A federal judge’s ruling on a voter identification law inGeorgia could improve chances of a similar election fraudprevention measure becoming a law in Mississippi.

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy rejected anappeal of the law, saying that plaintiffs were unable to findanyone harmed by the law. The judge went so far as to praiseGeorgia officials’ “exceptional” efforts to locate voters who maylack a valid form of voter ID.

The debate over Voter ID has become so well-worn that some ofthe arguments for or against it have become cliche.

Supporters say identification is needed to drive a vehicle orrent a movie, and they question why such an important privilege asvoting should be any different. Opponents ask for proof of allegedvoter fraud and contend that having to show identification will bea throwback to the dark days of poll taxes and other voterintimidation practices.

The ruling in the Georgia case speaks to some of the opponents’points.

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