Subject: McConnell Amendment

May 31, 2007

Dear Senators Boxer and Feinstein:

I urge you to oppose the McConnell Amendment that requires every voter in 2008 election to provide a government issued, current and valid photo I.D. before being allowed to vote. This amendment would disenfranchise large numbers of legal voters and create administrative problems at the polls.

Congress must not manipulate the voting process by blocking voters from participating in elections. Photo ID requirements disproportionately impact those who are least likely to have current I.D.’s: the elderly, young people, people of color, rural voters, individuals with disabilities and frequent movers.

The type of election fraud that might be addressed by this amendment is, in fact, a rare problem. The lack of evidence of instances where voters misrepresent their identity is simply unnecessary.

Congress should not be playing politics with the right to vote. Voter participation should be increased, not blocked by unwarranted barriers.

Sincerely,

Janet Brennan, President
LWV of the Monterey Peninsula