Silenced

Admittedly, the GOP doesn't have a strong set of candidates to choose from for the 2012 election. Many have said that none of the candidates will ultimately be able to beat Obama in the November election. To make up for the lack of suitable candidates, law makers in various states have taken other measures in order to level the playing field.
Virginia passed a new law this past week requiring that all people who come out to vote must present government-issued photo ID.  This effectively silences many minority groups voices and discourages the homeless and others living in poverty from coming out to vote. This subset of the American population typically votes for the Democratic candidate, and is part of the group that helped Obama take the '08 election. By passing this law, law makers are knowingly taking away citizens' basics rights. There reason for this is selfish: to give the GOP a fighting chance in Virginia.
Similarly, Florida has recently passed a new law that they claim will help solve the problem of voter fraud. Effectively, however, this law is preventing educators, community activists, and others working with the youth, the low income population, and non-English speakers, from signing people up to vote. The new law says that once someone has been signed up to vote, this registration form must be to the office of elections within 48 hours (the old time frame was up to two weeks). People who violate this rule are considered "frauds" and can be fined up to $1000. This law, not unlike Virginia's, is designed to prevent the youth and minority population in Florida from coming out to vote. Without this demographic's presence at the poles, the GOP will stand a better chance.
It's unfathomable to me that our policy makers would choose to silence people in this country. Voting is an American liberty, yet some of have decided to make this more challenging for some of our most vulnerable and impressionable citizens. At a time when people ought to be out teaching people about voting and politics and freedoms, there are people fighting to stay on top, and effectively holding others down while doing so. All American citizens have the right to self-expression; the right to vote gives individuals power. It is despicable that our elected officials would turn on American citizens and silence so many in order to get what they want.

--Megan