Rep. Ives should withdraw 'disordered' Illinois voter ID bill

Whenever I hear the name of IL Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-42), I conjure up the word 'disordered.' I'm not implying Ives is disordered; I'm referring to her February, 2013, charge that "same sex marriages are completely disordered". Gays, according to Ives are "trying to weasel their way into acceptability so that they can then start to push their agenda down into the schools, because this gives them some sort of legitimacy... And we can't allow that to happen."

Ives backpeddled furiously when those remarks to an anti gay radio audience became public. She issues no more anti gay sentiments now that being homophobic is no longer cool, even amongst conservatives.

But 'disordered' comes to mind again with Ives concerning bill HB5787 she introduced last week in the Illinois Legislature. It amends the IL Election Code to create a pilot program for DuPage County that allows the election authority to obtain drivers license photos to help verify a voter's identity. Sadly, astoundingly, Ives appears to be spearheading efforts to inject the undemocratic concept of voter ID into Illinois elections. The Land of Lincoln is one of just 17 states that have refused to diminish voting prospects of minorities, the poor, the elderly and college students by the frivolous, unnecessary concept of voter ID. The other 33 mostly conservative states are simply trying to elect Republicans, not on the quality of their issues, but by simple vote suppression of likely Democratic voters. Voter ID is a sneaky, 'back door' way of overturning the gains of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Were he trodding his Land today, Honest Abe would be horrified at such an effort to besmirch the legacy of inclusion he gave his life for. If he could have one minute with Rep. Ives, he'd likely implore her to "withdraw your disordered voter ID provision." But since he isn't and can't, we will. Tell Rep. Ives yourself at 630 384 1108.