voter suppression laws--via the GOP

No. Not all poor people, especially minorities have PHOTO ID. If they did then obviously this would be a non issue.

 

Many don't drive and will have to pay to get a non-driving ID at DMV. They won't because they won't have the funds to do it just to vote.

Here is a story on it:

http://blogs.denverpost.com/opinion...ontroversy-impediment-security-measure/19103/

Here is how we described it in that 2011 editorial:

Here’s a for-instance: If states are going to require that voters have state-issued photo IDs, they had better make sure they have enough government offices, hours and staff — particularly in poorer areas where transportation options are limited — to ensure getting an ID is a reasonable task. For those who can’t afford the fee, the ID should be provided free.

States should have ways of voting provisionally that allow people to prove who they are with alternative documents. We also think they should allow voters to use other photo IDs deemed reasonably secure, such as those issued by in-state universities or the military.

These are the sorts of details, we think, that make the difference.

 

Here in Washington State you can choose to vote by mail if for some reason you are unable to make it to your local polling place. No ID needed to do this because as I stated in an earlier post, if you are not on a voters registration list and if you opt to vote this way you can't get a ballot. Lot of older people and rural residence use this vote by mail option here.

 

My county doesn't have voting stations. It is 100% mail in. It's awesome. No reason not to vote.

 

Ok, thanks RA and Jordan.....

I just looked up the law....it is free if they are poor...and one can provisionally vote if you have zero documents....

Also I read in same story the ACLU were going to appeal the decision, except their lead plaintiff who they filed on behalf of...got her ID in a day.

Also, how do the poor get any form of Government Assistance such as food stamps to eat, housing to live in, and money to live on....without a picture ID? You HAVE to have one to get any of those.

 

Obviously no mass voter fraud up your way.

 

I guess it depends on which state you live in. Clearly it doesn't apply in every state because again it wouldn't be an issue in some instances as it seems to be.

 

Ok, so I looked it up just now and because it's Federal Aid, the States must follow their rules when it comes to food stamps. Everyone has to have ID. If you don't have a pic ID, you have to prove who you are via a wage-stub or birth certificate, voter ID card, or have a "shelter manager" verify who you are if you are homeless.

Bottom line, it says you have to prove you are you.

You also need a utility bill in your name at the address, and SS#. Wow, lots of proof stuff.

 

And even though there are people who do commit government fraud, clearly you have to jump through hoops in order to get benefits or assistance. Just my opinion but if you don't have Photo ID and try to commit fraud in instances where it is required, you deserved to get caught and punished for being that much of an idiot for attempting it in the first place.

 

Absolutely agree.

 

"Vote early -- and often" Richard Daley

Keeding.

 

It's not theoretical if it actually happens. To say its statistically insignificant when we're electing the leader of our country is as ridiculous as saying to not check ID's for underage kids because the number of deaths is statiscally insignificant. Even one fraud or one death is too many!

Democrats have made this into a much bigger issue because they know that there people are a big part of their base. They know they aren't going to take the time to go to DMV and get an ID. If voting meant something to you, it's worth taking your ass to get an ID.

 

Again why is it only now that having an ID to vote has come to the forefront as something that is required in this election cycle, and not any other elections before? Why are you ignoring this and spinning this as some sort the Democrats just want to win scenario?

 

Agreed. These measures are increasing in prominence as non-whites increase as a share of the voting population. The last major use of such measures, Jim Crow, was also an effort at preventing black enfranchisement. There is never a correlation with any proven fraud.

 

Every election cycle you have to review and make changes to make them more effective and fair. It's just like the "chads" situation we had in Florida in the 2000 election. Now we don't use those anymore. Plus, each state runs their elections differently. My issue is that I don't see what the big deal is with showing your ID. If President Obama came out and said that there is a new federal mandate which says everyone must show ID, I would not have cared. I just don't understand why the Democrats would make such a big deal out of it unless they believed that these people weren't going to get ID's to go vote.

 

lmao so true.:smt042
Great post.

 

This is the worst excuse ever. If people don't take the time to get an ID to vote, then they don't deserve to vote...period. If you feel strongly about making your vote count then you would take 2 hours out of your day to get an ID. Republicans are not disenfranchising black people. Black people are disenfranchising themselves if they don't get one.

 

I think we underestimate how large a share of the population effectively lives outside of what we assume to be 'norms'. There are whole swaths of the population who live outside of these standard middle-class, working-class norms: people who work odd jobs to survive, the elderly, the illiterate, people in the cash economy (many of whom are not illegal immigrants) and others just eking out an existence.

 

*sigh*

How tall are you.. Exactly?

Because sometimes when people are short things go over their head. I think this tends to happen to you because you seem to miss all the finer points about what ID laws mean over all to the whole entire election.

Some people CAN'T take two hours of time out of their life to get an ID.

And ID laws effect mostly those who WOULDN'T vote rebuplican across the board.

Which is why rebuplicans eat that shit up.

 

*sigh*

So what you're telling me is that people CAN'T take two hours of their life to get an ID? You're right they have only had 4 years since the last election to go to DMV. Hell, even from today, they still have two months to get an ID. lol! You are hilarious!!

ID laws affect those who are lazy...Democrat or Republican.

Funny how 4 years ago this wasn't an issue when Obama was elected, but now it's an issue when he realizes he might lose this time around.