Ready. Set. Voter ID!

Voters are getting prepared for the implementation of voter ID laws, thanks to the diligent efforts in states such as Wisconsin, Tennessee and South Carolina.

In Wisconsin, information about voter ID has taken to the airwaves.  The Associated Press notes that Wisconsin has instituted a “new website, print ads, billboards, brochures, a toll-free hotline [866-vote-wis], and television and radio spots.” A representative of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board described the ads’ effectiveness by noting that, "The ad campaign uses real Wisconsin people urging their fellow Wisconsinites to remember to bring their IDs with them to vote.”  Governor Scott Walker has long been a defender of voter ID for Wisconsin, proposing it over ten years ago and then holding a soft spot for it when he signed the law, commenting, “This one's obviously special.”

But Wisconsin is not the only one doing good things with voter ID laws.  In Tennessee, 9,492 photo voter IDs were issued from July 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.   Maybe there’s a reason it’s called the Volunteer State; there’s a lot of volunteering to help citizens get IDs. The reason for this number of IDs issued probably is due to the efforts of the state government which has instituted Saturday business hours for driver license centers and the assistance of county clerks.  In September, Governor Bill Haslam addressed special efforts to prepare for the implementation of the voter ID law in his state; these efforts included creating “express service” lines at DMVs, arranging for IDs to be provided by counties who do not have DMVs and sending direct mail to inform elderly voters of the law’s exception for them.

Then there’s South Carolina where Governor Nikki Haley said in an interview: “Find me those people who think that [voter ID] is invading their rights — find — and I will go take them to the DMV myself and help them get that picture ID.”  This was not just talk.  This governor took that promise and acted.  She turned Wednesday, September 28, 2011 into State Identification Card Day where voters received transportation to the DMV to get their free ID.  The head of the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles said, “South Carolina Identification Card Day has given us a great opportunity to do more for the citizens of this state. Whether we help five or 50 citizens, it's the right thing to do.”

Voter ID is the right thing to do, because states like Wisconsin, Tennessee and South Carolina are helping more than just five, 50 or even 9,492 people get IDs.  These states are advancing openness, fairness and honesty in elections.  That’s something that’s good for all of us.