Orr: Voter ID Laws Could Have Major Effect On Election Day
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Cook County Clerk David Orr fears the push for voter ID laws across the country is going to have a pronounced effect on Election Day.
As WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, Orr says the problem is that requiring specific picture IDs for voting this November may disenfranchise people who don't have the means or the time to comply.
"If you take a state like Pennsylvania – and most people agree that there's about between 600- and 700,000 voters who right now don't have the right ID," Orr said. "Now, that doesn't mean some of them may not get it, you know, people certainly can go get them. But when, in fact, there's a large percentage of folks that happen to be African-American, or Latino, or elderly, the real question is, well, is that fair?" Orr said.
Orr says if those behind the national push for voter ID were genuinely worried about ballot integrity, they'd make allowances for those who legitimately might not have the proper documents.
He says those who claim to be protecting the integrity of the ballot are really partisans trying to hold down the vote in poor and minority communities, and he thinks that if they succeed, it might be enough to make a difference in some swing states.
David Orr is the guest on WBBM Newsradio's "At Issue" broadcast this weekend, and you can hear more of his comments Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports
