Ind. Nuns Don't Have a Prayer at Polls

South Bend sisters run afoul of strict voter-ID laws

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted May 7, 2008 5:59 AM CDT

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Ind. Nuns Don't Have a Prayer at Polls — Sister McGuire, a polling inspector, had to turn away about a dozen of her fellow nuns when they showed up without proper identification to vote at Saint Mary's Convent in South Bend. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond)

A dozen nuns who lacked proper photo ID were turned away from an Indiana voting booth yesterday—by a fellow nun. None of the nuns, all over 80, had a driver's license because they don't drive, and some presented outdated passports, the AP reports. Their convent has launched a major push to arrange for proper ID in time for November's election.

Indiana's secretary of state was unapologetic. "From all accounts that we've heard, the sisters were aware of the photo ID requirements and chose not to follow them," he said. They weren't the only ones having trouble with Indiana's controversial voter ID law, the toughest in the land. People across the state called a hotline to complain. (More Indiana stories.)

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