[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 19 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1343-S1344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            ELECTION REFORM

  Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, I would like to express my strong 
support for the Schumer-Wyden amendment to S. 565, the Martin Luther 
King Jr., Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001. While one of 
the important goals of this legislation is to prevent voter fraud, we 
must be careful that we do not go so far that we keep eligible voters 
out of the electoral process.
  This bill currently requires first-time voters who registered by mail 
to provide either a photo ID or a copy of a utility bill, bank 
statement, a Government paycheck or other government document that 
shows the name or address of the voter when they go to cast their vote. 
While this may sound like a reasonable requirement on the surface, the 
practical consequences of this requirement could easily prevent 
countless eligible voters from voting.
  For example, senior citizens, who vote in large numbers, often do not 
drive and therefore, do not have a driver's license to use as a photo 
ID. Voting age high school and college students, a group that we need 
to encourage to vote and participate in the democratic process, may not 
have a photo ID, and certainly will not have a Government paycheck or a 
utility bill in their name. A photo ID requirement also would place a 
heavy burden on the millions of Americans with disabilities who do not 
drive or do not live independently so that their name would be listed 
on a bank statement or utility bill.
  Finally, a photo ID requirement could have an adverse impact on 
minority voters. Immigrants who have newly become U.S. citizens and 
come

[[Page S1344]]

from countries where governments instill fear instead of trust, could 
be intimidated by these requirements and might be afraid to vote.
  The Schumer-Wyden amendment allows States to use signature 
verification and attestation, in addition to a photo ID and government 
checks, to verify voters; or a State can opt to use only a signature 
verification system. This amendment will allow us to be just as tough 
on voter fraud without turning away eligible voters.
  In Michigan, we have several laws that effectively prevent voter 
fraud, without disenfranchising eligible voters. First-time voters who 
registered by mail are required to vote in person the first time they 
cast a ballot. Michigan also requires a voter signature for all voters 
at the polls, and has a signature verification system to confirm a 
voter's identity. These measures protect our electoral system against 
fraud, without undermining voter participation.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Schumer-Wyden amendment that 
protects our electoral system, without preventing eligible voters from 
exercising their right to vote.

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