Voter Identification and the Right to Vote 2-29-12




Federalist Society Event Audio show

Summary: In recent years, states across the country have considered or implemented stricter voter identification requirements, including photo identification requirements. In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Indiana's photo identification law from constitutional challenge in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board. In December 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice blocked South Carolina's photo identificationrequirement after concluding the law would significantly burden non-white voters. These debates are taking place in Iowa as well, with multiple voter identification proposals advancing in the legislature in recent years, most recently with legislation enacting a photo identification requirement being proposed by Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz. Come hear from two diverse perspectives on the legal and policy implications of voter identification requirements in Iowa and around the nation. Featuring: Mr. Hans von Spakovsky of The Heritage Foundation and formerly of the Federal Election Commission; Mr. Ben Stone of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa; and Justice Edward Mansfield of the Iowa Supreme Court as the moderator. Introduction by Mr. Samual P. Langholz, State Public Defender of Iowa and President of the Iowa Lawyers Chapter.