Public Records Free Directory Blog

From The Seattle Post-Intelligencer on January 9, 2008:

More than 20 states require some form of identification at the polls. Courts have upheld voter ID laws in Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, but struck down Missouri’s. The Indiana case should be decided by late June, in time for the November elections.

An issue related to access to public records is raised in the oral arguments of the Indiana case, specifically the burden placed on people with limited income to obtain the proper documents to prove their identity:

… Kennedy did, however, voice concern over some aspects of obtaining an ID, including the difficulty the poor have in getting the birth certificates that are needed to get photo ID.

Currently, the contested Indiana law requires a separate trip in advance of election day to affirm voter identity if proper identification papers are not available.

… Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg focused her questions on the difficulties for indigent voters who lack IDs. Why, she asked, can’t the state allow those voters to sign a sworn statement on Election Day, which would eliminate the second trip to the county courthouse?

From The Nation on January 10, 2008:

Voter ID laws span a wide spectrum. The federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA), passed in 2002, provides that all states must require ID from first-time voters who register by mail. But twenty-five states and the District of Columbia have gone beyond this. Eighteen require all voters to produce some form of ID, which may be a bank statement or utility bill sent to their address. Two require a photo ID, which may include employee or other unofficial IDs. Arizona requires all voters to produce either one government-issued ID or two other identifications.

Indiana stands alone in requiring that the ID have a photo and be issued by the government–the most difficult forms of identification to obtain.

The issue of what kind of protection is necessary to prevent “in person” voting fraud is discussed at length in the Nation article, including an overview of prior cases on the subject.

This blog is still trying to wrap its mind around this report from Think Progress on January 9, 2008:

With just “two members and unable to muster a quorum,” the Federal Elections Commission “has decided to offer advice instead of binding decisions on questions from political campaigns.” The four vacancies are a result of President Bush’s refusal to withdraw the nomination of Hans A. von Spakovsky, despite strong opposition from Congress.

So as a response to these events, other than the usual reminders to protect your online personal information from identity theft, including your court records and social networking sites, this blog notes that contact information and links related to access to public records in every state are available at The Free Public Records Directory.

In addition, in an article about how to find legal help when you can’t afford it, there are links to legal information and legal assistance resources in every state that may be of assistance for specific questions about access to records and voting rights. The Brennan Center for Justice has links to more information about voter rights and the Election Defense Alliance has a state-by-state list of election rights advocacy groups and links to further information.