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Council Passes Voter Id
City Attorney SLIPPS in provision
Making Voter ID meaningless

Last night the City Council unanimously voted for a home rule petition to change the city's charter requiring all voters to show photo identification before they cast their ballots.

But the petition is meaningless thanks to back room maneuvering by City Atty. Peter Slipp and City Councilors who refused to allow the Voter Fraud Prevention committee co-chairman to speak before the vote.

New language was submitted to City Atty. Slipp by the Voter ID committee stating that every voter shall produce a valid photo identification and striking previous language stating those without id's will still be allowed to vote.

Once again Slipp did what he wanted instead of what he was instructed to do. The home rule petition sent to the Council last night says that anyone without a photo ID will be allowed to vote but that such a voter can be challenged.

What's worse, is that the council didn't pick up on the new language and when the co chairman of the committee tried to bring it to their attention before the vote, Councilors refused to suspend the rules (done routinely on other issues) preventing him from correcting the mistake.

As a result, with no discussion whatsoever, and over my objection from the audience, Gosselin made the motion to approve the language as submitted and the rest of the council went along.

Mayor Michael Sullivan reached at home last night said that the home rule petition passed by the council was exactly what he didn't want when he formed the Voter ID committee a year ago.

"What good is it if people can vote without an ID what's the point? We can challenge voters now this is not what I was looking for."

Sullivan said that if the language cannot be changed before it goes to the State House for ratification he would instruct poll workers (who must be Lawrence residents) to challenge all voters who do not have a photo ID when trying to cast a ballot.

The mayor must approve the home rule petition before it is sent to the House of Representatives.

A meeting of the voter ID committee will be called for next week to address the issue.