Details unclear on voter ID rules

The Clarion-Ledger, 10/29/8

Some first-time voters in Mississippi may be asked to show identification at the polls next week, while others may not.

But a federal law that doesn’t address third-party voter registration, combined with conflicting information from Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann’s office, makes it unclear which voters will need to show IDs.

The confusion adds another layer to an election marked by expected record turnout, new voting precincts and newly split precincts. Long lines at the polls are apt to grow longer if sizable numbers of newly registered voters have to vote by affidavit ballot. The situation also could provide ammunition for proponents of voter IDs.