ATLANTA, GA — “ROLL TIDE ROLL” is the clarion call in Alabama to cheer on the University of Alabama football team. But due to budget cuts in Alabama’s general fund other agencies are not rolling on as well. There are more hurdles for voters since officials are planning on closing 31 driver’s license offices in 67 counties in the state.
In 2011, Alabama enacted a Voter ID law that requires voters to bring a government issued photo ID to the polls. Some legislators declare that this law is necessary to stop voter fraud, although research has shown that voter fraud almost never happens.
These voter ID laws have proliferated around the country – nearly always enacted by corporate controlled legislatures at the expense of the poor.
Historically, the poll tax and the literacy test have kept people from registering to vote, and this $11 million cut in the fund allocated to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) will have the same effect by not having the funds to keep thirty-one driver’s license offices open so people won’t have the opportunity to have their photos taken in order to vote.
The Congressional Black Caucus states that the shuttered offices are located in Alabama’s rural areas and counties where more than 75% of the registered voters are African American. But 60% of the population in the white majority counties are also impacted by the closing of the driver’s license offices. Although the percentage is higher for black majority counties, it is very high for white majority counties.
This statement by the Congressional Black Caucus shows the dire situation poor residents will find themselves in. “Alabama’s harsh voter ID law further restricts the ability of residents to obtain the requisite identification needed not only to vote, but also to drive, get a job, or apply for a passport.”
It seems that “democracy” has hit a barrier and many people will be disenfranchised, in the name of budget cuts “because there is no money,” regardless of color.
This shows once again that attacks on our democratic rights start with the Black poor, but, if not stopped, become an attack on everyone.
