To show an Photo ID when Voting

Why is it that this is now in the news? FL where I live, you must show a state issued ID to vote. It is not racially based, it is to keep people honest. It has nothing to do with anyone's political views! It is to make sure that you are who you say you are. Why is our justice dept giving so many states a hassle to show a form of photo id to vote. Why does it work in one state and then the FEDS say, you cant do that in your state? The same law that many states already have!


From MSNBC online:

"Enacted but blocked
South Carolina: Last December, the Justice Department denied approval of the state’s voter ID law requiring voters to present photo identification that Gov. Nikki Haley had signed in May. Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, South Carolina is one of nine states that must seek approval, or “pre-clearance,” from the Justice Department or a federal court in Washington, D.C., in order to make any change in voting procedure.

State Attorney General Alan Wilson brought suit in federal court, arguing that the requirements “are at most a temporary inconvenience” to some voters. The state contended that its law was nearly identical to one enacted by Indiana and upheld by the Supreme Court in 2008. Therefore barring South Carolina from doing what Indiana had done would “raise serious constitutional concerns” about whether Section 5 “violates South Carolina’s right to equal sovereignty.”

In a separate but related case with big implications for voter ID laws, Shelby County, Ala., is fighting in the federal appeals court in Washington to have Section 5 of VRA struck down as unconstitutional. The appeals court heard oral arguments on Jan. 19 and a ruling is likely in the next several weeks. The Shelby County case will likely end up before the Supreme Court and if the justices were to strike down Section 5, the Justice Department would no longer be able to pre-emptively block changes in voting laws. The department would still be able to use another Section of the VRA to challenge voting laws that have a racially discriminatory impact.

Wisconsin: On Tuesday Wisconsin conducted its first elections under the voter ID law that Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed last year. Wisconsin is not covered by Section 5 of the VRA but challenges have already been launched. On Thursday civil rights groups and a labor union coalition filed a suit against the law arguing that it discriminates against black and Latino voters. The American Civil Liberties Union has also filed a suit seeking to block enforcement of the law. One argument ACLU makes is that the cost of obtaining a copy of a birth certificate ($20 in Wisconsin, more in other states) in order to get a state ID card would be “a severe financial burden” for some people, a burden that violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."

How do these laws have anything to do with RACE? If you are white, black, yellow, green, pink or blue. You should still have to show who you are to vote!

Couldn't agree with you more, you have to show an id to do just about anything in this country today so I dont understand why this is a problem either.

OK, I'll ask you a question.

Why is it that the republican primaries so far haven't required a Photo ID?

In some states with large populations living in cities, as many as 50% of minorities don't have a photo ID.
What is a photo ID?
republicans say that a student ID isn't good enough.
A recent Georgia law demands that voters show one of a limited number of forms of government-issued photo ID. The 2005 Commission on Federal Electoral Reform, known as the Carter-Baker Commission, went even further, recommending that states require a voter to present an enhanced driver’s license known as “Real ID” or a specific state-issued equivalent. If followed, this recommendation would prevent eligible citizens from voting if they appeared even with a valid U.S. passport or U.S. military photo ID.
http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/poli...

Simplified, it smacks of the old Jim Crow laws.
Blacks were denied the right to vote by grandfather clauses (laws that restricted the right to vote to people whose ancestors had voted before the Civil War), poll taxes (fees charged to poor Blacks), white primaries (only Democrats could vote, only Whites could be Democrats), and literacy tests ("Name all the Vice Presidents and Supreme Court Justices throughout America's history"). Plessy sent this message to southern and border states: Discrimination against Blacks is acceptable.
http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/what.htm
I grew up during this time, I witnessed it firsthand, and it has left a bad taste in my mouth that gags me still today

Since when is it required of a voter that they have to buy something to vote?
If you live in a low population state, you might have to drive over 100 miles to apply for a State recognized ID.

When you vote, you have to sign the registar, and your signatures should be compared at that time.
Anyone can challenge a voter, at which point the voter would us a provisional ballot until the challenge is completed.

If we are to issue voter photo ID's, there should be a way for people already on the voter lists to be contacted in person to assist them in getting the ID at no cost to them.

I don't know if a photo ID is the answer but some proof of id is necessary to stop the 1.8 million dead people from voting again.

What a crock. In today's day and age that is nothing more than a lame excuse to try and pressure folks into turning their head and looking the other way by infering racism and prejudice. You have to have ID to buy a car, open a bank account, buy booze, you name it. But to show who you are to vote becomes a major issue. Now, I would support free ID supplied by the State if it is a requirement but hey, no photo ID, no vote. I love it when the vast majority are perfectly capable of complying but would rather cry racism than do something as simple as acquire an ID. The elderly or disabled should be assisted in any way possible but if you are in good physical health just go get an ID.

Oh for God sakes. It's always the Jim Crow defence. GO GET A VALID ID! It's not that hard. Just go into any former ACORN office. They have plenty of them.

Mayberry

There are serious penalties for committing voter ID fraud.
Usually around $1,000 and at least one year in jail.
Do you really think that there are 1.8 million people willing to go to jail to vote?
Republicans can't even get 5% of their registered voters to participate in the primaries.

I will go out on a limb and say that there may be 1.8 million dead voters still on the lists.
There isn't any system set up that requires anyone to notify the board of elections that a voter died.
Usually, after 4 consecutive years of not voting they are taken off the list.

Check this out;
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Dead_people_...

Now watch a republican commit voter fraud;

[quote=4360]
OK, I'll ask you a question.

Why is it that the republican primaries so far haven't required a Photo ID?

In some states with large populations living in cities, as many as 50% of minorities don't have a photo ID."


So, I guess when I voted a few weeks ago and I HAD to show who I was by giving my ID it must not have been for the republican primariy? It must have been for some other type of election?

BTW I could give a rats A$$ who the F you are, again, it does not matter what color anybody is. EVERYONE should have to show ID to vote. Race is not a mater of the issue. Price is not a matter of the issue. It is about voter fraud! I can take my deaad grandfather's id and go and say I am him, I cast a vote and then go and vote for my self with my id. Is that legal?

You have to show id to purchase any type of none otc cold drugs. You show id to do almost anything any more but voting doesn't matter I guess? The state of FL doesnt have enough low income people? And we require an ID to vote!

If you could get a valid voter ID at your local post office for free, I could support that.
Nobody should have to pay to vote.

There are about 10% nationwide who don't have any acceptable ID.
For Georgia to not accept a passport is simply

There might be 1.8 million dead people that have not been purged from voter registration rolls yet, but that doesn't mean they voted. ACORN can register all the fake Mickey Mouses they want, that doesn't mean votes are cast. So far I have not seen any story anywhere where voter fraud even exists let alone has effected an election. After all, somebody would have to actually show up claiming to be the dead person or Mickey Mouse, sign and then vote. Has anybody seen Mickey Mouse or a dead person vote? Has anybody or organization reviewed votes and found dead people's names on polling station records? The answer is no. SO, and maybe I'm just too much of a skeptic, but I don't understand why some (mostly republican) politicians are trying so hard to solve a problem that doesn't exist. I'm sorry that's not true. I know damn well what they're trying to do, win the next election by any means. If you can't increase your base then try and decrease your opponents.

Do the Amish have a drivers license.
No.
Do they like having their picture taken? (Religious right, correct?)
NO again.

Do you, Clif, think you should have to pay to vote?

Just one example to show you that you don't have all the answers. (I don't either)

As Shawn would say "that's the Trueth".

I did some quick research and found that voter fraud is done by both parties but it's usually done behind closed doors, not by people coming in to vote fraudulently.
When the Department of Justice under President Bush launched a crackdown on fraud in 2002, five years later it only had 86 convictions to show for the effort. That's .00007 percent of the 122 million people [pdf] who voted for president in the 2004 elections.

Its simply an attempt at voter suppression.

You should have a picture ID to vote period. No ID, no vote. The ID should be supplied by the State. I believe Tennessee supplies the new ID as required. The Amish are no different and they skirt the Drivers license requirement by driving tractors and pulling their family behind it in a wagon. If they are going to vote they should have to provide ID. Period. I really can't understand what the big deal is. Honest. I vote, I show my ID, I buy a bottle of Jack I show my ID, I buy a motorcycle...same thing...so why in the world is it so difficult to do something that most don't give a second thought to? i can't think of one reason to not show a picture ID when you vote. When I was growing up my Dad used to talk about paying "poll taxes" and them days are gone. They aren't paying to vote, they are simply getting an ID card. I know I don't have all the answers, in fact I have very few but to assist in keeping voter fraud down this don't seem a very difficult requirement...honest.

We have to show ID or something with your name and address (to prove you live in the riding), power, phone or some other type of bill when we go to vote'
Regards

Here is a map of USA that shows which states require Voter Photo ID.
http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/electio...

You can click on an individual state and get the specifics.

My State of Ohio has these requirements.
Current and valid photo identification, defined as a document that shows the individual’s name and current address, includes a photograph, includes an expiration date that has not passed, and was issued by the U.S. government or the state of Ohio
OR
Current utility bill
Current bank statement
Current government check, paycheck or other government document
All of the above would have your name and address printed on them.

Then I have to sign the register, and the signatures have to match.

Now tell me, how many people are going to be able to fake the signatures?
I can't even fake my wife's signature.