Voter ID – the bitterly partisan issue that brought the Senate to a standstill on the second day of the session – will return to the Senate floor March 10, when Senate Bill 362 will be considered by a “committee of the whole.” As a refresher: The controversy revolves around requiring voters to present a photo ID to vote. Republicans say it’s necessary to prevent fraud; Democrats say the type of fraud it addresses (voter impersonation) is rare almost to nonexistence and that it would disenfranchise the poor, women, and minorities, all groups who (surprise!) tend to vote Demo­cratic. Expect much bloodletting.

This article appears in March 6 • 2009.

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