How Many Pieces of ID Will We Need

New Hampshire's congressmen were two of just three Republicans who voted against a bill that would require voters to show a photo ID at polling stations.

While Democrats feared the bill would disenfranchise the poor, disabled, or elderly who may not have a photo ID, Congressman Charles Bass' reason for opposing the bill was quite different.

"Voting should be a state's rights issue. We have a good system in New Hampshire. If there are problems in Florida or Ohio, leave them to Florida and Ohio to resolve."

Both Congressmen say New Hampshire's voting system is just not amenable to requiring photo IDs. New Hampshire has same day registration, it does not have a motor voter law, and it has a constitutional requirement to seat the legislture by a certain date. These features could be in jeopardy, if say, ballots had to be thrown out due to questionable photo IDS.

But Both New Hampshire Congressmen last year supported the Real ID act which would create new requirements for drivers' licenses and state ID cards. Congressman Jeb Bradley says that while voting should be left to the states - national security must be handled by the feds.

"The 9/11 commission wrote that travel documents are just as important to terrorists, as weapons. Of the 19 highjackers on 9/11, there were 60 state IDs among them"

The real ID act is to go into effect in May of 2008. Already, state officials are calling foul. They say they just can't get the required technology, the increase in staff, etc, by the deadline. They also say that the program will cost eleven billion dollars - not a penny of which has been appropriated yet.

And while most people view a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles on a par with root canal - critics of Real ID say it will only get worse under the new requirements.

A new study says wait times could at least double. And if the Voter ID bill passes the Senate too, there will be even more people seeking IDS.

Tom Wolfeson from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrations says its a looming disaster.

"what we're doing here is setting up a scenario where the wheels are going to stop turning and the demand is going to be more than the capacity that exists to meet it"

Oh, and if you're a New Hampshire resident who makes frequent trips to Canada, you may find yourself with another card in your wallet.
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Members of Congress from border states want frequest travelers to have the option of buying a 25 dollar passcard, instead of having to show a passport at the border.

All of these ID initiatives have civil liberties groups worried that soon, everyone will have to carry one uniform national ID card.

But second district Republican Charles Bass says - don't bet on it.

"That's like throwing out mother and apple pie into the trash at the same time. We do not carry identity papers in the United States. When we think about that we think about nazi Germany and unpleasant things. In America, you are free to be anonymous, as long as you don't break the law."

Republicans and Democrats alike in WAshington are concerned about the political ramifications of a single national ID card. But state officials are more preoccupied with the practical ramifications of trying to produce a multitude of different IDS