HoodaThunk?

The Supreme Court has upheld an Indiana law requiring people to show photo ID’s before being allowed to cast a vote in an election. In a 6-3 ruling, the Justices have backed the law as a valid protection against fraud:

The law “is amply justified by the valid interest in protecting ‘the integrity and reliability of the electoral process,’” Justice John Paul Stevens said in an opinion that was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Anthony Kennedy.

Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas also agreed with the outcome, but wrote separately.

Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter dissented.

Several states, including Virginia have such laws. Courts have upheld some of them (AZ, GA, MI) but have also struck down at least one (MO). This ruling removes the Constitutional argument from the debate and might permit other states which have been considering such a law to proceed with passage. We already know from experience that these laws do not, as some have claimed, present a barrier to the elderly or poor in exercising their votes. With this ruling, perhaps we can get on with determining the best way to secure the process now that the concept has been ruled permissible.