID Law

Wisconsin's Democratic congressional delegation urged the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday to consider a legal challenge to the state's voter ID law or joining ongoing litigation against it. The letter to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch cites reports of long lines at polling places in Wisconsin's April 5 primary -- the first high-turnout statewide election in which the state's voter ID requirement was in place. It also points to reports of "troubling statements by individuals closely connected to the state Legislature's consideration of the law indicating that its passage may have been motivated, at least in part, by a desire to reduce youth and minority participation in elections." The latter may be a reference to two recent public statements -- the first coming from Republican Congressman Glenn Grothman, who said the Republican presidential nominee has a chance to win Wisconsin this year because "photo ID is going to make a little bit of a difference." The other came from former state Senate GOP staffer Todd Allbaugh, who recounted sitting in on closed-door meetings of Republican lawmakers during the voter ID debate in 2011 in which he said "a handful of GOP senators were giddy about the ramifications and literally singled out the prospects of suppressing minority and college voters." At least one Republican lawmaker who participated in those meetings, Sen. Van Wanggaard, denied any recollection of hearing such comments. The letter to Lynch was signed by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Madison and U.S. Reps. Ron Kind of La Crosse, Gwen Moore of Milwaukee and Mark Pocan of Black Earth.

ACRU Staff2020-05-03T23:34:40+00:00May 4th, 2016|News, Voter ID|

Missouri Senate Reaches Voter ID Compromise

FACED with a filibuster as the Missouri legislative session winds down, state senators struck a deal Monday that will allow them to proceed with a voter identification plan to be decided by voters. State Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee's Summit, said "a good compromise" is making it possible to pass his proposal before the Legislature adjourns May 13. Kraus and fellow Republicans want voters to decide the fate of a constitutional amendment requiring that voters show a photo ID at polling places to protect against election fraud. Democrats have generally opposed the bill, saying it would "disenfranchise voters" with low incomes, the elderly, the homeless and minority communities. For nearly a month, it appeared the bill would stall. Democrats launched a filibuster. They read stories from newspapers, recited election results, and read passages from a book. Off the Senate floor, Democrats said they wanted some type of safety net so that qualified voters would not be turned away from the polls. Kraus and other supporters eventually agreed to allow people without photo IDs to cast ballots if they present a paycheck, utility bill or a similar confirmation of their names and addresses. Those voters also would sign paperwork confirming that they lack photo IDs, triggering perjury charges if fraudulent statements are made. State Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City, still opposes photo IDs but welcomed what he called "earnest and sincere" negotiations to find a compromise. The Missouri House still must act and could bypass Gov. Jay Nixon to have a statewide vote later this year. If the measure becomes law, Missouri would join 17 other states that require a photo ID to vote, according to the nonpartisan National Conference of ?State Legislatures.

ACRU Staff2020-05-03T23:34:40+00:00May 4th, 2016|News, Vote Fraud, Voter ID|

Election Fraud Feared as Hackers Target Voter Records

A series of data breaches overseas are spurring concerns that hackers could manipulate elections in the United States. Since December, hundreds of millions of voters in the U.S., the Philippines, Turkey and Mexico have had their data discovered on the web in unprotected form. In some instances, legitimate security researchers found the information, but in others, malicious hackers are suspected of pilfering the data for criminal purposes. The data breaches are raising questions as the U.S. considers whether to move toward electronic balloting. More people than ever are using the internet to register to vote and to request mail-in ballots. Some states have even become vote-by-mail only in recent years. "If you can't keep the voter registration records safe, what makes you think you can keep the votes safe?" asked Pamela Smith, president of election watchdog Verified Voting. For a politically inclined hacker, insecure voter data could "very easily" create a pathway to "massive" voter fraud, said Joseph Kiniry, CEO of Free & Fair, which advocates for secure digital election systems.

ACRU Staff2020-05-03T23:36:33+00:00May 3rd, 2016|News, Vote Fraud, Voter ID|

Supreme Court Refuses to Block Texas Voter ID Law — for Now

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected an emergency appeal to stop Texas from enforcing its challenged voter ID law. But the court said it could revisit the issue as the November elections approach. The law has been in effect for recent elections, even after a trial judge struck it down in 2014 and an appellate panel found last year that the law had a discriminatory effect on minority voters. The challengers in the ongoing lawsuit argue there is no reason to allow the requirement to show picture identification at the polls to remain in place. But justices rejected the plea in a brief order Friday. The full New Orleans-based appeals court will hold a new hearing on the Texas law in May. The high court said that it is aware of "the time constraints the parties confront in light of the scheduled elections." If the full appeals court has not issued a ruling by July 20, the court said, it would entertain a renewed emergency appeal over the voter ID law. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the identification requirement a "common-sense law to provide simple protections to the integrity of our elections and the democratic process in our state." He said the state looked forward to defending the law in the appeals court next month.

ACRU Staff2020-05-03T23:34:40+00:00April 29th, 2016|In the Courts, News, Voter ID|

Federal Judge Upholds North Carolina Voter ID Law

RALEIGH -- A federal judge has upheld North Carolina's voter ID law in a ruling posted Monday evening. U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder issued a 485-page ruling dismissing all claims in the challenge to the state's sweeping 2013 election law overhaul. Schroeder, a George W. Bush appointee, also upheld portions of the 2013 law that reduced the number of days people could vote early, eliminated same-day registration and voting and prohibited people from casting a ballot outside their precinct. The decision comes nearly three months after a trial on the ID portion of the law. Schroeder noted that North Carolina had "become progressive nationally" by permitting absentee voting, early voting for 17 days before the Election Day, a lengthy registration period, out-of-precinct voting on Election Day and a pre-registration program for 16-year-olds. "In 2013, North Carolina retrenched," Schroeder said in his opinion. Ultimately, though, Schroeder said the state had provided "legitimate state interests" in making the changes and the challengers failed to demonstrate that the law was unconstitutional. "This ruling further affirms that requiring a photo ID in order to vote is not only common sense, it's constitutional," Gov. Pat McCrory said in a statement. "Common practices like boarding an airplane and purchasing Sudafed require photo ID, and thankfully a federal court has ensured our citizens will have the same protection for their basic right to vote." In reaching the decision released on Monday, Schroeder conducted a two-part trial that spanned more than 21 days in July and this past January. He considered the testimony of 21 expert witnesses and 112 other witnesses, and more than 25,000 pages that are part of the record.

ACRU Staff2020-05-03T23:34:40+00:00April 26th, 2016|Absentee / Mail-in Voting, Early Voting, In the Courts, News, Same-Day Registration, Voter ID|

Virginia Gov. McAuliffe Breaks the Constitution to Plump the Democratic Vote

By Hans von Spakovsky In what is likely an unconstitutional state action seemingly calculated to ensure that the purple state of Virginia goes blue in the November election, Governor Terry McAuliffe (D.) signed an order on Friday restoring the voting rights of 206,000 ex-felons in Virginia, including those convicted of murder, armed robbery, rape, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. The order also restores their right to sit on a jury, become a notary, and even serve in elected office. McAuliffe believes that ex-felons can be trusted to make decisions in the ballot booth and the jury box but apparently not to own a gun. He draws the line at restoring their Second Amendment rights; that would be a bridge too far. His order specifically does not restore their "right to ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms." And while his order requires that felons complete probation and parole before enjoying restoration of their rights, it applies regardless of whether they have paid any court fines or restitution to victims. What McAuliffe entirely dismisses is the principle that if you won't follow the law yourself, you can't demand a role in making the law for everyone else, which is what you do when you vote.

ACRU Staff2016-04-25T11:59:51+00:00April 25th, 2016|ACRU Commentary|

Virginia Governor Adds 200,000 Felons to Voting Rolls

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- More than 200,000 convicted felons will be eligible to vote and run for public office in Virginia under a sweeping executive order announced Friday by Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe. McAuliffe said his actions would help undo Virginia's long history of trying to suppress the black vote. He said he was certain he had the legal authority for the massive extension of voting rights, adding that he'd consulted with legal and constitutional experts, including Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring.

ACRU Staff2016-04-22T12:17:03+00:00April 22nd, 2016|News|

Democrats and the New Jim Crow

By J. Christian Adams Imagine an election for president where votes cast at the ballot box mean next to nothing. While activist groups gripe about long lines and the return of Jim Crow whenever someone has to pull out a photo ID, it's the Democratic Party primary that deserves scorn for disenfranchising voters this year. With Hillary stacking up the super-delegates even while Bernie Sanders keeps winning, why should anyone bother voting? This is nothing new. The Democrat Party has a long history of disenfranchising its party members and voters through Jim Crow laws that disenfranchised the vast majority of African Americans. Jim Crow was invented by Democrats and administered by Democrats. While the hyperbole of Jim Crow is tossed at Republicans who seek to bring integrity to elections, it is the Democrats practicing systematic disenfranchisement again in 2016. Bernie Sanders won seven of the last eight Democratic primaries or caucuses but he is no closer to winning the Democratic Party nomination.

ACRU Staff2020-05-03T23:38:01+00:00April 21st, 2016|ACRU Commentary, Voter ID|

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