The Voter ID Tap Dance

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The incidence of actual voter fraud at the polls in America is indistinguishable from zero. Basically, it just doesn't happen. But that hasn't stopped conservative states from eagerly passing voter ID laws anyway, and Texas is in the vanguard. Oddly, though, they've decided there ought to be an exception in the new law they're considering:

In 2009, they were talking about requiring photo ID or two forms of non-photo ID; the 2011 bill does not have that non-photo ID option. It does, however, have an exemption from the photo ID requirement for those who are at least 70 years old at the start of 2012 and who have their voter-registration card when they go to vote.

Hmmm. Why make an exception for old people? The answer, obviously, is that lots of senior citizens don't have driver's licenses, and if they have to go to the trouble of getting a state ID card just to vote, they might decide not to bother. In other words, the photo ID requirement would create an artificial obstacle to voting among a group of perfectly law-abiding citizens.

It's good to see Texas Republicans tacitly admitting that. It's an excellent point, after all. There are other groups this applies to, though: students, poor people, and minorities, for example. But no exemption for them! I wonder why. What could possibly be the difference between senior citizens and these other groups? It's a poser, isn't it?¹

¹Kay Steiger provides the answer at the link, which is where I stole my snark from in the first place.

POSTSCRIPT: And just for the record, I've long supported a national voter ID card, aka a national identity card. See here and here for more.

http://motherjones.c...er-id-tap-dance

[^_^ 5,021]

For crying out loud, "artificial obstacle"??????

How about the requirement to register? Is that an "artificial obstacle" too?

Or the requirement to leave your house to go to a polling booth or the requirement to sign up for a mail in ballot or the requirement to fill in the mail in ballot which means a requirement to find a fuсking pen or #2 pencil? Or how about the requirement to (gasp) pay attention to the debate and inform yourself of your choices? Are those "artificial obstacles" too?

If you can do that... you can apply for a freakin' state ID.

And just so it's not a "poll tax", they oughta make the state IDs free.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

People that are too stupid or lazy to vote on their own, shouldn't vote. The first would eliminate the most of the Republicans, the second would eliminate all but a few of the Democrats.

[The_Dude 1,142]

The incidence of actual voter fraud at the polls in America is indistinguishable from zero. Basically, it just doesn't happen. But that hasn't stopped conservative states from eagerly passing voter ID laws anyway, and Texas is in the vanguard. Oddly, though, they've decided there ought to be an exception in the new law they're considering:

I thought that it was the neocons who were obsessed with voter fraud.

POSTSCRIPT: And just for the record, I've long supported a national voter ID card, aka a national

Of course you would.

[mawilson 2,133]

POSTSCRIPT: And just for the record, I've long supported a national voter ID card, aka a national identity card.

No thanks

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

You yourself, right here, have heard from people who voted in a federal election despite not being a US citizen. I always though that this was a very unfortunate mistake, but after having filled out a registration to vote myself lately, I don't believe this any longer. Clearly in red, visible for blind people and brain amputees, is the requirement to mark that one is a US citizen and over the age of 18. A warning adjacent to it states: if you cannot mark "YES" on both boxes, you are not allowed to vote.

But it happens. How often I don't know. People vote, Green Card holders vote, illegal immigrants vote. Thus, we need an ID to proof US citizenship when going to the polls and--what do you know-- we have one already. It's called the US passport card and it costs $25. So there's no need to spend billions on a new national ID, just require either a passport book or passport card in order to vote. Simple, effective, problem solved.

[^_^ 5,021]

But it happens. How often I don't know. People vote, Green Card holders vote, illegal immigrants vote. Thus, we need an ID to proof US citizenship when going to the polls and--what do you know-- we have one already. It's called the US passport card and it costs $25. So there's no need to spend billions on a new national ID, just require either a passport book or passport card in order to vote. Simple, effective, problem solved.

The far left would never stand for it.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The far left would never stand for it.

Or, the Libertarian Wing on the Right.

ETA: They do want a tamper proof ID card for illegal aliens, but I don't know how that would work if everybody else is not required to carry ID.

Edited January 26, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[mawilson 2,133]

The far left would never stand for it.

Indeed. The US passport card costs $55, not $25 - which is apparently more money than some Democrat voters could afford.

[^_^ 5,021]

Or, the Libertarian Wing on the Right.

ETA: They do want a tamper proof ID card for illegal aliens, but I don't know how that would work if everybody else is not required to carry ID.

No one ever libertarians are smart.

The US passport card costs $55, not $25 - which is apparently more money than some Democrat voters could afford.

There is concern over whether that fee would amount to a poll tax. Fair enough, make the card free at the point of delivery (that is, fund it with taxes).

[slim 1,514]

or two forms of non-photo ID

students, poor people, and minorities, for example. But no exemption for them!

Two forms of non-photo ID is an exemption for them. They'll all have their welfare card and social security card.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

You yourself, right here, have heard from people who voted in a federal election despite not being a US citizen. I always though that this was a very unfortunate mistake, but after having filled out a registration to vote myself lately, I don't believe this any longer. Clearly in red, visible for blind people and brain amputees, is the requirement to mark that one is a US citizen and over the age of 18. A warning adjacent to it states: if you cannot mark "YES" on both boxes, you are not allowed to vote.

But it happens. How often I don't know. People vote, Green Card holders vote, illegal immigrants vote. Thus, we need an ID to proof US citizenship when going to the polls and--what do you know-- we have one already. It's called the US passport card and it costs $25. So there's no need to spend billions on a new national ID, just require either a passport book or passport card in order to vote. Simple, effective, problem solved.

When I took my wife in to get her DL the lady asked her if she wanted to register to vote. I thought this was a little strange since one of her forms of ID was her green card!!! I told the lady that she wasn't able to vote yet and her reaction was, well ok, if you don't want to then. My wife could have filled out the card right there without any questions. I wonder how many LPR holders did take her up on the offer?

[^_^ 5,021]

When I took my wife in to get her DL the lady asked her if she wanted to register to vote. I thought this was a little strange since one of her forms of ID was her green card!!! I told the lady that she wasn't able to vote yet and her reaction was, well ok, if you don't want to then. My wife could have filled out the card right there without any questions. I wonder how many LPR holders did take her up on the offer?

Lots of people who live outside of our little immigration bubble believe anyone marrying an American automatically becomes a citizen and anyone without a green card is an illegal immigrant. Regular people are pathetically uninformed.

[slim 1,514]

Lots of people who live outside of our little immigration bubble believe anyone marrying an American automatically becomes a citizen and anyone without a green card is an illegal immigrant. Regular people are pathetically uninformed.

Whether they're informed or not, it's standard policy at many places. Need a DL? Here, register to vote. Want food stamps? Here, register to vote.

The government tends to go out of it's way to encourage more folks to get involved in it's continuity.

[mawilson 2,133]

There is concern over whether that fee would amount to a poll tax. Fair enough, make the card free at the point of delivery (that is, fund it with taxes).

What's wrong with a poll tax? We have a tax for every other damn thing.