ACTION ALERT: Immigration amendment to require REAL

ACTION ALERT: Immigration amendment to require REAL ID to Vote

Dear Privacy Coalition Members, it looks like Sen. McConnell wants to
add an amendment to the Immigration Reform bill that would amend the
Help America Vote Act to require ALL voters to present a government
photo ID in order to vote in public elections. Although the Senate is
considering immigration reform, this amendment can be included if it is
ruled in order by the Senate Rules Committee.
It is anticipated that the Immigration Reform Bill will be on the Senate
floor next week.

A broad coalition of groups are working on a sign-on letter to alert the
Senate of concerns regarding this amendment and its possible
consideration as part of the Immigration Reform effort. This e-mail is
to alert you to look for the letter when it is circulated because the
time for going onto the letter may be very tight. In the interim if it
is easier for your organization to send its own letter that is
encouraged.
However, the letter that will be circulated will contain the most up to
date information on this unfortunate development, so you may want to
hold off until it is available.

In 2005, the issue of identification and civic participation took on new
vigor following the release of the Carter-Baker Commission report that
endorsed the use of the REAL ID as the de facto national voter
identification document.
To see the report,
visit: http://www.american.edu/ia/cfer/report/report.html

The draft text of the McConnell Amendment is below. Please note that
the reference to Section 7212(b)(2)(C) of the Intelligence Reform and
Terrorism Prevention Act of
2004 was repealed by the REAL ID Act. However,the language in REAL ID
replicates the intent of this section. In other words it is only a
matter of changing the Section cited in the amendment, which will be
caught if it goes through Legislative Counsel.

SA 4021. Mr. McCONNELL submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed by him to the bill S. 2611, to provide for comprehensive
immigration reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on
the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. . IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
(a) REQUIREMENT FOR IDENTIFICATION CARDS TO INCLUDE CITIZENSHIP
INFORMATION.--Section 7212(b)(2)(D) of the Intelligence Reform and
Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (49 U.S.C. 30301 note) is amended by
striking ``and'' at the end of clause (vi), by inserting ``and'' at the
end of clause (vii), and by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(viii) whether the person is a United States citizen;''.
(b) IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR VOTING IN PERSON.--
(1) IN GENERAL.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002
(42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.) is amended by redesignating sections 304 and
305 as sections 305 and 306, respectively, and by inserting after
section 305 the following new section:
``SEC. 304. IDENTIFICATION OF VOTERS AT THE POLLS.
``(a) IN GENERAL.--Notwithstanding the requirements of section
303(b), each State shall require individuals casting ballots in an
election for Federal office in person to present before voting a current
valid photo identification which is issued by a governmental entity and
which meets the requirements of section 7212 of the Intelligence Reform
and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (49 U.S.C.
30301 note).
``(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.--Each State shall be required to comply with
the requirements of subsection (a) on and after January 1, 2008.''.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.--Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act
of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15511) is amended by striking ``and 303'' and
inserting ``303, and 304''.