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Voter ID laws. Necessary or discrimination?

Posted at 6:39 PM, Aug 01, 2012
and last updated 2012-08-01 18:39:56-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - Are voter ID laws necessary or discriminating to voters? It's a question that raises a lot of debate in Virginia and states like Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania that have voter ID laws.

On Monday, CBS 6 hosted Virginia delegate Henry Marsh into the studio to hear his perspective on the recent passage of the Virginia voter ID law and how the Pennsylvania courts are considering overturning a similar law passed in that state.

The democrat told CBS 6 viewers the law was unnecessary and discriminates against poor or elderly voters who may have never been born in a hospital, or don't own a car and therefore have no need for a driver's license or state issued photo identification card.

On Wednesday, Charles Judd with the Virginia State Board of Elections joined Bill Fitzgerald on the set to counter the discussion. Judd said the law was necessary and that the board of elections needed a way to confirm voter identity.

Judd also provided viewers with a list of appropriate forms of identification that can be used at Virginia polling places to prove identity. They include a driver's license, a social security card, a utility bill, a concealed handgun permit and a state issued paycheck, to name a few.