How to keep Democrats from voting in Arizona

When Prop 200 was passed supporters of the law made it seem like there were 10 Mexicans on every street corner trying to illegally vote in Arizona elections. And that the law was needed to prevent Mexicans from voting illegally in Arizona elections.

Well since the law has been passed several years ago we have proof in the form of arrests that two, and possible three Mexicans were arrested because of the law. Certainly proof that Mexican’s are not now illegally and probably have never been a problem illegally voting in Arizona elections.

The real intent of the law seems to keep people who don’t have ID who tend to vote DEMOCRAT from voting against the REPUBLICAN who dominate Arizona politics. And if that is true the law certainly has worked.

Source

Jun 22, 6:12 PM EDT

Committee examines requiring ID or proof of citizenship to vote

By JENNIFER TALHELM
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House lawmakers on Thursday considered legislation mirroring a controversial Arizona law that would require voters in a federal election to prove they are U.S. citizens and present a photo ID.

The proposal sponsored by Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., would apply similar registration requirements as Arizona's Proposition 200 - a voter-approved law that also denied some government benefits to illegal immigrants - to federal elections.

Supporters told the House Administration Committee in a hearing that legislation is needed to prevent fraud. Opponents argued requiring citizenship papers and an ID to get a ballot would deter countless immigrant citizens and many others from voting.

"Over the past five decades, Congress has never seriously entertained legislation that would reduce participation," said Rep. James Langevin, D-R.I., a former secretary of state. "Regrettably, H.R. 4844 would have that effect and mark a dangerous departure from past efforts."

But supporters of the measure ticked off examples from several states in which non-citizens have voted in recent elections. The public has lost confidence in the election process as a result, they said.

Houston's voter registration officials, for example, have found evidence of illegal voting by Norwegian and Brazilian nationals.

In New Mexico, a host of lawsuits were filed in 2004 dealing with voter identification requirements and ballot access issues.

"Fraudulent registration and fraudulent voting is a problem," said Patrick Rogers, a New Mexico attorney who presented the committee with the voter ID card of a woman holding a green card, who claimed she was pressured to register while standing in line to receive government services.

"This is a simple common sense measure to protect the right of all honest citizens of whatever partisan or ethnic background to participate in our elections without having their vote canceled by a ballot cast by someone who is not legally entitled to vote," Rogers said.

Hyde's bill would require anyone registering to vote in a federal election to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Voters would have to show a valid photo ID to receive a ballot.

Democrats on the committee vehemently opposed the measure and at points, the hearing grew testy.

Committee Chairman Vernon Ehlers, R-Mich., banged his gavel repeatedly as Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, D-Calif., asked questions beyond her allotted time, wondering why a new law was necessary when it's already illegal for non-citizens to vote.

Arizona's Proposition 200 was approved in 2004. The ID rules were cleared by federal officials in October and were first used in local elections in March.