Why does requiring people to have valid identification in order to vote have to turn into something racial? Am I missing something here? The way Georgia has had their voting set up is silly, IMO. All you have to do is show a social security card, or bills with a name on them, and you can vote. That doesnt seem very secure to me. Any thoughts?



Democrats Balk (http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/08/26/georgia.voters.ap/index.html)

who knows? i'm not up to date on why it turned racial. but an i.d. does make sense. a S.S card and bills? that would be easy for anyone to steal and re-create someone out of someone.

"see? i have a voters registration card. my county and state recognizes me. can i have a credit card now?"

Originally posted by HaVoK
Why does requiring people to have valid identification in order to vote have to turn into something racial? Am I missing something here? The way Georgia has had their voting set up is silly, IMO. All you have to do is show a social security card, or bills with a name on them, and you can vote. That doesnt seem very secure to me. Any thoughts?



Democrats Balk (http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/08/26/georgia.voters.ap/index.html)

I think that, rightly or wrongly, some people see this effort to require ID at the polling places as a way to discourage some people from voting.

Up until 1964 the favorite method for doing this was the poll tax. This was a way to make it difficult, if not impossible, for some poor people to vote...especially in the South.

I think the ID requirement is viewed in a similar light. There are some people who wouldn't apply for such a card because they distrust the government. It may be something as simple as having some outstanding parking tickets. The poor may not be able to apply for such ID simply because they don't have as easy access to transportation.

Strictly from a historical perspective, any measure to make it even slightly more difficult to vote will be regarded with suspicion by some.

i think what vile is saying makes a lot of sense. but i also agree with what havok is saying, sans the motive, because we will never know if its just another trick or not, it just makes sense !we just have to tighten some things up here. i think our lax way of life will catch up with us if we dont start being a little strict on things !

no ID=no voting for you

I do not want rigged elections with people running all over the place voting dozens of times, I do not want non-citizens voting, I do not want parents getting their kids to vote, etc etc etc.

Originally posted by Evakian
no ID=no voting for you
What about people who do not have any ID? They should be at least allowed to sign an affadavit stating that they are who they say they are, with some form of proof that they are this person (utility bill, etc.)

The kind of people that don't have any form of proper ID are not the kind of people who should be voting ;)

Originally posted by Evakian
The kind of people that don't have any form of proper ID are not the kind of people who should be voting ;)
Oh? So you get to decide which citizens cannot vote now? Hate to break it to you, but...

1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Oh no, i will not stop them, go and do as you please, but we need proof you are a citizen in order to vote.

Originally posted by Evakian
Oh no, i will not stop them, go and do as you please, but we need proof you are a citizen in order to vote.
Affadavit.

Originally posted by BorgHunter
What about people who do not have any ID? They should be at least allowed to sign an affadavit stating that they are who they say they are, with some form of proof that they are this person (utility bill, etc.) DMV also gives out non driving related picture identification, I believe. Go get your ID, then vote. How hard is that?

Originally posted by HaVoK
DMV also gives out non driving related picture identification, I believe. Go get your ID, then vote. How hard is that?
I agree; it's not a good idea to run around without ID. However, asking for ID does create a prerequisite for voting which is against everything a republic should stand for. There should be only three prerequisites: You're 18, an American citizen, and haven't committed a felony. Anything else, such as requiring a state-issued ID, creates an unnecessary burden on the voter. What about incredibly paranoid people who think the government implants a chip in their ID to track them? They have as much a right to vote as anyone else.

Unless they have substantial proof they are citizens, they should not vote, otherwise the elections would be a joke. Simple as that.

Originally posted by Evakian
Unless they have substantial proof they are citizens, they should not vote, otherwise the elections would be a joke. Simple as that.
Again, affadavit. All people who sign affadavits have their background checked after the election, including citizenship status. Anyone who lied gets arrested or deported. Quite simple. I think few people would want to take the risk.

But is their vote discounted? ;)

Originally posted by BorgHunter
What about people who do not have any ID? They should be at least allowed to sign an affadavit stating that they are who they say they are, with some form of proof that they are this person (utility bill, etc.)

The day utility bills are laminated with photos they will be valid ID's.

If voting is so sacred and important that we are still railing about the 2000 election, why are we so casual about the ease of fraud.

I have to say I think a utility bill is not nearly enough; what stops someone from voting twice? I support a national ID card: very simple, very effective. Just about every other nation on the planet has one. Most of the opposition to this BTW comes from the Rightist ...

Most of the opposition to this BTW comes from the Rightist ...

I cannot believe that for one second, if you raise your fists and march around proclaiming the right wingers of America are facists, don't say they wouldn't support such a measure.

Originally posted by fluffernutter
I support a national ID card: very simple, very effective.
Also very abusable.

Originally posted by BorgHunter
I agree; it's not a good idea to run around without ID. However, asking for ID does create a prerequisite for voting which is against everything a republic should stand for. There should be only three prerequisites: You're 18, an American citizen, and haven't committed a felony. Anything else, such as requiring a state-issued ID, creates an unnecessary burden on the voter. What about incredibly paranoid people who think the government implants a chip in their ID to track them? They have as much a right to vote as anyone else.
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I do not believe even committing a felony should remove your right to vote.

It goes alongside with your punishment

Being a citizen, you have an obligation to follow the laws of the country. An apt analogy would be conditions of parole. You follow the rules, everything runs fine, you break the rules, you break the contract. After all, the government is merely a social contract between the people. (Hobbes, Locke)

On another point, these paranoid people might be onto something, just not as extreme as they say. Every form of ID you carry is just another checkpoint. You need to keep them current and valid, thus, you must periodically check in with the government. It's just a passive way of keeping tabs on people, and the government doesnt have to do anything but laminate sheets of paper.

Originally posted by Dan Fussell
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I do not believe even committing a felony should remove your right to vote.

In many states it doesn't.

Nor does being dead. :D