Voter ID insures that the Black Vote Matters and is counted

Voter ID is no Poll  Tax

Dr. Ada Fisher

Contrary to the race baiting information being pushed on the radio by the NAACP and others, the legislation promoting voter ID cards, preferably with pictures, is not a poll tax. These cards are consistent with the US Constitution’s 24^th Amendment Section 1.which is to ensure that “The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.” In section 2 of this amendment legislation is allowed which will enforce this provision.

In North Carolina, great pains have been taken in the Republican controlled state government to avoid disenfranchising citizens or engaging in any voter suppression efforts in allowing state issued identification to serve this purpose. Adding a picture to these cards can help to stem the identification thefts and frauds which are continuing unabated in other arenas as well.

Eligible to serve as Voter ID alternatives are driver’s licenses, identification cards from the Department of Motor Vehicles and other exceptions which could include military IDs. It is clear that for those unable to purchase these cards, cards will be provided at no cost to citizens who are eligible to vote. For those elderly persons who may not have state issued birth certificates other options have also been provided. Given this, Voter ID Cards are anything but a poll tax.

Presently one has to have a photo identification card to enter the White House or federal buildings, go to any restricted movies, legally purchase a weapon, enter the ABC store for a buy or purchase cigarettes anywhere. A legitimate voter photo ID card insures that citizens have a basic right that non-citizens do not, i.e. the right to vote. It also gives citizens free identification to handle many of their affairs.

Through the maddening courtship of the Hispanic vote, it is clear that increasingly the African American vote is being again taken for granted and the concerns of the group will see us as a disenfranchised people if we don’t exercise our right to vote. The untold story in North Carolina’s 2012 elections saw the state going Republican again without the positive impact of the black vote for Patrick McCrory being detailed. In 2008 McCrory got 4% of the black vote and in 2012 blacks gave him 14% of their vote. Though clearly not having a majority of the votes, smartly leveraging our black votes helped influence this election and can do the same for Hispanics and others in other races. Will McCrory reward the black community for this support or follow the Obama Administration’s lead in neglecting those who helped bring him to the dance?

As the number of non-citizens in residence in the USA continues to grow and Immigration Reform efforts gets more murky, it is imperative that the citizen’s right to vote remain a paramount distinction which Voter ID Cards help. These reforms unfortunately are gaining further acceptance; unfortunately it is likely to be at the expense of African Americans. Where are the groups speaking to these issues as should be the role of the NAACP? When numbers of immigrants allowed to stay in the country illegally for equal wages increase, who do black voters really think will be pushed aside?

Don’t buy the race baiting to stop voter ID cards. Appreciate such as a means to insure your vote as citizen’s matters.

Dr. Ada M. Fisher is a physician, licensed teacher in secondary education—mathematics and Science, former County School Board Member, gifted public speaker as well as the NC Republican National Committee Woman. Her book, Common Sense Conservative Prescriptions Solutions for What Ails Us, Book I may be ordered through any bookstore or purchased on line through Amazon.com, theCreateSpaceStore.com or Kindle. Contact her at P. O. Box 777; Salisbury, NC 28145 or through LinkedIn or DrFisher@GETADOCTORINTHEHOUSE.com