“The League of Women Voters clearly has not included any top supporters of requiring photo identification when voting in New Mexico,” State Senator John Ryan said. “I suspect the forum will be supplying biased information that is not useful because of it being so partial.”
Senator Ryan is one of many elected officials supporting legislation requiring New Mexicans to show a photo ID when voting in New Mexico elections. Ryan said that while Republican Senators were invited to the event, most of the panelists selected have expressed opposition to voter ID. The panelists include members from the ACLU and the UNM Political Science Department.
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The League of Women Voters is totally nonpartisan in respect to elected officials and candidates. We take positions on policy issues that we have studied and come to consensus on. Indeed, our positions on rights of all eligible citizens to vote go back to our founding in 1920. Our positions are not taken because they are identified with any particular political party. They are not secret, and they do not change with the political wind. . Our state positions are available on www.lwvnm.org. and our national positions are on www.lwv.org. Our position was not taken in reaction to the current Photo Voter ID bills in many states including New Mexico. We also believe that it is important for voters and their elected representatives to listen to all sides of a question. We do not feel obligated to present all sides when we have a clear position. Our obligation is to present the facts on which we base our position. That is why it would have been particularly useful for those who support a photo voter ID law to listen to what our panelists had to say. By boycotting our panel discussion, they are essentially saying "We know what we think. Don't confuse us with facts." People who want to see the research showing that 11-12% of New Mexico voters lack current government-issued photo ID are available through this link and others: http://latinodecisions.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/the-disproportionate-impact-of-stringent-voter-id-laws/
Is the alternative to have legitimate voters disenfranchised by illegal aliens who vote illegally? To me, the fact that 11-12% of New Mexico voters don't have a government-issued photo ID doesn't adequately address voters being disenfranchised by illegal aliens who manage their way into the voting booth. And, I don't want to hear that the 11 to 12% outnumber the estimated illegal aliens that vote. If even ONE illegal alien casts an illegal vote, because no photo ID is required, THAT is TOO many. Can someone tell me how it is that EVERYONE is required to present a government issued photo ID to fly on a plane, buy liquor,obtain a credit card but shouldn't have to identify themselves when they enter a polling venue? Is it LESS important to ensure each vote cast is a LEGAL vote? Somewhere in the mix there's a solution to disenfranchisement. So far, the only practical solution proposed is to positively identify each voter.
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