Dear Senator Brown,

Republican Legislators have once again introduced a bill to make it difficult for many Georgians to vote.  People of every socioeconomic group would be affected by this law, unnecessarily.

If the bill passes, residents of many urban and rural areas, as well as elderly and disabled persons would be disadvantaged by the distance they must travel to obtain the identification required in SB 84.  Working people would have to take time off from work to obtain the ID.  There is no law in place to assure an employee’s right to take time off for this.  If the employees have no drivers license, it will surely be a challenge for them to get to the location designated in their county.

The League of Women Voters ( http://www.lwvga.org/home/PhotoID.html ) is right when they say that requiring a photo ID to vote would be a step backward for Georgia and the United States, and an unnecessary obstacle between the voter and the ballot box.  It would not address the voter fraud that has been documented in the past; however, it would make Georgia the most difficult place in the country to cast a ballot.

Please vote NO on the Voter ID Bill, and urge other Democratic Sentators to do the same.  Our fundamental principles of openness and fairness require no less.  Let us work to enfranchise as many eligible voters as possible, instead of making it as difficult as possible for those among us with the most challenges.