Richard Ford at the Durham Republican Party web site has some wise words about the effort to put some ballot security in the voter-registration and voting system. He points out something that the media, the NAACP, the Left, and the state’s Democratic officeholders don’t know: That bi-partisan panels have long advocated voter ID laws.

He points to this passage in the 2005 report of the Federal Election Reform Commission (scroll to Sec. 2.5), which was co-chaired by former Democratic President Jimmy Carter and Former Secretary of State James Baker, a Republican:

There is no evidence of extensive fraud in U.S. elections or of multiple voting, but both occur, and it could affect the outcome of a close election.19 The electoral system cannot inspire public confidence if no safeguards exist to deter or detect fraud or to confirm the identity of voters. Photo IDs currently are needed to board a plane, enter federal buildings, and cash a check. Voting is equally important.

Ford says the vitriolic attacks by Democrats and the left on anyone presuming to suggest that voter ID laws would make for a better electoral system are being hurled in total disconnection with facts on the ground:

The ad hominem and partisan attacks accusing voter id proponents of evil intent overlook the entire history of how and by whom these laws were proposed and that a photo id requirement has been endorsed by our highest court.

Opponents should also consider the views of former Atlanta Mayor and UN Ambassador Andrew Young who testified in favor of voter photo id. He saw clear advantages to the requirement of a free photo id “as a way to empower minorities, who are often charged exorbitant fees for cashing checks because they lack proper identification.”

President Carter said it well: “… support voter ID laws that make it easy to vote but tough to cheat.”

UPDATE: This was edited after posting to correct the name of the author of “Let’s Be Civil About Voter Photo ID.”