United Senior Action Joins Indiana Civil Liberties Union, Others To Fight Restrictive Voting Requirement

Adding to the list of “what is going on?” is the new voter identification law. Under the new law, a voter will be required to show a valid picture identification issued by either Indiana or the federal government at the polls before they will be allowed to cast their ballot. If they don’t have such a piece of identification, they can cast a provisional ballot after signing an affidavit. However, in order for the vote to count, the voter must go to the County Clerk’s office no later than noon on the Monday after the election and display valid picture identification and sign an affidavit.

Fran Quigley and Ken Falk with the Indiana Civil Liberties Union discuss with the media the recently filed lawsuit

While on the surface, this may not sound like too much to ask, consider this. There have been no widespread abuses reported. Poll workers have always had the right to question a voter and have them sign a legal affidavit confirming their identity, if it is in question. Problems that have been reported often involve absentee ballots, and this law doesn’t apply to absentee ballots.

Further consider the large number of seniors in Indiana who no longer drive and, hence, do not have a government-issued driver’s license. Seniors living in rural areas, assisted living, or nursing homes are especially likely to be prevented from voting even though they have voted for over 50, 60, 70 years! While the new law says there will be no charge for the government-issued identification for those who cannot afford it, consider what documentation one needs to get the i.d.. Obtaining a birth certificate and other necessary documentation costs money. This amounts to a poll tax!

The Indiana Civil Liberties Union is representing United Senior Action as well as the Indianapolis Resource Center for Independent Living, Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Branch of the NAACP, the Indiana Coalition on Housing and Homeless Issues, Wiliam Crawford and Joseph Simpson. ICLU charges no fees for representing its clients.

In the original filing, Ken Falk with ICLU argues that the new requirement violates the Voting Rights Act, the United States Constitution and the Indiana Constitution, and requests appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief.

Affected Seniors Sought

To prove our case, as plaintiffs we must back-up our arguments by identifying persons who are likely to be affected by the new law. If you think you would be discouraged or prevented from voting under this new law please contact Ken Falk at ICLU by calling 317-635-4059, extension 229.

Examples might include:

• You no longer drive, so you no longer have a driver’s license.
• You no longer drive so you can’t get to a license branch to get a photo identification card.
• You no longer drive so you can’t go get the documentation needed to get a photo identification card.
• Your limited income would make it difficult to afford the costs of obtaining the documentation necessary to get a photo identification card.
• There are other reasons you believe would prevent you from meeting the new restrictive standards.

“It is amazing that people who fought for yours and my right to vote, will be prevented from casting a ballot,” exclaimed Michelle Niemier, USA executive director. “United Senior Action will be fierce in our opposition to this absurd new law.”