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The War over Voter ID Heats Up
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The War over Voter ID Heats Up

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Republicans in states all over the country are requiring voters to show photo ID. Are such restrictions designed to combat voter fraud or keep some Democrats away from the polls? Also, a gunman targets Jewish school in Toulouse, France, and Apple decides to share a cash hoard close to $100 billion.

Banner image: Reid McHenry registers to vote in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images

Making News

Gunman Targets Jewish School in Toulouse, France ()

Candidates for the presidency of France have suspended their campaigns in the aftermath of killings that might be related. Three French soldiers have been gunned down in the past ten days, and today a French Israeli was shot along with three children. Steven Erlanger is Paris Bureau Chief for the New York Times.

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Main Topic

Republicans, Democrats and Voter ID ()

In 16 states, Repubican-dominated legislatures have tightened access to the polls. Pennsylvania's become the ninth state to require voters to provide photo identification, and Virginia — another swing state — could be next. Republicans say they're trying to combat rampant fraud in the electoral process. But Democrats and the Obama Justice Department say there's little evidence of a problem. They insist that new voter ID laws are designed to make it harder for Democrats to cast their ballots, including minorities and especially Hispanics. We look at an issue as old as democracy. Could it be decisive in this year's presidential election?

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Reporter's Notebook

Apple to Use Cash Stockpile for Dividends, Stock Buybacks ()

The late Steve Jobs insisted that paying dividends would not increase company value for shareholders, but Apple's accumulated almost $100 billion in cash. During the eight years the co-founder was not with the company, Apple paid dividends, but when Jobs returned in 1995, the practice was discontinued. His successor, Tim Cook, says things are about to change. After stock hit $600 a share last week, Apple's going to distribute some of that $100 billion in cash. Dan Gallagher is technology editor at MarketWatch.

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