Reply #4: Another consequence

[LizW]

Not only do the Republicans plan on disenfranchising as many of the poor and minorities as possible, they plan to make them pay for it.

There was an article in our local paper this week or last detailing how onerous this new ID law will be on the states. Already the lines for driver's licenses or non-driver ID's are outrageous (some people have to take three days off work to get a license), but the states are having to spend big bucks on new software and equipment to do all the things the federal law requires. The system goes down for long periods of time and people just have to wait, or come back later and start over. With every new requirement, the waits get longer.

The effect is that drivers' licenses will cost more (keeping the poor from getting them), and people who can't afford to miss work won't be able to brave the lines (keeping more of the poor from getting ID's).

This is a poll tax targeted at likely Democratic voters.