Georgia’s voter ID bill takes center stage

Georgia’s voter ID bill takes center stage

01/10/06

ATLANTA (AP) — The legislative session opened with a bang Monday as Republican House leaders steered a new proposal to change the state’s voter ID requirements through its first test, catching Democratic opponents off guard. The proposal passed its first test by a 7-4 vote in a fiery committee meeting over the opposition of Democrats and lobbyists who argued they didn’t have enough time to consider the proposal. The bill would arm registrars in each of the state’s 159 counties with the equipment to issue photo IDs, which would-be voters must present to cast their ballots.

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Emmet J. Bondurant, one of the attorneys that challenged the bill in court, questioned the bill’s motive. ‘‘There is no evidence the existing voter ID bills aren’t working,’’ he said. ‘‘Leave well enough alone.’’

Joe Beasley, the southern regional director of the Rainbow PUSH/Coalition, denounced it as ‘‘another scheme to suppress voting.’’ ‘‘This is clear and simple voter suppression and the whole world needs to see it for what it is,’’ Beasley said. ‘‘You gang of Republicans come in and you think you know it all.’’

Before the vote, he approached the table where lawmakers sat and glared at Rep. Sue Burmeister, the Augusta Republican who was quoted in a Justice Department memo saying that blacks in her district typically vote only if they’re paid. ‘‘I’m one Negro that votes without being paid,’’ Beasley said.

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