[mikester]

There is some inclination to believe (in the liberal mind) that by requiring an actual ID other than the voter registration card is a way to inhibit minority votes.

Let's take Florida for example since I did some growing up there and am familiar with their voting history. They are one of the only states that doesn't automagically give their felons the right to vote back when they have served their time in prision/parol. That law dates back to when blacks were first given the right to vote in this country. States were allowed to pass laws outlining certain requirements (that varied and made much less sense than requiring a simple valid picture ID) that a person had to meet to cast a ballot. In fact at one point the law was repealed that prevented felons from regaining their rights to vote upon completion of their sentences but this law was reinstated within the past 40 years. It's an old law with roots in discrimination - it serves no valid purpose to prevent someone with a felony conviction who has served their time their rights as defined in the constitution.

Requirements such as knowing how to read...

Well...that one for example we don't require now and couldn't because it would (in theory) inhibit upon those who can't read for whatever reason. We don't want that of course - everyone has the right to vote more or less.

Personally I don't think that a legal ID would inhibit me from voting in any way and I have been asked for my ID in the past few elections here in SoCal. Of course - I'm your average white dude.

It seems to be a perception by those who we have factually oppressed in the past that keeps us from enforcing the laws as written (in my opinion).

There is still a lot of bigotry in the south - no matter what "they" claim - I have lived there half my life and it was not hidden in any way. You can say what you want about liberl voter fraud but I will stand by my statement that every American who is in good standing with the government should not be required to show anything more than their picture ID and their voter registration card. Regardless of past convictions.