Dear Mr. Wooten,

I just had the opportunity to read your editorial on the Voter ID act, "Voter ID Critics Have No Room to Whine." I felt compelled to write you about it.

The reason the Voter ID Act is questionable- and I would say, troubling- is not what it does, but what it doesn't do. There have been no cases of voter fraud in the last nine years. ZERO. That means that it seeks to solve a problem that, for all intensive purposes, does not exist. I find that very odd. You write, "The Legislature took a fair shot at fixing an abuse a majority of members legitimately believed to exist." Why did they believe it existed when so many sources have now pointed out that it doesn't? Because that was not the objective of the bill.

In reality, all that is required in Georgia to vote is an affadavit affirming that you are who you say you are. This is on the absentee ballot, and also in the GA Constitution. If this law passes, it does not change that. So once again, this law is unneccessary.

And here's the kicker- the items required to get a "free" ID are items only available on other issued IDs. Here is what is required (from the text of the revised act.)
-"a photo identity document"
-documentation of birth
-documentation of soc. sec. number
-documentation of name and address.

Are you reading what I'm reading? You NEED an official photo I.D. to GET an official photo I.D. Even if they get more specific on this matter (i.e, specifying what kinds of "photo identity documents"), it is still very strange when it doesn't actually change the affadavit clause, covered in the constitution. I can only assume that this bill will not affect you, sir, or surely you would think it strange as well.

What is the point of passing arbitrary bills that have no positive effect? To appear active (I would say to anti-immigrant activists). And according to your article, that is good enough, and we have "no room to whine." When Republicans start arbitrarily building barriers to YOUR constitutional rights, such as, oh, the first amendment, then I hope you feel the same way.

Thank you for your time,

(name)

P.S. Attached is a copy of the GA absentee ballot. The text of the new Voter ID act can be found at:
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/fulltext/sb84.htm