Supressing the vote

Who cares more about Democracy, the side that tries and keep votes from being cast, or the side that attempts to make sure your vote counts? Here's two stories to help you decide.

First, Michigan:

Michigan Democrats sued Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land on Tuesday, arguing that voters who show up at the wrong polling place Nov. 2 but are in the right city, village or township should be allowed to cast a provisional ballot.

The state party and the Bay City Democratic Party filed a federal lawsuit in Bay City against Land, a Republican and the state's highest-ranking election official. They say she has illegally refused to count provisional ballots of voters who accidentally go to the wrong place.

Second, New Mexico:

Legions of new voters who registered in voter drives this super-heated election season will not have to show IDs when they cast their ballots, the state Supreme Court ruled.

Siding with Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, the court in a 4-1 decision said only new voters who registered by mail will have to produce identification.

Voting for the Nov. 2 election begins next Tuesday, when New Mexicans can cast absentee ballots by mail or in county clerks' offices.

The court without comment rejected the arguments of Republicans who backed a far broader interpretation of a 2003 state voter-ID law.

You be the judge.