MizzBee

My state has a strict voter ID law and is also one of the states that decided to completly comply with the Real ID laws that passed after 9/11 (most states have delayed or opted out because of the bureacratic nightmare).
I had to go through a huge hassle when I moved back to IN from CA. My CA DL listed my first name, middle name and last name. My SS card had first name, middle name and last name. When I couldn't find my birth certificate I ordered another one from my state and the middle name was missing...gone. Now, I know it was once on there, otherwise it wouldn't have been on my SS card. As a result of this, IN would not issue me a DL. The name had to match exactly on all documents. Nevermind that I had baptism records and a valid passport. Because of this discepancy, I had to pay for a legal name change to correct my birth certificate. I used this opportunity to switch first and middle names since I had to spend $250 fixing this. That same year, thousands of women were unable to renew their licenses because the computers had no proof of name changes based on marriage licenses. Even when SS cards were produced with the correct names people still had to bring in certified copies of marriage licenses.

Now I am not saying that everyone will have problems, but when you have a poor person who has moved often, has lost original documents or has come up with useless bureaucrats that can't find the forests through the trees, we forget that not all people in today's society can afford the time away from work or the hassle to get everything just so.

And voter registration is down in my state since this passed. Apparently, so is driving without a license...When we have the ability to link databases among states, verify SS# for all citizens and residents (not just taxpayers) then we will be able to see this as something other than a way to discriminate. In 10-15 years it will be easier. Even now these mistakes are being handled as more people uncover problems while e-filing tax returns. But we are not there yet.

LasMa

These laws are allegedly meant to prevent voter fraud -- where someone impersonates someone else, votes in the name of a dead person, etc. Can someone please show me a study which demonstrates that this is a widespread problem? The federal Department of Justice found a grand total of 86 cases over 4 years. That's pretty thin evidence when we're talking about raising a barrier to exercising a fundamental constitutional right.

sylvan8798

Personally, I think the technology is there or soon will be such that we can arrive at the voting booth, stick our hand in a machine, have our prints automatically verified, and then proceed to vote electronically. At some point most people will vote from their smart phone, home computer, or ipad. Some process of identification will be developed, like pressing your hand against the screen to register your prints. People without the means to do so will still be able to proceed in the old-fashioned manner. If we can think it up, it can be done.

scansmom

Voter fraud has little to do with the real reasons behind passing these laws; but, unfortunately you cannot have a serious discussion about this topic without bringing politics (a taboo subject on CC) or ALEC, into the discussion.

The good news: Last month, two judges struck down Wisc's (ALEC model) photo ID law as unconstitutional. One of the most prohibitive photo ID laws in the country. "[Defendants' argument that the fundamental right to vote must yield to legislative fiat turns our constitutional scheme of democratic government squarely on its head"

Second Judge Strikes Down WI's ALEC-Inspired Voter ID Law | Center for Media and Democracy

The fact that certain industries require photo IDs to control access to or use of certain products and privileges, many of which are regulated by law for public safety reasons, has absolutely no bearing on whether photo ID's should be required to exercise your constitutional right to vote. Apples and oranges. It's more than just a question of whether to require some form of photo ID but whether and how that requirement might serve to disenfrancise any members or groups of society.

I would also agree that as technology develops, the current issues surrounding photo ID's will no longer exist and there will be much better Big Brother methods available to monitor and control our every action, without even leaving home. But right now, given how easy identity theft is, the possiblity of voter fraud via the internet seems extremely great. If we can think it up, it WILL be done - when it comes to anything fraudulent or illegal.

ucbalumnus

When I was in college, I just registered to vote there. Since I lived in that city most of the time while in college, it made sense to vote there.

But then there was some other thread about some states trying to make it difficult for college students to vote locally, usually for obvious partisan reasons.

ucbalumnus

They could just register at their college address.

If the college is in a state that intentionally makes it difficult for students to register, then at least make sure that they know the absentee ballot procedure for their existing registration in case they are unable to register where they are living now.

Of course, votes for presidential electors are much more important in states considered to be swing states, as opposed to solid red/blue states.

Kajon

College query - the fact that you/our kids are starting early to understand the out of state voting regs for college students is great. It is the ones who wait until the last minute who usually run into difficulty.

I don't buy the "i don't have time or there are too many hoops to jump through excuses". Communities and church groups are willing to travel to the people, but somehow this isn't good enough. For those employed or on government assistance there must be social security cards. Can't we figure out a way to use those as step one? The government has my finger prints on file and it took all of 5 seconds to link my name to my prints (on a hand held device) Maybe they could just microchip us....

SteveMA

I can see requiring an ID to register to vote. I don't know how much fraud really goes on and if it really influences the outcome of elections though. In MN you can register to vote at the polling place, day of the election. It pretty much wipes out any excuses for not voting. I can see where an ID would be helpful in that situation.

NewHope33

IMHO it's easy to build a case either way. Here's the tiebreaker:

One-party rule.

zoosermom

This is what I believe and not only should it be provided, it should be provided conveniently. As I said in the other thread and which I stand by, there are so many aspects of our national life that involve presenting ID that anyone who doesn't have it is disenfranchised in countless unacceptable ways. I find that completely unacceptable. Getting ID isn't that difficult for healthy people where I am, but the organization with which I have volunteered for decades does arrange car pools for anyone who has mobility issues and asks for the assistance. I can imagine (although I don't know for sure) that it is much harder in rural areas or areas without adequate public transportation. That being the case, I would find it a proper use of governmental funds to have mobil units going to different places on an announced schedule. In my particular area, we don't have Metrocard machines (those are the cards for using the subway and buses), which is an enormous hardship for the elderly and poor in getting to medical appointments and conducting the business of life. The MTA provides mobil units to hospitals, senior centers, housing projects and transportation hubs on a pre-set schedule. It works very well.

zoosermom

I don't agree that it is thin evidence. 86 cases doesn't equate to 86 votes and we all know elections that have been swung on less and there are several important races that very likely were stolen over the decades.

But that's neither here nor there. I reject the notion that it is acceptable for any American citizen to be excluded from full participation in national life. If they need to be a little inconvenienced to receive the benefits and we as a society need to prioritize funding for this, it's all good.

NewHope33

Since voting requires judgment and cognitive function, I suggest that each voter present proof ... a certificate of some kind ... of having passed a recent psychological assessment.

07DAD

How about honorable discharge papers?

FutureWeatherman

Even if just 86 people "cheated", doesn't mean it's not an issue. Hell, the SAT rules got changed because of 14 students. To be able to vote, one should have some kind of photo ID. If the government can provide that for free, I'm ok with that.

Consolation

Yeah, just what we need. Another way to discourage people from voting.

After all, people are just breaking down the doors at polling places in record numbers, aren't they?

Of course, discouraging the "wrong" people from voting is the entire impetus behind this. It is one of those things that sounds reasonable on the surface, but the devil is in the details.