Here's your answer, Mark--it's all bullcrap, this whining about civil liberties and voter suppression. Anyone who cares about voting should be responsible enough to have a photo ID.

I have my retired military ID and driver's license, and I would gladly present them as identification if asked.

This crap about poor people who don't have the means, i.e., transportation to go out and get a photo ID is crap. If they can't get out to get an ID, how in the heck can they get out to vote?

These libs are full of bunk. Rush nailed it today on his show: If they win back their power, everything will immediately be hunky-dory. They lie, they cheat, they steal. That's how they win.
Honesty doesn't work with them.

It is all crap. I could be wrong, and if I am, please present me with a link to show me.

But you have to have a photo ID just to receive Govt Aide.

I used to be on WIC (for about 2 months) before my husband got a rank promotion....anyways, just to get WIC, I had to have a photo ID. and all the people around me in line had to have an ID too.

So, most "poor" people are receiving some type of Govt Assist I would assume. If they can get that, they can vote.

I beleive its all a lie of the left.

And really....what is the problem with showing your ID? When you vote, they got your social security number anyways. They know who you are!

If they can't get out to get an ID, how in the heck can they get out to vote?

The Donks pick them up in busses and give the free cigatettes in exchange for their votes. You know, all those people who all conveniently have the same address - City Hall.

They know who you are!

AFWIFE, you make a great point. "They" just want to make sure that you are who you say you are, just like you have to do when you cash a check or rent a movie.

I live in a small town. A poll volunteer is my neighbor. When I walk in to vote, the registrars call me by name. We discuss weather, relatives, pets, and local news while I sign in. And then I have to present a photo ID to be able to vote.

The term "disenfranchised" seems to have been taken over by gullible minorities who are looking for a grieveance with a lot of syllables. But I, a native-born Caucasian woman, a legally registered voter, would be "disenfranchised" if I were deprived of my vote because someone else used it, fraudulently.

And if an ineligible person voted illegally and his vote canceled out my vote, I would also be disenfranchised.

Maybe the legal citizens ought to start suing the voting precincts when irregularities occur and their votes are taken from them. That might result in some action to make sure than only legal voters get to vote.

I agree. Even the several friends I have with no driver's licences (which freaks me out. I'm so not used to everyone getting a licence at 16) have photo ID's. Heck half don't even have bank accounts but they have Photo ID's so they can cash checks, get jobs, and the like.

I have posted my suggestions for election reform---this might be a good time to bring it up again for discussion.

First, I think that all national elections should be held to the same standard. I don't care if local elections are held by drawing straws or seeing which candidate floats, but national elections should be standardized.

Then I would have a national budget established and a national standard set. This would start by having every precinct send out a letter to each registered voter, at the address on the registration, stating that the enclosed form has to be filled out and returned for the registration to be continued. And this letter absolutely cannot be forwarded.

All returned letters would result in the persons named being removed from the rolls.

As this would be widely publicized, those who had moved and had not yet registered in their new precincts would know what had happened , and would have to go in and register, or not be able to vote.

No registrations would be allowed within four weeks of an election, and we would eliminate Motor Voter, grocery store registrations, and so on. The canard that the more who vote the better is simply false. Those who care should vote. Those who don't, shouldn't. As you are automatically updated when you vote, you should have to register only once, or when you move---big deal. It might be possible to find a convenient way to register, but it should not be handed out indiscriminately, as much Motor Voter and other registration venues do.

The form would be under penalty of perjury, clearly stated, and would require a statement of citizenship, asking for relevant dates and numbers for naturalized citizens. Lying would be as serious offense, fraud, and punishable by a severe penalty.

We have to start treating voting as serious stuff, and quit trivializing it by letting people register on the same day they vote, vote without being citizens, etc. I know foreigners who are here legally on professional work visas who have been asked if they want to register to vote when they got their drivers's licenses---after the clerk examined the visas. This is insanity.

But if we eliminate the dead from the voting rolls, and the double-dippers such as those with homes in more than one precinct and who vote wherever they can, and illegal voters such as non-citizens and felons, we will go a long way toward cleaning up the election process.

At the polls, each person upon signing in also signs a statement of understanding that he or she has the responsibilty to execute the ballot in such a way that the voter's intent is absolutely clear. Any ballot which requires 'interpretation' will be declared invalid and discarded. And this statement will swear that the person has not voted in any other precinct in this election, under severe penalty for lying.

And then we make it a law that each and every correctly executed ballot---which is what it takes to make it a vote---is counted. None are discarded. It should not matter if a state's electoral college commitment would be changed by finishing the count. If people who are legally entitled to vote can take the time to register and then send in their correctly executed ballots, they deserve to have those votes counted. This is particularly necessary when one party or the other tries to claim a victory based on the popular vote. No one can do this if a million or so votes have been discarded or ignored---so count them.

It's called VOTER MOTOR REGISTRATION.

It's called ILLEGAL CITIZENS REGISTERING

Etc, etc

The Dems could give a rip about the rule of law and have thousands and thousands of people registered that are illegal. They don't want that to be overturned.

Let's not forget that while Gore and Kerry and the lefty idiots scream about little black boxes stealing votes, the only proof of vote stealing in the last 100 years all happened by these guys.

JFK in Chicago with dead people voting...same in Texas with JFK.

You had Tameny Hall.

You had the "found" ballot boxes in Washington two years ago for governor after the Republican had won.

These are the same clowns that elect convicted drug users like Marion Berry.

Does any of this surprise you....any of it?

I've always been asked to present ID in my district of North Atlanta (at least in the 4 elections that i have been eligible to vote in).

I wonder how all of these people who complain about not having ID buy liquer?

It's $10... not the end of the world people...

I've always had to present a photo ID when I vote. Before I get anywhere near the voting machine, I have to wait in line, tell an election worker who I am when I finally get to her table, wait for her to get the card with my name on it, sign it, and present my ID. Only then am I allowed to vote. This procedure makes sure that I and only I can use my own name to vote. It's hypocritical for the Dems to scream "voter fraud" while objecting to even the most rudimentary way of preventing it.

Altamira - Good point about disenfranchisement. If people are allowed to vote who shouldn't, then legitimate votes are diluted. I have no problem in principle with Motor-Voter, as long as some form of proof of citizenship is required to get the "Voter" part of the deal. Trouble is, the left objects even to that. As for felons voting, I could tolerate states restoring a felon's right to vote, but only after a very strict probation period after release from prison, the length and conditions of which would be determined by each state.

If people who are legally entitled to vote can take the time to register and then send in their correctly executed ballots, they deserve to have those votes counted. This is particularly necessary when one party or the other tries to claim a victory based on the popular vote. No one can do this if a million or so votes have been discarded or ignored---so count them. (emphasis - mine)

Almiranta, you wouldn't be referring to California 2000 now would you? Where, correct me if I'm wrong, over a million absentee votes were not counted -- or about double the amount that the Donks claim Gore won the popular vote by.

Keefer,
You, my man, are in rare form tonight! Heh!
Mary

I disagree with about 98% of the posts on this blog, but in this case I have to agree with the majority. Not having to show ID invites voter fraud and threatens the fairness of elections.
In this day and age, it is difficult to concieve of someone not needing an ID card just to get through every day life. And if somehow you've mangaged without one, 10$ is not a prohibitive price to pay for the priceless right to vote!

If someone cannot get off their arse and get a picture ID, why would we think they would do any research on the candidates and the issues. That's who I want voting, people that are informed.

Unfortunately, people that can't even identify their CURRENT representatives can vote. The tyranny of the ignorant voting is much larger concern than those being 'disenfranchised'.

Well, so far we haven't had anyone even so much as come in with a story of someone who doesn't have a photo ID...we'll keep watching, but I begin to think that the demand of no photo ID is just a demand that Democrats be allowed to continue their age-old practice of ballot-box stuffing.

"Other times, people express concern that people vote who are not eligible. In eighteen states, more voters are concerned to ineligible voters are allowed to cast ballots."

As you have all said, everybody has a photo-id.
Getting one is easy.

Too easy.

Fake photo-ids are a major problem in the voting process. That is what people are worried about.

Mark,

I know 1 Person who doesn't have a photo ID my Grandmother. She has been dealing with her local bank so long they never ask for an id. She gave up her Drivers Lic. a few years back as it bacame to much work to renew.

P.S. Both Mark and Georgia Frawg agree on a topic is the world coming to an end. :)

Here's what I don't get: I'm registered to vote in Illinois and I always get my voter registration card in the mail. I then go to vote, I check in and I am ONLY asked for my registration card. I am then given a piece of paper that I must sign and my signature is matched against the one they have on file in their big, thick voter book. If the signatures match, my sheet is ripped out of the book, I'm given my ballot and I vote.

No one can re-use my name after I'm done and my registration card must simply match the information they have on me. Easy-peasy. No photo ID necessary.

So how is this massive voter fraud possible? If I register to vote, I get my card mailed to me. If it is a valid address, I get my card. Then I go vote. Fraud? Not likely.

But suppose I DID want to commit some kind of fraud. Maybe I'd register in more than one district, put down some fake addresses maybe, right? Then I'd get some fake ID's and...bingo! I could vote a bunch of times if I really wanted to. But instituting a photo ID rule wouldn't stop my fraud attempt, would it? So what's the point?