In 2009, it took well-organized tactics by the Democrats to stop the Republicans’ voter ID bill. On Monday, it took only a single word, although the stop is only temporary. Rep. Armando Martinez, D-Weslaco, raised a point of order noting a small but substantial difference between the language in the bill and that of the official bill analysis, which is supposed to explain a bill’s intent. According to the analysis, a voter without ID can vote but must return to election officials within six days with proper ID to have the ballot counted. As Martinez noted, however, the language in the actual bill stipulates six “business” days. The point was sustained, and debate ended for the day. However, discussion had picked back up at press time, and by the time you read this, the error has probably been fixed, the bill likely passed, and the overwhelming GOP majority has saved us from the nonexistent crisis of voter impersonation. Before debate ended, Dallas Democrat Rafael Anch�a pointedly summed up the flaw in Republican logic: “The narrative started, I guess, a couple of years ago with allegations of busloads of undocumented immigrants coming and voting in our elections and stealing our elections. I mean, if that happens, then clearly they’re all voting straight-ticket Republican if the results of the last election are to be believed.”
This article appears in March 25 • 2011.