A while back, I mentioned Sen. George Runner's idiotic VoteSAFE initiative. It is pretty much an effort to disqualify some pretty Democratic-leaning constituencies from voting. Basically, it is a law to require photo ID and disqualifies voters with a felony conviction, even after they have completed parole. Here's how Jerry Brown titled the previous draft Runner submitted:

Limits On Voting. Initiative Statute.

Summary Date: 04/09/09 Failed: 09/21/09

Proponent: George Runner c/o Elizabeth Hansel (916) 648-1222

Prohibits citizens from voting at the polls unless they present a government-issued photo-identification card. Establishes provisional voting for citizens at the polls who fail to present government-issued photo-identification. Requires that provisional ballots and mail-in ballots be deemed invalid unless the accompanying envelope is marked with the last four digits of a citizen’s California driver’s license, state identification card or social security number. Eliminates the right to vote for citizens on probation for a felony offense. Establishes that ballots from absent military personnel are timely if postmarked by election day. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Some increased government costs associated with voting in elections. These costs probably would not be significant. (09-0005.) (Full Text – PDF)

 See, all of this is designed to make voting harder, at precisely the time when we should be making voter easier. We should be providing new ways for voters to register, and breaking down barriers. We should be allowing same-day registration so that there aren't any artificial barriers to entry based upon some silly arbitrary deadlines.

But that's not the way George Runner would like to see it. So, he's gone and sued Jerry Brown for telling it like it is. Surely, Runner would prefer some incendiary anti-immigrant language, but the description is completely valid and describes the initiaitve to a tee.  This kind of litigation happens frequently, and usually it gets tossed pretty quickly. The AG has substantial latitude on how to write these. This case will also get tossed pretty quickly.