We are astounded by opposition being raised over a law thatwould require Mississippi voters to show identification at thepolls before casting ballots.

The bill, which passed the House 67-51 Thursday, would requirepeople to show any of 19 types of identification — anything from adriver’s license to a passport to a food stamp card — before theycan vote. If by some remote chance a voter doesn’t have an ID, hecould sign a sworn statement affirming his identity, and then casthis ballot. Nobody will be denied their constitutional right tovote.

Although the voter ID bill passed in the House, it is now likelyto go to a House-Senate conference committee for more negotiationslater this session. A compromise proposal is expected to make voterintimidation — one of the concerns being raised by the bill’sopponents — a criminal offense. We think that’s a good idea.

A voter identification law would put Mississippi in compliancewith a federal election law, and could bring the state $34 millionin federal funds. That money could be used to buy voting machinesand other election equipment. We think that’s a good idea, too.

Several black lawmakers said last week that requiring ID woulddiscourage minority voter turnout in a state that once requiredpoll taxes and literacy tests. We disagree with Rep. Chuck Espy,D-Clarksdale, who said some older voters would leave the pollsrather than vote if they’re asked for identification.

”Perception is sometimes reality,” Espy said. ”The perceptionof this in the African-American community is that this is a slap inAfrican-American faces.”

To Rep. Espy we say, “Stop the race-baiting rhetoric.”

These days, ID is required for just about everything, and fromeverybody. Cashed a personal check lately? Bet you had to show anID. Sign up for cable television or any utility service; had toshow an ID, didn’t you? Been on a commercial airliner in the lastyear or so? Well, you won’t get on one without some type of photoidentification.

Voter identification has nothing to do with race. It haseverything to do with open and honest elections.