Today On The Signorile Show

3:35pm ET - In 2011, the Republican Governor of Texas, James ‘Rick’ Perry signed one of the nation’s strictest voter ID laws, which requires voters to show one of seven types of photo identification. Concealed handgun licenses are allowed, but college student IDs are not, nor are driver’s licenses that have been expired for more than sixty days.  The law has since been the subject of an extensive legal battle, with a federal court finding it unconstitutional earlier this month,  but then the Supreme Court rejected an emergency request to put the law on hold for the upcoming election, to which Justice Ginsburg authored a blistering dissent, calling the law an "unconstitutional poll tax.” The ruling marked the first time in 32 years that the Supreme Court allowed a law restricting voting rights to be implemented after a federal court ruled it unconstitutional for targeting minorities.  Joining us today to talk about the law and discuss some of the stories concerning voter suppression coming out of the Lone Star State as a result of this law is Ryan Reilly of the Huffington Post. You can also follow Ryan on twitter.

4:35pm ET - While many Americans are focus on the thrills and chills of the big races in the midterm elections this coming Tuesday, voters will also have the opportunity to weigh in on a variety of state initiatives.   Around the nation 147 such initiatives will determine people’s rights, political power, and, of course, money.  The proposals deal with everything from legalizing marijuana and gambling to increasing minimum wages and tax rates.  Some have the potential to set new precedents, while others are more for window-dressing.  New York Times domestic correspondent Josh Barro recently did a roundup of these initiatives for The Upshot and joins us today in studio to explore the bottom of the ballot and what impact these proposals could have.  You can also follow Josh on twitter.


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