Thursday, October 27, 2005
Indy Star article fails to mention Georgia ruling.
ID law adds BMV hours
Associated Press
FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Elections in three small towns next month will force all of the state's full-service license branches to be open on a Monday when they would normally be closed.
The new state law that took effect in July requiring voters to bring a state-issued photo ID to the polls also requires all full-service license branches to be open until 8 p.m. the day before an election and to open early on Election Day.
Three small communities are holding elections on Nov. 8 -- Cambridge City in Wayne County, Montezuma in Parke County and Winfield in Lake County. Only about 3,000 registered voters live in those three towns, said A.J. Feeney-Ruiz, a spokesman for the Indiana secretary of state's office.
Bureau of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Joel Silverman said the extra hours were necessary to ensure compliance with the law, which says the branches are to be open "solely for the purpose of issuing driver's licenses and state identification cards."
Agency officials have said the BMV has 137 branches across the state that would have to be open on election days and previous Mondays under the voter ID law.
BMV spokesman Greg Cook said the first priority on Nov. 7 will be driver's licenses and IDs but if a customer needs to conduct another transaction, the staff will work to accommodate the request.
This November's election is the first test of Indiana's new voter ID law. The Indiana Civil Liberties Union is challenging its constitutionality.
ID law adds BMV hours
Associated Press
FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Elections in three small towns next month will force all of the state's full-service license branches to be open on a Monday when they would normally be closed.
The new state law that took effect in July requiring voters to bring a state-issued photo ID to the polls also requires all full-service license branches to be open until 8 p.m. the day before an election and to open early on Election Day.
Three small communities are holding elections on Nov. 8 -- Cambridge City in Wayne County, Montezuma in Parke County and Winfield in Lake County. Only about 3,000 registered voters live in those three towns, said A.J. Feeney-Ruiz, a spokesman for the Indiana secretary of state's office.
Bureau of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Joel Silverman said the extra hours were necessary to ensure compliance with the law, which says the branches are to be open "solely for the purpose of issuing driver's licenses and state identification cards."
Agency officials have said the BMV has 137 branches across the state that would have to be open on election days and previous Mondays under the voter ID law.
BMV spokesman Greg Cook said the first priority on Nov. 7 will be driver's licenses and IDs but if a customer needs to conduct another transaction, the staff will work to accommodate the request.
This November's election is the first test of Indiana's new voter ID law. The Indiana Civil Liberties Union is challenging its constitutionality.
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