Court backs photo ID for voters

Ind. argues law prevents fraud at polls

Gannett News Service

Published: 04.29.2008

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court in a fractured decision Monday upheld an Indiana law that requires voters to show a photo ID issued by the federal or state government.

Opponents had argued that the law, considered the toughest voter ID statute in the nation, places substantial practical and financial burdens on voters and is aimed at fixing a type of election fraud that rarely occurs.

The state said the law imposes minimal, if any, interference and increases public confidence in the integrity of the elections.

The court agreed. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices John Paul Stevens and Anthony Kennedy wrote that because Indiana's ID cards are free, the inconvenience of getting one does not qualify as a substantial burden on most voters' right to vote.

"States should have the ability to implement appropriate and constitutional steps to protect their electoral systems from fraud," Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter said.