Want to vote? Prove it.

Indiana residents planning to vote in Tuesday's primary should be prepared to show some identification. Two weeks ago, a U.S. District Judge upheld Indiana's voter identification law which requires voters provide a photo ID with a name that matches the voter registration record. The ID also must have an expiration date and be issued by the state or the U.S. government. According to the judge, the Indiana Democratic Party, which challenged the law, failed to prove it prevented residents from voting.\nStudent ID cards with expiration dates from IU are acceptable forms of identification because IU is a public university, so students' ability to vote will most likely be minimally affected. However, any law that potentially prevents eligible voters from participating in the democratic process is problematic. By making a law that requires voters to have proper photo identification, it becomes difficult to vote for those who don't have the means or the money to obtain a suitable ID. \nWe see the Democratic Party's argument that this law has the possibility to disenfranchise the elderly, disabled, minorities and the poor. A provision to the law is that people who don't have an acceptable photo ID can receive one free from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, but to receive a free ID other documentation is needed -- like a birth certificate, which can cost $10. Also, to get a birth certificate you need a driver's license or another form of ID, making the law somewhat of a catch-22.\nWe understand the law was put into place by Republicans to insure that people who are actually voting are who they claim to be. Everyone hears horror stories about voter lists being composed of people who have been dead for 30 years. It is important to make sure there is accuracy in voting, but it is also important to ensure that everyone who is eligible to vote has equal opportunity to exercise this right. \nSince this law is being upheld, it will be the responsibility of voter education groups like INPIRG, the College Republicans and College Democrats to make sure students and voters have what they need to be able to cast their ballots. When election time rolls around every couple of years those groups try to get as many voters registered as possible, so the same efforts should be put toward getting voters the proper identification. \nThe law seems like common sense. You should have to prove who you are to be a part of the Democratic process. But it is also common sense that no one should be excluded from the process based on economic status, race or age.