Clinton, Obama Go Another Round

It's another super Tuesday. Voters in Indiana and North Carolina will have their say in primaries that may change the game.

In the Tar Heel State, 500,000 people – one out of every 10 registered voters – already have cast their ballots during the early voting period. African Americans represented over 40 percent of early voters.

A local newspaper reports that long lines formed even before the polls opened this morning. Election officials expect a record primary turnout.

Voter interest is also high in Indiana, but voters will have to bring more than enthusiasm to their polling place. They better bring a current photo ID.

In the most important voting rights case since Bush v. Gore, the United States Supreme Court last week upheld Indiana's law requiring voters to present a valid government-issued photo ID. The law was passed by Indiana's Republican-controlled legislature on a straight party line vote.

In a 6-to-3 decision, the Supreme Court held the requirement did not impose an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote. Justice John Paul Stevens wrote:

The application of the statute to the vast majority of Indiana voters is amply justified by the valid interest in protecting the integrity and reliability of the electoral process.

The 2005 law was designed to stop voter fraud. Funny thing though. There is no evidence of in-person voter fraud in Indiana. But there is evidence that the ruling will have a disparate impact on elderly and low-income voters.

There is concern that the ID law will depress turnout in the Hoosier State. Julia Vaughn, policy director for Common Cause/Indiana, warns:

I think there is a chilling effect of the voter ID law. People don't want to get hassled when trying to vote.

The extra hurdle will lead to confusion and more Election Day drama. To help maintain order at the polls and ensure every vote is counted, voters should check their state's voting requirements here.

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