Published: May 03, 2008 09:36 am         

Other View: Voter ID ruling unnecessary

In a regrettable decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that states can require voters to show a photo ID at the polls.

But just because a law is constitutional doesn't make it fair or necessary. Indiana's statute, on which the court ruled, is neither. It could lead to the disqualification of hundreds of voters. ...

Those who drive or fly commercially may assume everyone has a photo license or passport. But many low-income, elderly or teenage citizens don't. ...

In California, voters swear, by signing in at the polls, that they're who they say they are. If there's an allegation of false identification, the county clerk could compare the signature at the polls with the voter's registration card on file. But there have been no significant complaints or evidence of fraud.

San Jose Mercury News