Today’s U.S.
Supreme Court decision in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board
upholds an Indiana
state law that requires voters to present a state issued photo
identification. In a 6 to 3
decision, the Court determined that voter fraud takes precedence over burdens
the law places on voters.
The decision is
expected to place a disproportionate burden on student voters.
"Young voters
are less likely to possess the in-state identification required by Indiana statute,"
said Sujatha Jahagirdar, Program
Director for the Student PIRG's New Voters Project. "Young voters
looking to vote may thus be turned away from the polls in droves."
The ruling comes on
the heels of youth vote surges throughout the country in the presidential
primary contest to date. "Today's ruling sends a chilling message to
young voters who are more energized and excited than ever."
U.S. PIRG assailed
the majority decision saying it will create real problems in order to address
perceived ones. A majority of justices accepted Indiana’s argument despite the fact that no
evidence of voter fraud in the state’s history was presented.
“Of the
billions of votes cast in the last 100 years, the state cited Boss Tweed and a
single incident of voter fraud in Washington state to justify new burdens that
will disproportionately impact students, seniors, low income and minority
voters ,” said Gary Kalman, Director of U.S. PIRG’s Federal Legislative Office.
Kalman went on to
note that justices and other photo ID supporters who compare identification
requirements for cashing a check or renting a video with voting are missing a
larger issue. “If I can’t rent a video because of I lack identification
it may be unfortunate, but wrongfully denying an eligible voter their right to
vote is a far greater concern,” concluded Kalman.
Despite these new
hurdles, U.S.PIRG and the New Voter’s Project will continue to fight for
policies that ensure fair and open elections and work to engage students and
other young people in the electoral process.
