Chris Dodd: “let me again quote from the Carter-Baker commission report regarding the very proposal that is before us: There is no…”

“let me again quote from the Carter-Baker commission report regarding the very proposal that is before us: There is no evidence of extensive fraud in U.S. elections or of multiple voting. It could occur and it could affect the outcome, but there is no evidence that exists today. What is true is if this amendment were adopted, there are clearly people who will show up to vote who will not be allowed to vote a regular ballot because, under this legislation, in May of 2008, if you don't have this nonexisting voter card, you will not be allowed to vote. I don't care how long you have lived here, how many elections you have participated in, this is a national requirement that will exist in May of 2008. And out of 142 million people who have a right to vote, there is likely to be a substantial number who would be disenfranchised. This is the wrong direction to be going based on an anecdotal piece of evidence about people who show up to vote and claim to be someone else. And that is why the Carter-Baker Commission recommendations on voter ID included a number of other reforms to provide a failsafe against this result. These additional components of the voter ID recommendation include allowing affidavit voting, with signature verification, until 2010. Thereafter, the Commission recommends that voters who did not have their ID could return to the appropriate election official within 48 hours of voting and provide the ID.…”