Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Democrats fail to shoot down photo ID in Georgia
By Mary Lazich
Tuesday, Jul 15 2008, 10:20 AM
Voters in Georgia go to the polls today to choose candidates in primaries for Congress, the General Assembly and other state and local offices. Before they can vote, Georgians must provide a Georgia driver's license, a valid government-issued photo ID, a U.S. passport, a military photo ID, a valid picture ID showing membership in a native American tribe, or a photo ID issued by a county registrar.
Last Friday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Tom Campbell tossed out a challenge against the photo ID requirement. Georgia’s state Democrat Party was seeking a temporary restraining order to block the use of photo ID in today’s Georgia primaries.
During a hearing last week, Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel testified there would be "mass chaos" at Georgia’s 3,000 precincts if the judge were to grant the Democrat party's request. In a statement following the judge’s ruling, Handel said, "Photo ID has been implemented without incident in eight elections, including the presidential preference primary that featured record voter turnout."
Georgia has also taken a step that I proposed with legislation in Wisconsin that literally removes one of the key arguments of photo ID opponents. In Georgia, according to the Secretary of State’s website, “If you do not have one of these acceptable forms of photo identification, the State of Georgia offers a FREE Voter Identification Card. An identification card can be issued at any county registrar's office or Department of Driver Services office FREE of charge.”
During the 2005 legislative session, I authored Senate Bill 119 that would have issued identification cards without charge. Senate Bill 119 passed the state Senate 25-8, but did not get to the Assembly floor for a vote. Here are details on Senate Bill 119.
Democrats in Georgia pledge to continue to fight to have that state’s photo ID thrown out before the November elections. Just as here in Wisconsin, Democrats object to the common sense policy of having voters show proof that they are who they say they are. Wisconsin needs to adopt a photo ID requirement. Approving photo ID should be one of the Legislature’s top priorities when it reconvenes in January 2009.
