Considering I have to show my ID to buy a bottle of booze, why should i not show my ID to vote for the next president of america? or any office for that matter?

Easy voting only encourages fraud, but at the same time is it asking alot to prove identity when voting to ensure correct reporting?

Before you say that poor cannot afford an ID, many if not all states offer state issued identification cards showing your residency and legal status for free. just go to your local dmv

Brednan, is right, many states offer ID's for free. The people mostly affected are the homeless, because you need an address to get the ID for free. A lot of those people are youth.

Neither side has been able to show data to back up their claims. Voter fraud is rare, and not rampant, and photo ID has not led to fewer voters, its led to more.

Don't include Ohio in the example of higher turnout in 2004 benefiting Republicans. There were so many allegations of fraud against republicans who were in charge of the election that it is highly questionable that Bush really carried the state.

@ Eric

If im not mistaken homeless can use homeless shelters as resident address's. Many shelters have full mail capability with mailboxes if im not mistaken.

There is no good reason not to have voter ID laws

Folks, once again this is a tempest in a teapot started by the GOP to rig the upcoming elections. First, they attack the funding sources of the opposition party, ie: Unions. Then they attack the segments of the population most likely to vote democrat but least likely to have a photo ID.

George II tried to allege widespread voter fraud as a reason to clamp down of this national "problem" and to prove his point he authorized a major investigation into voter fraud. You know what they found?

NOTHING!

There is no widespread voter fraud. This is just like gay marriage undermining the American family and the great illegal immigrant crisis. Neither of those were true either.

These laws need to be overturned. I applaud the Justice Department and their efforts to protect American voters.

Obama/Biden 2012

Since every voter has to be "registered" to vote, then every state should have a Photo ID Voter Registration Card and that should be the only form of ID required to vote. And that card should be FREE in all states. Students should be able to declare their college address as their registration address, and if homeless people need an address, then the states should provide an easy way for them to do that....they should NOT be disenfranchised just because they are homeless.

eric, I think the dems are against voter ID laws because it makes it harder to round up the hobos and the people that have no idea who is even running, or are drugged up or drunk. Think the liberals believe this is their base, for some reason? :-) There is no good reason not to require photo ID for something so important as voting. We require it for practically everything else, not to mention, what can it hurt anyway?

IF I remember correctly bush's Limousine got egged for rigging the election, and then 8 years later ACORN stuffed the ballot boxes for Obama. Both Parties have been thoroughly debunked in this respect. Bush destroyed our rights through the Patriot Act, and Obama re-instated it. Red or Blue has nothing to do with it anymore.They're all the same drones working for the same banking Elite. Just with different ties and talking points.

I'm not even sure If Ron Paul isn't working for them, but I'll be damned if I dont give him a chance. Ron Paul 2012

There have only been 9 cases of actual voter fraud in the U.S.

But Republican voter-suppression laws disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters each election cycle.

It's like trying to kill a fly with an atomic bomb. And it's ridiculous.

All of these Republican anti-voter laws need to be declared unconstitutional.

.

Once again Democrats attempting to garner votes to keep themselves in power in spite of the obvious potential consequences to the nations future.

Politicians allowing citizens of other nations to influence U.S. elections which in turn affects American taxpayers is treasonous.

In Wisconsin, a birth certificate must be shown in order to get an acceptable voter ID. I know elderly women who have voted their whole lives, who have no birth certificates -- even though they were born in Wisconsin. There is a small percentage (approximately 15%) of the population nationwide who are caught in this situation. The laws are definitely designed to reduce the voting population, rather than prevent fraud.

how ridiculous! suggesting people identify themselves to vote!

liberal logic, proudly destroying the Republic for over 50 years.

Actually for almost 100 years. Woodrow Wilson is the father of liberalism.

As for the homeless, don't they need an address in order to register to vote? If they can register to vote then they can get an ID.

these "voter ID laws" are racist to the core, and hits the poor and the elderly..its the "only rich whites have the right to vote" laws period..no way around it, Can't spin this one racist white republicans..ya jist cainte do it.

Let's say voter photo I.D. increases voter turnout by 20 to 40 percent as the article points out, and blacks and other groups largely believed to be democratic vote at a higher rate of nearly 44%. So, then, why would democrats be against the idea?

The main thing is people that are dead should not be voting.

We dont let people drive cars without getting an ID proving they know how. We're not even requiring a skills test for voting. You just have to get your picture.

Well I live in MD and I have to show my voter registration card and my Photo ID, which I have no problem doing that.

Stop supporting the lazy asses in this country. If you can get that check every month from the post office then you can go out and get a ID card. As for the homeless, they should be able to use the local shelter as their address. All voters should be required to prove they are in fact US citizens before they are issued a voter card or any Govt ID card for that matter.

Dont you people see that NOT having an ID card opens up the voter fraud to ALL of the ILLEGALS here in the US. Do you all want another 4 years of the idiot we have in office right now?

Lawsiuit by the Justice dept on the way. Even though I have to show my ID to buy liquor, etc., the Democrats don't want this. It makes it too hard to vote 3 or 4 times.

Voter fraud: very rare.

Voter suppression: Tea Party mandate.

i love how you get called a racist and a bigot for wanting to ensure that people voting a legally able to do so

since when are you racist or a bigot for wanting to ensure that our nations LAWS are being followed?

Isn't one instance of voter fraud enough to require laws to verify people voting are legally able to do so? if not, why the double standard?

It doesn't take a genius to figure out why democrats are against showing proper ID to vote. The whole thing is ridiculous. Everyone should show ID. Everyone.

And calling people names like racist or bigot is the oldest ploy in the communist playbook. But nice try, Ed.

Bottom Line here is that every state that has this law needs to go to EVERY Elderly's house and take their picture and give them this photo ID. That will resolve this issue. Until then it's unconstitutional. There are a LOT of Elderly people who do not HAVE DRIVER's lic. or a passport. What OTHER State photo ID is there? Each state needs to go door to door and handle this. End of problem.

Picture ID requirements in this country are an absolute mess. Every state has different requirements for obtaining a driver's license which is the apparent government ID of first choice, but if you don't drive that becomes problematic. I would favor a primary biometric picture US status card obtained via the Post Office and run out of the State Department for every US citizen, resident alien, guest worker and visitor to cut through all the crap being thrown up by different states. That default ID for citizens is a passport and except for the cost and time involved in obtaining one, will cut through the obstacle course being set up by republican controlled states.

If some of us are required to jump through hoops in order to vote so should all, a new id for all or keep the status quo.

I am so sick of all you people saying that if you force someone to show and ID your a bigot wtf. Its and ID if people are to stupid to got get and ID card they are to stupid to vote. If minorities or poor or homeless are to lazy to get an ID then sorryou you forfeited your right to vote.

Anyone but Obama 2012!!!!!

How can anyone be against identifying yourself before you can vote? How is it illegal in any way? And why would it be a GOP issue and not an everyone issue? Just how hard up are the Democrats for legitimate votes anyway?

Janstince: You claim: "Now, compared to ballot-stuffing and poll intimidation, two favored methods by the right..." - puleeze! Did Republicans have the "new" black panthers at the polling places?? NO!! It was DEMOCRATS and liberals! Nice try, tho....

Poor ED, such a neophyte!!! You have obviously never lived in Illinois and watched democrat poll workers in the cemetaries getting names off of tombstones so they can stuff the ballot box. It's such a simple proposition. Every U.S. citizen needs to show an ID to vote. "If" the democrat party wants non citizens or the dead to vote this would put a stop to that. Maybe the control the party has over Illinois would go away then.

I've always shown my ID when I vote, and I don't have much sympathy for those who haven't bothered to get an ID. You can't function in the modern world without one, and when it is under $10 for an ID that lasts 4 - 6 years, there are very few good reasons for a legal US citizen not making the effort. Hell, most states even have programs to waive the fee if you can't afford it.

If a person can't work, cash checks, open accounts, sign contracts, etc.....voting isn't their biggest problem.

Voter ID = Poll Tax

Unfortunately we have Supreme Court Chief Judicial Activist John Roberts and his gang of 4 thugs in control of the Supreme Court. If we had true justices this Republican't- Corporate Teabagger Voter ID law would had long ago been declared Unconstitutional. Its time to impeach and remove Chief Judicial Activist John Roberts and his gang of 4 thugs.

Democrats know that the only people who will be disenfranchised are the ones who are not eligible to vote any way. That is the way it SHOULD be. A non citizen should never be allowed to vote in an election not in their own country.

I live in Oregon where all voting is done by mail. Obviously, no one checks IDs as we vote at home. Amazingly enough there is no real evidence of voter fraud in this state.

I don't believe the Republican efforts to change voting requirements is racist. It is, however, an attempt to swing elections in their favor by making it more difficult for some groups who traditionally vote Democratic to vote. Why not make it easier for everyone to vote by adopting the Oregon plan?

So then what do you call it when on voting day, here in Detroit proper the vans and cars driven by Unions people driving up and down the neighborhood picking up people knocking on doors and feeding yes...... with food in the car as they drive to the polls. Dont ask me to prove it....Im not taking pictures of them. But it happens every election year. They dont say we will feed you....but the food is in the vehicle and readily given to people.

Perfect solution ask Budwieser for their photo id book every bar in Texas uses it during Spring break. Yes their are some people with no birth certificate such as my Uncle Ralph middle child of five doctor forgot to register his birth in Milwaukee. It never became a problem till he died. There is a good reason to require government issued id cards instead of say a credit card which is issued to an account holder not neccesarily even a person. You can pay your tab with that card but it does not prove age or citizenship. AS for the guy who said Mexicans should be able to vote since a Mexican is a citizen of a foreign country no they should not. That is not to say that Americans of hispanic descent ( spanish surname ) are included in that prohibition. Unfortunately too many people don't know the difference between a Mexican and a hispanic citizen of the US.

Murphy, Wasserman Shultz and the Democrats confront one big obstacle: the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision handed down in 2008 and written by Justice John Paul Stevens, upheld Indiana’s photo identification law.

“There is no question about the legitimacy or importance of the State’s interest in counting only the votes of eligible voters,” Stevens said.

The decision left open the possibility that future plaintiffs could try to show that, as applied in specific cases, a voter ID law is unconstitutional.

Sheeesh, the DOJ is kicking the can down the road AGAIN. Guess Mr. Holder doesn't have enough on his plate, or is this another diversion from "Fast and Furious" ?

My questions are:

1. What about the States which have enacted "mail in" votes ?
2. Just how is the election committee going to check anyone's I.D. ?

I can't even believe there is a debate on this. If you don't have a photo ID I don't want you voting. An ID requirement is the least we can do to insure some credibility to such an important civic duty. You nuts who say no ID required, are just pacifiers of laziness and fraud.

It isn't an attempt to "swing" any damned thing; it's simply a way to prevent fraud. So, why are you Dems so vehemently opposed to it? You have to show ID to buy lliquor, get on a plane, get into certain government facilities. What's the problem with proving that you are who you say you are? The only reason I can see is that you are trying to hide something.

I am actually suprised to see as many people against ID when voting as there is. You need an ID for just about everything anymore, why would - or more importantly - SHOULD - voting be any different?

I dont think having a valid ID is a deterant in 99% of the cases - i honestly think it has more to do with the 'disenfranchised by voter id' segment is actually more of a 'i am disinterested and didnt feel like voting' segment.

As a few people have already said - simply make it so that when you register to vote - you have the option to get a voter ID card - at the end of the day -as long as the signature's match between what the ID shows and what is there when registered- we dont have a problem. People making it into a bigger issue - thats directed at both the conservatives and the liberals- are simply people crying foul because they wish to cry about something.

Jannie -

Was it a Democratic governor that ordered the police to prevent a bunch of black people from voting in the Florida election in 2004? Was it a bunch of Republican precincts that mysteriously "lost" their ballot boxes, only to "miraculously" turn up 2 days later and, lo and behold, had a bunch of Democrat votes in them?

Yeah. Keep on talking.

Its not a matter of showing ID. Its the forms of ID they accept and dont accept. Some states will let you use you gun permit. But not a bus pass. If an 18 year old has a bus pass with his picture and it is a legal ID from a governmentt source it to should be honored. In florida just getting an ID is 20 bucks. And if you go to the DMV just for an ID its a few hour wait. If you dont have the paper work they want that day, your stuck. My mother. 62 years old. resident of Florida for 20 years and from NY before. had to actually contact the hospital she was born at. have them fine paper records of it. fax them. Just to update her passsport. Which was then declined cause they were not original documents. She ended up having to pay lose to 100 bucks for duplicates. Then more for the paperowrk to update the passport. same thing happened at the DMV

Now if the government or state wants to give out a free ID and can be used to vote with. Without making people spend months getting proper work because they have not lived where they were born for 50 years and out of the state for another 20 then no problem with showing IDs. When allowing someone to show a picture ID that is a gun permit from a government agency as acceptable but not a bus pass or school pass with picture from a legit source, is where the real problem is. So thats where the real problem is.

Why do so many people insist that people prove they are eligible to vote but want no restrictions on owning a hand gun or assault weapon?

Don, I'm not sure where you live, but you have to show ID to buy a gun in a store in most states if not all. Apples and Oranges.

Let me explain the game to people. I don't like Republicans or Democrats, the only thing they are united on is destroying our country. Let me make it easy to understand. So the only dog I have in this fight is that I'm pro-America and pro-Freedom. 2 States require citizenship to "register" to vote. AZ and another back east. No ID is required to vote in alot of places. So, if Bin Laden came over here and falsely registered to vote, say in California, then he could go and vote at the polling places, without showing ID. Who's voting in our elections, no one seems to know. Why do the Democrats want voting to occur without ID, because Illegal Aliens will vote. Why do Republicans want ID shown, because they are banking on poor people who typically vote Democrat, to not be able to vote. It's an issue that has been convoluted on Purpose. You can't start checking citizenship at Registration, because there's alot of non-citizens already registered that are voting, so you've got to do it at registration and the polls. But it disenfranchises some voters, which I agree with alot of people. You have to show your ID everywhere now, why not at the Polls. I agree with that if the Feds keep refusing to enforce the Laws of the land and deport people who don't belong here, then we wouldn't have an issue of ID. I can't believe that people vote for people who won't do their job, namely Bush and Obama and his false Accounting change deportation numbers.

usa is great - I am a Democratic chief judge in Balto Co. There is no requirement to show any ID, period, in fact if I tried to force someone to show ID, I would at least be admonished by the Board of Elections(since my training instructions clearly indicate no one can be asked for ID) if not relieved of my duties. If a voter offers their voter notification card or a photo ID, I would accept it to be able to more quickly look up the voter info on our polling computer. In over 30 years of being an election judge, at various polling places, I have never encountered an attempt at voter fraud. If there was any question, the chief judge would contact the Board of Elections for a ruling. Our duty is to verify verbally with the voter what's their full name, home address and birth date, even if an ID is offered.

these "voter ID laws" are racist to the core, and hits the poor and the elderly..its the "only rich whites have the right to vote" laws period..no way around it, Can't spin this one racist white republicans..ya jist cainte do it.

Those darn rich white people with their photo id's and drivers licenses!!!!!

I don't understand the issue, really. This should be the norm. Should asking for a photo id when using a credit card be illegal too? What about buying liquor?

Its not a matter of showing ID. Its the forms of ID they accept and dont accept. Some states will let you use you gun permit. But not a bus pass

This is the kind of inane argument that shows how desperate people are to allow illegal voters. Do you have any clue how difficult it is to get a gun permit? You have to go a pretty good background check.

A bus pass - you only have to pay for it. No background check required. Hardly proof of anything.

Dems like to say that there is no evidence of voter fraud - but how would they know unless it gets checked? There are plenty of cases that are investigated after the fact and where voter fraud is found. It would certainly be a lot simpler and appropriate to try and reduce illegal voting at the source.

In over 30 years of being an election judge, at various polling places, I have never encountered an attempt at voter fraud. If there was any question, the chief judge would contact the Board of Elections for a ruling. Our duty is to verify verbally with the voter what's their full name, home address and birth date, even if an ID is offered.

Oh really? How would you know if someone lied about their name or address? You are offering an example of a failed system as the reason to continue failure. States that I am familiar with offer photo ID free or for a fee less than a DL

It all pretty simple - if a republican wins, it's the will of the people...

but if a democrat wins, well, it must be due to voter fraud.

I live in a very liberal city, New York City, where most people have no need to drive a car. If they started this nonsense in New York State what would that leave as acceptable photo ID? Passport? Okay so you have again enacted a poll tax. There has got to be a better way and a way that doesn't cost the citizen anything ( voting is a right, after all) and it needs to be quick and easy without long lines and sour-faced bureaucrats reviewing your forms. No objections to showing an ID, just that driver licences shouldn't be the one.

To drive a auto, you need a license, to cash a check you need a government issued I.D., to board a plane you need a government issued I.D., if you look young you need a government issued License to buy cigarettes or booze, to check into a hotel you need a government issued I.D.; why all the fury of not requiring a I.D. to vote; are they afraid the illegals will not turn out for them .

Larry,

You can get a permit very easy in some states. I live in one. To get a bus pass you need a birth certificate. To get authorization to own a gun in Florida. You need nothing and can buy one from anyone else with a manual receipt. Why is a bus pass for an 18 year old kid that had to use his birth certificate and adress or a college ID not able to use those but I can use a gun permit, Not a concelaed weapons permit that is backround. Just a gun permit which requires no more then what a b us pass does be acceptable. Its not the same across the board. thats the problem. I have a CCW permit. And it took less paperwork then getting a new drivers lisence when I moved

I cannot believe there is even a question here! Of course ID should be shown! If you don't have ID, you are hiding something! Pure and simple.

I have a Voter ID card that didn't cost me anything. I have a drivers license, passport, student ID, Costco card (yes, once it was accepted as ID because it has my picture on it.)

Of course, if you ARE upset about this requirement, what do you have to hide? Are you the type who wants your party candidate to win at all cost? Then YOU are UnAmerican!

"Before you say that poor cannot afford an ID, many if not all states offer state issued identification cards showing your residency and legal status for free. just go to your local dmv"

Dont know where you live but that piece of ID in my state costs 25 bucks.

"I cannot believe there is even a question here! Of course ID should be shown! If you don't have ID, you are hiding something! Pure and simple."

MAybe you cannot but since the civil rights movement some states have tried to limit minority participation any way they can. In my state you have to show a picture ID at the voting place. Used to be you could show a "proof of residency" such as a gas bill etc. I have no problem with having to show ID but if they are going to make it mandatory then they should provide access to free of charge places to get the id.

This liberal arguments have all been proven utter milarky with hard data showing the "disenfranchised" vote has increased in states with voter ID laws.

It is utter nonsense that someone without ID would be allowed to vote. Or maybe it is the liberal strategy to stuff ballot boxes that is the problem...

Democrats have done the same thing in the past and will again in the future if they think it will help their ability to retain control of Congress.

When will you all understand that the Democratic and Republican parties both suck and they aren't into politics to help you and me, just their respective parties and themselves.

Go read President Washington's farewell address where he warned us over two hundred years ago about the evils of political parties and how they will split the nation and divide loyalties.

This all looks pretty transparent to me. If you don't need a picture I.D. to prove who you are 30,000,000 ILLEGAL Immigrants will flock to the polls to make sure their caretaker party stays in power. Little do they realize when you kill the goose that lays the golden eggs it's ALL OVER.

When I voted in November (in Florida) a gentleman was there at the same time and he was not allowed to vote because he didn't have a Driver's License with him. He had his US Passport, which they would not accept, and he had his voter's registration card. So I think what needs to be done is if a picture ID is now required (and realistically, that's not too much to ask these days) the requirement should be uniform and the ID should be free. A previous posting mentioned a voter's registration card with picture ID. The ID has to be free to avoid claim of a poll tax being charged.

A Veteran

Have you voted lately? You have to present yourself to the poll workers and sign your name. Your signature is compared to the file signature. There have been no studies that show that there is a problem with voter fraud anywhere in the country. NOWHERE! These laws are spending millions of dollars on a NONEXISTENT ISSUE. The true reason for these voter ID laws is to make voting more difficult for citizens who historically vote for Democrats.

Eric-913730, brendan-4 - Many states may offer free state ID cards. Mine, Arizona, doesn't - it's a $12 fee, which in itself isn't bad, but considering you have to go down to the DMV and must have a legal copy of your birth certificate (I just got mine for $45 so I could get my passport - And I shopped around).

I'm Liberal - I'm not against showing ID to prove you're a U.S. citizen, but.. if the state is going to require it, they better make it free and easy to obtain an ID. Being a broke or poor american should not be an impediment to exercise our right to vote!

SIMPLE RULE OF THUMB

1. Same documents should be used for voting as cashing a check at the bank. At the bank, you need proof of who you are (ID) and a valid account number. Otherwise the bank has every right to assume "funny business".

P.S. Liberals who howl about "disenfranchisement" should instead WORK HARDER TO GET EVERYONE A PHOTO ID.

Kind of ironic that the same liberal dimwits who want to increase gun control also want to decrease measures to prevent voter fraud. Make up your mind idiots!

If you do not have an ID yet go get one and send the bill for your birth certificate your new social security card and the cost of the new ID to the election commission in your state when they refuse to pay it send them a letter with these words in it(

Amendment 24 - Poll Tax Barred. Ratified 1/23/1964.

1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

If they still refuse to pay for it get your self an attorney you will win.

when u register to vote bring in a birth certificate, then have a picture id on voting day.

If an illegal alien can get on welfare/social programs, then they can get ID's. But they don't have birth certificates, which can be verified on computer at the time of registration. It can be done but the politicians don't want that because they are buying their elections by buying this vote with "borrowed" money from the federal reserve; you get to pay the interest.

I cannot even believe what I am reading from some people on here. How is showing a photo ID at the polls racist? How the hell does anyone even make that connection?

Any exception to the need to have a photo ID in every day life is such a tiny percentage that it would never deter voter turnout to the point of changing the possible outcome of an election! That is ridiculous logic!!!!!

Think about it: You need a photo ID to drive, buy alcohol, get into a club, buy a gun, buy a house, apply for a loan, rent an apartment, obtain a marriage license, use a credit card, write a check, open a bank account, get a passport, fly on a plane, GET A JOB, get medical care, get a P.O. Box, etc...

So basically this is only going to exclude jobless, freeloading, single, sober, hermit houseguests that hide their money (if they have any) under their beds, OR homeless people who did not own an ID prior to losing their homes; some states have I.D.s that take up to 40 years to expire. I don't see how you can stereotype a theoretical person that would rarely exist!!!

And don't give me that crap about how voter fraud is so rare that this step would not be necessary. A lot of forms of fraud were not common before they became common. People are able to steal your identity very easily, even though the IRS can track it. People are able to hack secure websites very easily. Even gov't websites. Large corporations were able to use bail out money to give execs large retirement pay-outs and pay for company retreats to the Bahamas before the gov't stepped in. Just because it isn't common now doesn't mean it won't ever be. It would be a nice change to see our congress apply a bit of foresight to legislation. To assume that the credibility of of the voting process will always be protected by showing one piece of mail with your address on it is just NAIVE!

The right to vote wasn't even included in the Bill of Rights. But the 2nd Amendment was. And if you look under 18 you bet your butt that they are going to card you if you try to purchase a firearm. So why then is that not being flagged as unconstitutional??? If you have to prove your age then you should be expected to prove your identity at the polls!

Wake up people! Both parties are using this false civil rights smoke screen just to hype up their own platforms and win votes. It is a stupid topic to see as controversial in the first place, because in the end people are going to do what they feel like doing regardless of the legislation that is passed. If they don't want to put in the effort to do anything else on the above list, what the hell makes you think they are going to get up off their a$$e$ and vote? How ironic that the democrats are calling these bills racist, when that accusation directly implies that all of the people that meet the criteria of the above list are black or latino.

If it's proving you are a citizen that the bleeding hearts are all worried about then let me put it to you this way: ONLY citizens can vote anyway. Stop fighting for a right that does not exist!!!

hahaha...the Supreme Court of the United States already ruled on voter ID...and said it IS Constitutional!...hahaha...more dumbazz money wasting and sabre rattling for the inept , unqualified , duty dodging criminal Eric Holder and his accomplice BHO...laughable stupidity...isn't it cool?

@don

"The true reason for these voter ID laws is to make voting more difficult for citizens who historically vote for Democrats."

I thought libbies were the only party that "takes care of those who can't take care of themselves"...how come neo-comm libbies haven't helped people get things like ID , that someone may need to live a normal existence?...interesting

@janstince

was a Republican or Republicans that were represented by the New Black Panthers to stand in front of the doorway of a polling place with batons and hurl racial slurs

interesting that you didn't mention that..or the dead people that voted democrat in 2008

@Laughingman

ACORN was revealed to be a hoax that the GOP made up to discourage votes against them, even fox news said that, but then again, they did it as a side note, and the entire "OMG NO ACORN" as a giant story on scale with the 9/11 coverage. You sir, are a jokeman, not the one laughing.

Commission on Federal Election Reform:
The commission’s report found instances of vote buying, false voter registrations, voting by non-citizens, multiple voting, absentee ballot fraud, and voting by felons. The commission reported that vote fraud does exist.

Americans must take it upon themselves to restore integrity in the election process. This will require the implementation of safeguards such as photo identification requirements, an adequate period for elections officials to verify voter registrations before the elections, and a close eye on the abuse of absentee voting.

several comment that the Republicans are at fault again - voter registrations are a tool of holding down the voters.

Image, if ID's are required, perhaps there would be many less dead Democratic voters in Chicago showing up at the polls!

don97524

I live in Oregon where all voting is done by mail. Obviously, no one checks IDs as we vote at home. Amazingly enough there is no real evidence of voter fraud in this state.

And if no one ever checks how the hell could you tell if there is fraud? .... Wake up. If you are afraid that some folks might miss out on voting -- get your butt out there and insure they are not disenfranchised as some would claim. There is plenty of time to help anyone that needs an ID to get one.

In addition to voter ID's I'd also like to see them set a minimum IQ level for people to vote. There are an awful lot of "dumb as posts" people allowed to vote that haven't a clue of who or what they're voting for. They'll just press a button or pull a lever because someone told them to do it. It's time this country got some intelligent voters for a change.

brendan::: Just because SOME states have IDs for nothing doesn't mean that they all do. And you have to DRIVE to where they are issued to have your picture made anf get the ID. That rules out MANY of the elderly who do NOT drive and have no one to drive them.

This is just the revival of the POLL TAX which was done away with years ago. This is the republithug poll tax.

Okay--several things: there is nothing intrinsically wrong with having voter IDs or with having tests to see if voters are competent. The problem is in the application of the rules. The old tests were given by people who passed white people who could not read or write, but failed people who were black who had advanced degrees. Whoever gives the test is the one who makes the rules. Since little old people tend to run the polls, and the little old people tend to be conservative, they can refuse your voter ID because of the many Byzantine rules (depending on the state) regarding them. It is also difficult to get an ID that they will accept (no, they will not alway accept your driver's license--and a lot of people do not have those in an urban area). Or, they can just refuse to accept it because they refuse to accept it and tell you how to file a complaint. When you complain, long after the fact, they just say "Whoops! Our workers just made a mistake!"

Also, someone made a comment about the "New Black Panthers" at the "polling places." Oh, yes--dearie me. Two black men show up at one polling place and act up, the police send one away and the other gets to stay only because he is a licensed poll watcher but has the police watching him. Oh, dearie me. If that's all it takes to scare the white people away from the polls--one scary black man that the police are watching--I'm a little concerned about the ability of those white people to think rationally and wonder if they should be voting.

Yes, in states where these laws were enacted, the people whom the government was trying to disenfranchise just started voting early--if you go in to do advance voting, then you have a lot of time to work things out if someone tries to mess with you, and you are also usually dealing with government workers rather than the little old people volunteering at the polls. So, while the intent of the law was to disenfranchise people by giving the little old people the right to just deny whomever they felt like denying (they cannot, unless one proves malice, be punished as they are volunteers), in practice, this so ticked people off that they started voting early and going in large blocks to do so.

So, yes, I agree that there should be voter ID laws--just like the one mentioned in the Democratic state. Inspire people to be more active by busing people in using the church buses and vans. Get people angry enough that their vote is being denied so that they realize that their votes actually matter (well, someone thinks that they do) and this will break the apathy. Put something in place so that everyone gets at least a provisional vote that can eventually be checked against the signature on the voters rolls.

I don't have a problem with angering young people, people who are members of minorities that the little old people would like to suppress, and the liberal elderly who don't have the free time or inclination to police the polling places and suppress votes. If everyone voted, then Democrats would do better. So, yes, by all means--get the people angry by telling lies ("New Black Panthers"--hah!), by enacting what are basically poll taxes (which is illegal, you know), and by trying to engineer an unfair vote. Angry people vote--and we need people to vote--so by all means, go ahead and mock and ridicule and make people angry. This works for me.

If the modern Republican Party were allowed to pass laws to prevent minorities from voting, they wouldn't need voter ID laws.

This ain't the party of Lincoln anymore, that's for sure.

At the bank, you need ... ID.

I don't. I make banking transactions all the time without presenting ID.

But the analogy is insipid to begin with. In Texas, a voter registration card issued by the county clerk is no longer considered valid ID as far as voting is concerned.

But the Texas legislature often prefers to 'solve' problems that don't exist. It's so much easier than tackling REAL issues, and it pleases the tin foil hat crowd no end.

Every time I go to CVS to buy Sudafed I have to show my drivers license to control drugs. You would think that keeping the voting roles honest and verifying a voters identity might be a good idea for all political parties.

Well well well....

So the Republican't Corporate Teabaggers didn't like my comment eh?

Too Bad. Not only is Voter ID laws = Poll Tax, its also an attempt to keep the poor, disabled and those who live in Democratic districts from voting. I guess the Republican't Corporate Teabaggers, The Party of the No, the Grand Obstructionist Party is afraid of allowing the people to vote eh?

if the modern Democrat party were allowed to get rid of any voting requirements they wouldn't need to hide all of the illegals , dead , multiple vote casting , ballot stuffers that they have voting for them...ya , 'bout right eh commonsense?

these ain't JFK's democrats anymore , that's for sure

in fact they are "progressives" and the communists of the 50's and 60's used to call themselves "progressives"

oh...Magnum...looks like the liberal democrat FLEABAGGERS don't like a lot of comments either...isn't it cool

@Susie

sorry...if it were a "poll tax" then the Supreme Court would not have ruled it Constitutional , as the libbie likes to say "get over it"

Birth cert? Those are okay, but they didn't put a photo on mine and if they had, I look a little different with a beard.

The "photo IDs aren't expensive" argument: A voter ID card should be available at no cost to the voter. Period. Not because people have a hard time budgeting for ID cards, but because if you are a US citizen 18 or older it is your right to participate in elections held in your district! It should not incur any expense to do so. Furthermore, it should be virtually no effort to obtain your ID and cast your vote. The government should not put any obstacles for you to vote in the election.

If you are eligable, we want you to vote!! Right, Conservatives? RIGHT???

Kind word of advice to many posting above, if you want to get your point across.....lay off the dumb names like "libbie" and "teabaggers." Can, with absolute certainty, guarantee you that anyone who reads through these things often enough just rolls their eyes and ignores most of what you say the moment they see that crap.

Back on topic...I get that there are situations involving the old, disabled, and similar having issues obtaining an ID, but I think everyone would agree that something as simple as having an ID is a very important part of modern life, and that they should do whatever it takes to get one. It isn't like IDs are some new thing that most of the country hasn't heard of, this isn't 1823. Quite the opposite. Much like voting, having an ID should be a point of pride as an American citizen. Voter laws, on the other hand, should simply be: valid government issued ID. The same as what is required by banks, employers, bars, and police. If anyone has a problem with that, don't vote.

Harry Blank

hahaha...the Supreme Court of the United States already ruled on voter ID...and said it IS Constitutional!...hahaha...more dumbazz money wasting and sabre rattling for the inept , unqualified , duty dodging criminal Eric Holder and his accomplice BHO...laughable stupidity...isn't it cool?

Do you have any concept of how much money these ridiculous voter ID laws will cost each of the states to implement? Millions. Every voter who needs an ID must be issued a FREE ID. Each one of the states will defend a law suit. All for a non problem. There is no evidence of voter fraud by illegal aliens or anyone else. This is purely a conservative power play and you are just another uninformed defender of belligerent legislators.

This whole issue is preposterous. There is no rational reason why someone who wants to vote in an election should not have to identify themselves as qualified to do so. Moreover, the claim that no problem exists is irrelevant. This requirement will preclude the problem from ever existing. Anyone who opposes the identification of voters can only be doing so for one reason , they believe the positions they support will be advanced by allowing the unregistered to vote.

This needs to go to court. When I try to stand back and look at the data... how many non-citizens actually vote versus how many citizens will not vote due to an ID law... it largely doesn't exist. Any data that does supposedly exist is questionable at best.

But, even as a Democrat, I'm having a serious problem with understanding why NOT showing an ID is okay. With the rising tide of identity theft and the rapid decline in confidence we have in government systems, it would seem to me that having an ID requirement would only help.

So... let the court hear the issue. Maybe some states went too far, maybe not. But it doesn't seem hard to come up with a simple ID procedure, then require the states to come up with a fair alternative for those proven to be "disenfranchised".

Democrats should be all over potential fraud... haven't we learned ANYTHING yet?

How dare the government actually require me to prove I am who I say I am. I should be allowed to go to any voting station and say I am somebody on their list and vote. I should be allowed to vote for whoever I want and vote as many times as I want under as many names as I can pass off as my own.

I also should be allowed to walk onto any aircraft without ID because why would I need ID for that if I don't to vote. I should be able to walk into any bar and buy a drink without ID. I should be able to buy a gun without ID too. Heck, I should be able to run for president without ID. (yes, Obama was born in this country, and I really don't care if he wasn't, he is as insane an American citizen as the next nutjob in Washington.) In other words, I shouldn't have to have ID for anything. Everybody should just take me for whoever I claim to be and accept it.

My name is Jesus of Nazareth. Don't question it.

ps. I'm tired of the whole crucifixion thing. Please don't nail me up on a cross again. It hurt.

brendan-4

It would seem that you are out of touch with what is going on in this country. Most homeless people and families do not live in homeless shelters. The shelters that are available, have been full for years. If you become homeless right now, you had better hope that a family member will take you in, or find the nearest bridge.

The GOP T-Retards that signed that pledge allegiance to Grover Norquist should be removed from office and prosecuted for deliberately "SABOTAGING" our Nation. "Where is the DEPT., of JUSTICE ?"

GOP Tea-Retards the party of the 1% is destroying this Country, if our founding fathers could see what they are doing to this Country they would spit on them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The friggin DoJ needs to get off their laurels(there's another word I would like to use) and investigate the financial meltdown and bring some justice to the American people. This is just another diversion. Anyone watch Sixty Minutes this past Sunday? Search it......

This Democrat/Liberal (and I say that proudly, always) is all for showing an I.D. We have been shown more than enough evidence that both parties are crooked and having an I.D. is not difficult to do. Mail in ballots may be a problem that also needs to be looked at.

I agree that the pledge signing GOP are ruining this country BUT here is something that my side of the fence needs to look at:

*******************************************************************************

The reason the Dept of Justice has not investigated Countrywide is that Nancy Pelosi's son Paul was a vice president of the mortgage company in the home office as soon as mommy got her job as Speaker of the House

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8601-18560_162-57336042-19.html?assetTypeId=41&blogId=&tag=accordionB;commentWrapper#ixzz1flYyovwB

Wiki says this:

Prior to independent consulting, Pelosi served many years with Bank of America Securities, Bank of America Countrywide^[3] and JP Morgan - Chase Manhattan where he worked in Corporate Finance, Institutional Sales, and the Residential Mortgage Industry.

And this is in part from L.A. Times:

The Finance Committee deals with tax policy and other matters affecting the financial services industry. And Mozilo was in a perfect position to help the senator: Countrywide, the nation's largest mortgage company, whose lending practices are the subject of a government investigation, had a VIP program whose beneficiaries included politicians whose goodwill the firm wanted to court.

Conrad, now chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, says he knew nothing about the program, which reportedly was known inside the Calabasas-based company as "Friends of Angelo."

But campaign finance reports, lobbying records and other evidence show that Countrywide avidly played the Washington-insider game. The company employed a small army of lobbyists to represent its interests in Congress and elsewhere in the government at a cost of nearly $4 million over the last three years. It also contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the campaigns of senators and representatives.

And it wrote mortgages for "VIPs," sometimes shaving a loan's interest rate or reducing fees, a former high-ranking Countrywide executive said.

The son of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Paul Pelosi Jr., has worked as a sales manager and loan officer for Countrywide in the San Francisco Bay Area and received about $1 million in loans from Countrywide on a condo. The younger Pelosi, 39, who holds a law degree and an MBA from Georgetown University, obtained a $916,000 mortgage from Countrywide in 2004 and a $114,500 line of credit the same year.

There are other names mentioned in this article....Barbara Boxer Countrywide | Lender a major Beltway operator

LMarcT,

Good post and I agree. Giving everyone confidence in the electoral process should be a bipartisan issue. If some states went too far, then those laws need to be fixed (ex: I think we did here in Florida - and even the Reps agree and are looking at changes).

Dr Larry - Nice try! For someone so paranoid about voter fraud allow me to attempt to quell your deep seated fears. Considering that at most, if we are lucky, 60% of voters exercise their precious right to vote. Consider that election judges, in my experience, are on the look out for said fraudulence. A fraud for one thing would have to know the full name and middle initial, full address and zip code and the big qualifier their age. Unless the fraudster is somehow aware the person they are trying to vote won't be coming to the polls, they also must be approximately the same age(we do try to observe if the voter appears to be the same age). Now how would anyone know if a voter has requested an absentee ballot, in which case they won't be able to vote again for that person. How many times could a person go to a voting precinct without the judges recalling their face and calling them out for fraud. Hell man, we can't even get much more than 60% to vote including absentee ballot, who has the time and money to try to attempt voter fraud? Wouldn't that turn off voters to have either party try to do that and be caught? The delusional right wing-nuts are always looking for boogie-men to fear, rarely real but mostly fearing the invisible and imaginary perils. Grow up!

The Democrat controlled TSA checks inside people's underwear, and makes the elderly drop their pants to get on a plane.

So why would those same Democrats object to keeping the integrity of our election system by showing a ID at the polls?

In my poling place all you have to have is one of the following, water bill, electric bill or heating bill and than most of the time they don't check those they just ask for your address, neat right. Picture IDs are easy to get if you know the right people. Mail in ballots well those would be easy to get into the hands of people who shouldn't vote I would think. I also think the only people who should have mail in ballots are our troops our shore, people in the hospital and the home bound and than a certified person should verfy they can vote. With all the monies spent on wasteful things already why not use for this. Picking at straws yes but how do you fix it.

More government control when it suits your agenda, I guess. My comments at #1.85 are my feelings on the subject. Yes, you shouldn't be able to get a chance to vote unless you are an eligible voter. But there should be no obstacles making it inconvenient for anyone to get their vote counted.

@Don

my state has a 1.6 billion dollar surplus as a safety net for future liberal scams and ponzi schemes...with another 288 million came that through today which looks like it will be returned to us taxpayers...they have been giving ID to vote for free...they even accept TEMPORARY ID for voting...interesting!

you case does not hold up to scrutiny...I am glad to live in a state where the chance of you crying about losing an election because of voter fraud is greatly reduced , no matter which side of the aisle you are on..

@LMarcT

"This needs to go to court."....it did...IN 2008 !...this from your beloved liberal fish wrap MSNBCDNC

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24351798/ns/politics/t/supreme-court-upholds-voter-id-law/

@LMarcT

I can at least agree with your take on this matter!...haha

the best thing about this process is that each state will decide how they want to handle this topic ..that means the POWER is at THE STATE LEVEL which is what the Constitution intended to protect...I do not believe that anyone has even broached the subject of making this a "federal" issue, and it shouldn't be

This is totally stupid! All that needs to be done is have every voter have their thumbprint on a ballot, or scanned with the ballot. We have the technology to rapidly discover if there are more than one ballot with the same print associated with it. When registering to vote, and proving you're who you say you are. Providing your thumbprint excludes all these claims of racial, poor, elderly, etc. bias! I've always wondered why the credit card issuers don't provide retailers with the equipment to scan prints for purchases? Think fraud, and credit card theft would go down?

Isn't this regressive TP stuff like what the KKK used to do?? Geez - the march backwards....

Fight this crap and let freedom ring!!!

isn't the "progressive" democrat stuff like what the communists used to do?...after all the communists of the 50's and 60's called themselves "progressives"...Geez - the march backwards

fight their crap like gubment mandated healthcare scams and let freedom ring!!!!

Harry Black - the answer is NO, jerk - not the same thing

NewtIS --Sorry but Harry Blank has it right. Did you sleep through history class?

gary-309869

Thank you Mr. McCarthy and how's your sidekick, Nixon?? Can we expect some hearings into the latest Red Scare??? lol

I can't believe anyone is buying into this crap. I normally detest personal stories on vines like this, but here goes...

When I was 23 and two years out of college I had a contract job in FL. While driving home to Detroit, I got a ticket in KY. Long story short, I forgot about the ticket and ended up with a suspended lisence. I went to court in FL then moved home to MI the following day. Here's where it gets crazy, in order to reinstate my lisence, I had to coordinate between three DMV's in three different states, as well as the clerks/records office in the city I had been born in. It was, simply put, a clusterfu*%&, and my records weren't even that old. AND, I had transportation to get around to the different offices. AND, I had knowledge of the internet to help navigate the system. AND, I had money to pay for it all.

Moral of the story, it's freaking difficult to navigate a system riddled with beaurocrasy. Even just hunting down the documents and working within the state I was born and raised in was a headache. God help anyone who doesn't have an advanced education, specifics as to where/when/and to who they were born, an idea of where to go to get what paperwork, a reliable car to get them there, and money for the numerous fees associated with it all.

Now, who would that be the most difficult for??? As I said, those without knowledge of how the system works, those without money, those without resources, and without transportation. Please, can someone tell me which demographics are low on money, knowledge, resources, and transportation??? Which party are they more likely to vote for?

Now, can anyone please explain why we are spending so much time and money dealing with voter fraud when it's been found that voter fraud almost never happens??? Why not expend this energy into crimes that are all too prevalent, like child abuse, rape, or corruption?

And, by the way, enough with the comparisons to drinking or anything else you need an ID for. You don't have a God given right, protected by our Consitution, to purchase booze. No group of people was ever disenfranchized by their inability to prove they were 21 and hit the sauce that night.

Well I guess it has come to the point where all that we know and love and is considered "good' in this world is all coming apart at the seams as the world implodes.

Voters are to be asked to actually show an ID before voting. Boy oh boy, do we have it tough, or what !

What's next...'Occupy Voting Booths' until that horribly vicious ID requirement is erased for good ???

William Root...

Your 'thumbprint' idea has one flaw. You ask why 'credit card issuers don't provide retailers with the equipment to scan thumbprints for purchase' claiming that "fraud and credit card theft" would effectively be decreased...and you might be correct.

However, there might be a big increase in thumbprint amputations...the mugger on the street won't just be looking to take your wallet anymore !

@NewtIs

McCarthy tried to warn us...you may be young...not your fault

Tomorrow,

Do you happen to know the rate of voter fraud in this country??? Well I do, and it's .0002%. Do you really think we need to crack down, spending how much time, effort, and MONEY to deal with an issue whose rate is that low? If so, why aren't we spending this much time, effort, and money on crimes with exponentially higher rates?

Please, explain your logic behind your desire to tackle this issue.

And by the way...

Of course all of you who are not in favor of an honest election with only live citizens voting

What a load of uneccessary drama.

IMO there should be a national ID card which must be presented to vote, or receive any city, state, federal services/benefits.

Patriot,

That sounds like a good plan until you look a little deeper.

First, there's the money issue. The average cost of a driver's lisense is about $20, a passport is about $100, a birth certificate is another $20, and a criminal background check is about $30. Assuming those would be the four things you would have to combine together in order to have one, overall, identity card, you're looking at $170/person. For a family of four, that would be $680. That's more than most people receive for an entire month of benefits from the government. Who would cover these expenses? If it's required by the government, and you're Consitutional rights are dependant on it, how are you proposing people who can't afford this would receive there's? That's to say nothing about the fact that things get lost. I'm only 30 and have already had to replace my birth certificate, and believe me when I tell you that I come from a SUPER organized household. Lower class people are less likely to own real estate, ergo more likely to move, ergo more likely to lose paperwork, and they're the least likely to be able to afford this.

Second, think of the logistics. You would have to reorganize how many different beaurocratic offices? Than reopen one in what, every state, every county, every city? You would have to create a whole new department within the federal government. Which means, bigger government and more taxes, especially if those who can't afford the card are subsidized by the government. Now I don't know if you're a Republican, but they've been pretty stubborn about standing firm against both of those things.

Finally, you've gotta look at the Consitutional implications. This would be a slippery slope situation. If we allow for a federally backed ID card in order to receive your constitutional voting right, that sets up a precedent where you can now be denied due process, freedom of speech, equal protection, yada, yada, yada, all because you don't have this card. In essence, you're rights are dependant on your ID card. What than happens if the government stops issueing them to certain "undesirables"? Think of the Japanese citizens during WWII, or even Muslim citizens today. And remember, the SCOTUS, in Plyer v Dough ruled that you don't have to be a citizen to receive your Constitutional rights. If you're on American soil, you're governed by our jurisprudence. Remember that French dude accused of raping the hotel maid? Think of any person in this country on vacation who gets into trouble. Do you see how all of this snowballed? This would be a slippery slope nightmare.

Sarah...

In my town about 12 years ago...I forget whether it was a local election for office or a town budget vote...a one point victory, or one point loss, depending on the shoes being filled.

We have seen voters in foreign countries walk for days to be able to cast a precious vote. Or at least, what should be considered to be a 'precious' vote. We have seen voters in foreign countries even risk their lives to be able to cast a vote. Some have even died.

I think a vote should be a precious and important thing. It is not really often treated as such, by many in this country. 'Walk' for miles ??? We have people in this nation that consider having to show an ID at the polling place to be an inconvenience and an insult.

Tony,

It is an insult. It essentially shifts the whole burden of proof. Why are certain people now suspect? Why all of a sudden is the old method not okay? The voter fraud rate is .0002%, apparently the old method was working just fine. Why this preemptive strike about something that we have no reason to believe will happen?

This is a Constitutional right. Where does this end then? Are we now to have to show ID in order to receive due process? That's also a vital civil right. What about before I post this, seeing as free speech would also be a right?

What is the reasoning behind infringing upon and complicating a civil right, when the rate of that civil right being abused is .0002%??? Does a rate that low really give the government an uber compelling reason to limit and complicate what is termed an inalienable right???

The republican way is only the rich can vote.

the liberal way is even the dead can vote

I'm sure after watching the Trump moderated debate coming up even the dead will refuse to vote GOP for fear things will get worse for them.

GOP has been just as guilty in some states of the "dead" casting votes as the Dems. Where is your proof that only "liberals" cast "dead" votes?

You know what is really funny there, they were trying to get signatures for the recall of Gov Walker and some of them were told to go the cemeteries and get the names there for the recall petition.

No one party is perfect but the same time we have to have ID for just about everything why not voting.

I know of one instance where the local polling booth had to call for more ballots because they ran out and every registered voter had voted then many new ones. More than were recorded to be in that area. Unfortunately upon checking some of the addresses they were vacant lots. That needs to stop..

While i think that both statements are a bit extreme, i do have to lean towards the liberals in this one being on the side of silly. I cant go watch a movie without ID - people should not be able to vote without ID. If states dont offer a free ID of some kind, then that would have to be addressed - but to say that to mandate ID is discriminatory is just a silly statement. For something as important as voting, we need to have some form of identification.

In most states you have to show ID of some form to buy tobacco products. Sooooo as I see it, you have to show your ID to tobacco and alcohol but not to vote.

I cannot confirm this, but I heard of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck voting in presidential elections.

Get real people, if you are afraid of showing your ID to Vote. Are you then legally allowed to vote, (I.E. have a felony conviction, or in this country legally?) If not either, then why not show it?

How could people who are not brain dead vote for thrice married, can't pay my bill at Tiffany, big lobbyist Gingrich, the Gomer Pyle moron from Texas, or the deer in the headlights MILF from Minnesota with the gay husband. I think you got it backwards PJAM

Eric913730, The republican way is only the rich can vote, So let me guess you favor illegal immigrants being allowed to vote, and you favor any and all voter fraud.

I am poor and yet i have a drivers license. I can get a State issued Photo ID for $2.00 if i want one.

Your IGNORANCE is showing.

Anyone that thinks this favors one political party or another is a total IDIOT. Come on over i have an antidote for the cool aid you drank.

I am sick of any changes being made that are ALWAYS considered Racially Motivated. That in itself is Racism.

The republican way is only the rich can vote.

Eric,

Ya, only the rich people have photo id's and drivers licenses! You need to be a millionaire to get a drivers license these days.

I think that only the people who pay taxes should vote. The ones paying the bills should make the rules, or everyone should pay taxes and shut up already. Showing an I.D. should be standard practice. We have to show I.D. for many things and the DOJ or ACLU don't do a thing about it. I really don't like pulling out my I.D. when I use my credit card but you don't hear me hiring the communists organization, the ACLU, to sue anyone. Voting is important and for the DOJ or the ACLU trying to questions states laws on this really tells me their agenda. Sorry people, their agenda is to bring down America. If it weren't, all these people would be doing the right thing for America.

They found the "dead" did cast votes in Ohio! Voter fraud.

So some people do not feel any need to have someone show ID before they vote?? What is wrong with requiring having a legal document to prove who you are? This smells....

So let me get this straight, the only time a democrat wants a person to show their ID when voting is when they are voting whether or not they want to be in a union, then they should be positively identified and how they voted be public knowledge. If you are voting for president of the USA, just show up and all is OK. Looks like everyone has their hypocrisies about voting.

@john and radical,

"Tea Party Nation President Judson Phillips said denying the right to vote to those who do not own property “makes a lot of sense” during a weekly radio program."

Looks like republicans wanting only those rich enough to own property to vote.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/30/denying-vote-propertyless-makes-lot-sense-tea-party-nation-pres/

The TP way is that only right-wingers that are more than likely to vote TP should be allowed to vote. College kids, poor, immigrants, even old folks in democratic districts - TP makes it as hard as possible for them to vote!

Let freedom ring once more - vote these throwbacks out!!!!

Tomorrow - you have voter registration confused with voting. All ACORN could do, was register voters, just like the National Organization for Women, the Boy Scouts of America, 4H, etc... this is something that many groups do as a fund raiser. Counties pay the groups by the number of voters registered and the people/groups submitting the forms are NOT allowed to make any alterations. So if you take the form and register as Donald Duck at 123 FU St. they cannot remove that. That is what the county commissioners do. They validate the registrants before allowing them to vote. But why let the actual facts get in the way of your ignorant rant?

Voter ID??

yes, the GOP want everyone to have a voter id. Why? Think how many republicans out there through our great country do not have one. So many elderly can't drive, don't have a car, so what are they to do. maybe the Grand Old Party could send money from their party to those so people who don't have the money can then pay for a picture with their name. Most everyone whom vote most always have one person running the booths that know them.

Now, either that or the Republican's want to know just how many people are their voter's. What ever, what a bunch of crap. Just the idea that it has to be with you will keep a good many people home regardless of their party. There are score's of people who put's their mark at the last person they heard mentioned or carrying the cards given them as they try to enter. Some could care less. just want to be seen by the worker's.

Now here is another thought. For those who do not have an ID card when going to vote, why not have a photo booth and a guard in the same room where one votes. The person without an ID can set one up right there. just carry a piece of utility bill with your name.

What if they are homeless and have no ID?

That is why the only form of ID should be a voter registration card issued by the Election Board. That is the way they do it in the USVI and it is a FREE card. When you go in to register, you are photographed and a photo ID is issued. That is the only ID that will get you through the checkpoint at election time. As I noted above, you have to be registered to vote anyway, so there should be no excuse for the election boards not to issue a photo ID voter registration card.

If they are homeless, how do they know which precinct or district to which they are assigned?

That's WHY the ID is required. The law sets a prerequisite; you need to prove you satisfy it. Just like pres candidates SHOULD present birth certificates with their filing papers. Satisfy the prerequisites. Sure would have saved a lot of stupidity for the birthers.

That whole thing about the birthers? Please. He provided the short form, accepted by the election board at the FEC, and that was enough for them. Not enough for the birthers. He provided an announcement in the paper of his birth. Not enough for the birthers.

He provided and published online his long-form birth certificate, and you still have morons like Joe Arpaio and Orly Taitz running around accusing election boards of treason for putting him on the ballot. Birthers never were, nor are, looking for actual evidence or truth. They're looking for an excuse, plain and simple.

The fact is that these voter ID laws are linked to birtherism in one key point: they are both racially motivated.

@ Toasty Did you even read the article? It clearly states:

'In fact, after enactment of Indiana’s strict photo identification law in 2006 and Georgia’s in 2007, voter turnout went up – not down'

I guess you think those id's required to purchase alcohol and firearms are racist too? LOL.....

I can't even believe there is a debate on this. If you don't have a photo ID I don't want you voting. An ID requirement is the least we can do to insure some credibility to such an important civic duty. You nuts who say no ID required, are just pacifiers of laziness and fraud.

It didn't occur to you that 2008 was a presidential election, ksw?

And just so you know, voting is a constitutional right. Buying alcohol and guns are not individual rights. One is a priviledge, and the other is a right only for well-regulated militias.

Enact voter suppression laws, destroy labor unions, repeal child labor laws, destroy Social Security, destroy Medicare, repeal all environmental laws, destroy the post office, destroy the department of education, kill PBS and NPR, eliminate all laws that advance woman’s rights and finally eliminate all taxes for the rich. These are just some the Republican/Tea Parties goals. I don’t know one American, Republican, Democrat or Independent that supports any of these things. If we don’t vote these extremists out of office ASAP, they will lead this country into a dark age that we may not be able to recover from.

Wrong Toasty.

In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second Amendment decisions. In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm, unconnected to service in a militia^[1][2] and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home. Additionally, the Court enumerated several longstanding prohibitions and restrictions on firearms possession that it found were consistent with the Second Amendment.^[3] In McDonald v. Chicago (2010), the Court ruled that the Second Amendment limits state and local governments to the same extent that it limits the federal government.^[4]

But hey, lets forget the supreme courts interpretation of the bill of rights, let's leave that sort of thing up to an expert named toasty.

Voter ID laws are good for our country. If we can't stop illegal aliens from coming across our border, the least we can do is stop them from voting in our elections. Keep up the good work.

Grow up MarlonJacobs.

Toasty--incorrect.

On June 26, the Supreme Court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that the Second Amendment—"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed"— protects a purely individual right, as do the First, Fourth and Ninth Amendments. "Nowhere else in the Constitution does a 'right' attributed to 'the people' refer to anything other than an individual right," the court said. "The term ['the people'] unambiguously refers to all members of the political community."

http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?id=177

The left wants to maintain their system of anonymous voting. How else can they continue with their fraudulent voting schemes? Remember the Chicago slogan on Election Day: “vote early and vote
often.”

Eric-913730

If they are homeless, chances are they aren't going to vote anyway. In some states it is an all mail-in ballot. They have to have an address to receive a ballot to begin with. If they go to a voting precinct headquarters to get a ballot, they have to show ID anyway.

If we have to show ID to cash a check, use a credit card or even buy beer, why not be required to show it to do something that affects our whole country? I don't see any problem with showing you are who you are to vote.

States are allowed to determine what their voting requirements, so the Federal Government' attempts to change anything would again run into a problem with the Supreme Court and the 'separation of powers' issue.

I suspect this has much less to do with actual voter registration and far more to do with portraying the Republicans as against voter participation.

Voter Suppression is the real issue. Voter FRAUD is not committed by the people, it's committed by the governments that suppress those people, just look at Russian elections going on today.

It didn't occur to you that 2008 was a presidential election, ksw?

And just so you know, voting is a constitutional right. Buying alcohol and guns are not individual rights. One is a priviledge, and the other is a right only for well-regulated militias.

Duh. You did not read the article, did you. They also described the results for the off years as well. There was and is NO voter suppression, regardless of how liberal you are.

You can't read the Constitution very well, either, can you?

The important words and phrases are contiguous:

the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed

Most people have no problem with proving who they are...and those that do have a problem with it...generally have something to hide!

Toasty,

Can you explain how exactly these laws are racially motivated?

Do they prevent people of color from acquiring a driver's license?

Do they prevent people of color from getting another form of state ID that is accepted at the polling location?

Or, let me guess, they prevent poor people from getting them because they cost too much, is that it?

You see in order to claim racial motivation you actually have to show that a particular race will be unduly impacted by the laws as written; not as imagined in the mind of you and other lefties.

To me having people provide picture ID to vote makes perfect sense. You need picture ID to buy alcohol, why should you not be required to show picture ID to do something as serious as vote for the leaders of this country. Obama and the democrats only want to stop this so they can continue helping illegals vote in our elections. There is not proof that these picture ID laws in any way effect the ability of legal voters to cast their ballots or that is discourages any group of legal voters from going to the polls. This should be the law in all 50 states.

I showed up at my polling station with my passport once and the people running the station didnt know what to do. It was kind of comical. The polling stations in down town Detroit leaves a lot to be desired.

Don't expect a response from Toasty once you all proved he was incorrect.......

Roy Wilson,

Bingo. Democrats want a false narrative, a negative one, in order to demonize republicans. It's even more than you say too. Democrats don't just want Americans to believe republicans oppose voter participation, they want Americans to specifically believe we oppose the poor, or minorities, or the young, to vote. It's all a lie, and it gained a foothold only because for many years a supportive and unbelievably uncurious MSM repeated the narrative without any consideration of the truth.

And now that there are good statistics proving liberals are liars about this, too, we will with luck be seeing an end to these stupid democrat personalities repeating it. But don't worry my leftist friends, there is apparently a bottomless pit that you and your ilk feed from in finding/creating these lies. You will easily find something else to front as a crisis which has no basis in fact and is only meant to confuse the confusable.

Proving your identity is probably a good thing. Yes it can be used to deny people who are legally registered to vote if they can't prove who they are. But hell I have to show ID every time I buy liquor in my state and I am 55 years old and LOOK it. Also when I buy cigarettes. Voter fraud doesn't occur at the voting booth by individuals so it is really a waste of time. Voter fraud occurs during the redistricting after each census. Gerrymandering is the problem. All you have to do is look at the 4th district in Illinois to see that. Voter fraud occurs when dangling chads are the issue. Voter fraud occurs when counting the vote quickly to make the TV news is more important than counting it accurately. Voter fraud occurs when electronic voting doesn't give the voter a copy of their ballot. Showing a document to register and showing your ID doesn't stop illegal aliens from voting. Fraudulent documents are easy enough to acquire. PACS and Super PACS are the real problem. Corporations running TV adds non-stop. Many outright lying to get their message out is a problem. Only 30% of those eligible to vote doing so is the problem. Voter ID isn't even a issue it is part of the smokescreen meant to distract and deceive. Gerrymandering and corporations buying their puppets offices are the problems AND IT DOESN"T MATTER IF YOU ARE OWS OR TEA PARTY. OWS and the TEA Party have much more in common that differences. They just have been blinded to that fact.

Toasty was actually right about one thing. Having the right to own a gun and the right to buy said gun are totally different. You can be denied the ability to purchase weaponry under certain circumstances. The constitution only applies to people that own weapons, or, in other words, that are able to purchase them (excluding gifts).

The real deal on "VOTER FRAUD" versus "ELECTION FRAUD" :

First it is important to understand at least the fundamental differences between "Election Fraud" and "Voter Fraud", in "Voter Fraud" on very rare occasions, a voter will use the ID of a person (usually a close family member) to obtain a 'second voter ID in order to cat more than one ballot in an election, this happens occasionally but it is extremely rare since most Americans aren't that crazy about voting in the first place, then there is "Election Fraud", this is typically any practice that is put in place do discourage or place obstetrical in the way of a who block of voters from voting, a typical example being 'if you are a Republican of Democratic Secretary of state, allocating far more polling places and ballot boxes in districts that favor your party and dramatically reducing the number of polling places and ballot boxes in districts that favor the opposing party.

Clearly, "Election Fraud" has a significantly more detrimental impact on "fair and honest" elections than individual "Voter Fraud".

It has been suggested that groups like ACORN have considerably impacted elections due to the fact that they have turned in thousands of "obviously fraudulent' voter registrations just in single batches, BUT the significant and relevant fact(s) that most don't consider is that whether its a "lefty" group like ACORN of a "Rightie" group like the John Birch Society that is conducting a voter registration drive, both of those groups are required to do a couple of things as mandated by the county clerk's office and these are basically true throughout most of the country:

#1- it is required that ALL voter registration forms that have been filled out be turned over to the county clerk (regardless of how complete and regardless of whether they may appear to be fraudulent)

#2- Almost every county clerk's office requires that any voter registration form that is either incomplete or that might appear to contain less than accurate information be segregated from 'apparently compete forms' and turned over separately

#2 is of greatest not because given all the attention focused on ACORN's supposed 'voter fraud' practices, that has been primarily driven by the fact that ACORN paid people to register voters, paid people based on the number of voter that those individuals register and then were required by law to segregate "apparent or suspected "fraudulent registrants" and to submit those separately from what appeared to be valid registrations.

On the other hand there have been numerous instances where "Republican operatives" have conducted voter registration drives and have retain the registrations for those registering as "Republicans" and destroyed the documentation for those who registered as "Democrats" thus making is impossible for those Democrats to vote a clear violation of the law.

Beyond the relatively small handful of incidents of "individual voter fraud" committed by both Republicans and Democrats which has thus allowed s few people across the country to vote more than once is the far more significant issue of election fraud where the Secretary of State of a specific state has taken extraordinary measures to insure that there were ample voting facilities available in the areas that favored the SoS's party while at the same time allocating far fewer voting faicilites for the Sos's facilities available in those district that favored the Sos's opposing party! But the real rub comes in when you come to realize that has only ever happened when a REPUBLICAN SoS has rigged to polling places in favor of the GOP and it has never once happened when a Dem Sos was in the position to do the same.

Hi Geowil,

I'm not sure where you are going with this idea, or where it came from. It isn't a logical mystery to make the claim that if the constitution protects private ownership of arms, then it must also protect the right to buy those arms. I agree that the right is conditional, as are all rights, but ownership can only occur if the purchase was able to be conducted. Unless we are to now think that all arms that are legally owned must be home made.

But this would make no sense since the constitution was written at a time when most, by far, who owned arms bought them from a smith.

Hey Ron,

Wow! It sure is a relief to know that the Voting Rights Act was in no way motivated by democratic party voter suppression activities in the southern states. You, sir, are brilliant. Just BRILLIANT!!!

Sally

Stop NAZI tactics Tea Party!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stop posting this please, MarlonJacobs.

What, no one day suspension for this Sally?

i like your dog's picture ...Sally...what kind is it...

It's pretty obvious, Sparky: the people who disproportionately lack photo IDs (and who coincidentally vote against republicans) are minorities. There's your impact.

Rich,

There are circumstances where you are barred from buying weapons. Such as prior convictions or if you are on watch lists. That is what the background checks are for, to weed out those who law enforcement or Government agencies determine are not fit to own a weapon. There is no constitutional right to buy weapons, only to possess them.

Meaning if you can buy a gun then you are allowed to own it because that is your right as a citizen, however if your background check turns up dirty they can deny your application to purchase that weapon; hence no constitutional right to buy.

IF I remember correctly bush's Limousine got egged for rigging the election, and then 8 years later ACORN stuffed the ballot boxes for Obama. Both Parties have been thoroughly debunked in this respect. Bush destroyed our rights through the Patriot Act, and Obama re-instated it. Red or Blue has nothing to do with it anymore.They're all the same drones working for the same banking Elite. Just with different ties and talking points.

I wish you repubs will get off that Acorn BS Acorn did not stuff ballot boxes for the Pres, what happened was some of their people who volunteered were handing in fake filled out cards so they could get paid more money!! and they caught every one of them which was not that many and fired them period, but most of you dumb conservatives want to believe the right wing spin that you only hear what you want to hear instead of the facts!! These voter ID laws are suppression period they are all following the ALEC playbook shave off a few point here and there and we win the election. It's also BS when i hear people say "IF I have to have a drivers license to buy alcohol then they should one to vote GTFOH with that stupid ******* comment it's stupid. People should only be required to show who they are and their current address without a license. If the repubs think their way is the right way then why are they always trying to rig the vote to win period!!

You say they caught them all...what could that possibly be based upon...they caught all the ones they caught..there is no way to know how many they did not catch because...duh..they did not catch them...this is the whole problem with people who say that voter fraud is not a problem...since there is no mechanism to detect voter fraud...e.g. requiring IDs then there is no way to detect fraud and little effort to look for it..and obviously there is little evidence of the voter fraud that no one looks for and that there is no way to detect...but that is not proof that there is not rampant fraud...just proof that the dems have successfully created a system where people can cheat without being detected.

Again soggy get your facts correct about Acorn the rupub spin is bs!! because the repubs are also making it more difficult for people to register to vote by requiring them to bring in all sorts of documentation. It's all a sham of the repubs in order for them to keep power in the Southern States and the States they have now gained power in both houses!! Look at all the Southern States most of their people are poor and very under educated. And i will say it again if the repubs are so sure their message is right they would not be trying to rig elections in their favor.

Nice job USMC! I agree, when buying liquor is a Constitutionally protected civil right, we can discuss the merits of having to show ID to be awarded it. Until that time, it's an illogical comparison.

This is a Constitutional right. Where does this end then? Are we now to have to show ID in order to receive due process? That's also a vital civil right. What about before I post this, seeing as free speech would also be a right?

What is the reasoning behind infringing upon and complicating a civil right, when the rate of that civil right being abused is .0002%??? Does a rate that low really give the government an uber compelling reason to limit and complicate what is termed an inalienable right???

Because an accusation is a fact. Why are we not trying to get the other half of eligible voters to vote? Wouldn't that overwhelm any fraud? Of course the real goal is to prevent the majority voting.

The only possibility for massive fraud is absentee ballots. Who's getting the ID for them?

Rationalthinker: accepting your statement as fact, how many of those 400,000 fraudulent registrants voted ? Yeah, I can't find any information saying that there was a single one either.

Fraudulent voter registration may be rampant, but actual voter fraud is virtually non-existent.

The statistics show that there is NO overwhelming voter fraud.

Photo Id makes voter turn out higher, as shown in recent statistics.

This conflict will always yield more voters as they will be concerned they can't vote and they will register and make sure they have what they need to vote.

You do know that the Acorn charges were dismissed and proven false? Really if you are going to argue something, you should probably watch something other than Fox for your talking points.

There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud. People register with bogus names, but those identities simply don't show up to vote.

Frankly I think this is a waste of taxpayer time on both sides of the fence. Neither side can prove that voter fraud exits, or that ID requirements lead to lower voter turnout, meaning this is all just a waste of time, and more likely just a wedge issue to stimulate their voting base.

DJ - Prove it. Acorn has just been re-indicated on fraud. Carried by PMSNBC last week.

that is a LIE

PatrioticThinker, There has never been any ACORN voter fraud. There has only been false accusations by partisan parties. And totally false blog posts by the likes of Bachmann and other TEA idiots.

.

As I understand it, there were many voter registration forms turned in by ACORN with names like "Mickey Mouse" and "Heywood Jablowme." Now, the thing is, if ACORN gets a voter registration form from the state, they MUST TURN IT BACK IN. It's required, by law, whether or not the organization has a suspicion it is fake. ACORN cannot make the ruling that a particular voter does or does not exist. Maybe the person's parents had a sick sense of humor. Maybe it's a poor translation of a name with meaning from another language. Who can say? Legally, not ACORN.

Just gives me an idea, though. Maybe I'll go register with a large conservative coalition under a bunch of fake names. If they don't get in a scandal for trying to register a bunch of fradulent names, then I'll know it to be one of three things:

1) The organization disobeyed federal law and destroyed the forms out of hand.

2) The government felt that it was un-newsworthy due to a conservative bias in the ranks.

3) The media felt like crucifying ACORN, and to do it properly I'll need a pimp hat and a girl dressed up like a whore, or the conservative equivalent, which I guess would be a Cayman Island account and a couple of mistresses whom I'd like to buy houses for, tax-exempt. And then I'll need to go to fifty different branches and edit the videos to make it seem like they were helping me. And a fast getaway car in case they call the police. Just like Breitbart and O'Keefe.

I believe Jeb Bushs state of Florida did this FRAUD thing first. That's what started all of this. GWB had to have brother help get him elected. YIKES... What an HUGE mistake that was.

I live in Florida and watched these people recounting ballots. That was the tragedy. How someone could set there and actually say this was a vote is ridiculous. Thank God, the Supreme Court halted that fiasco and by the way Gore acted like a baby.

I'm originally from Va and have voted there and I can't remember when I did not have to show some sort of ID to vote.

I think this whole issue is a farce.

Hey UnitedStates1776 / patrioticthinker, don't let facts get in your way.

fact check.org

"Several ACORN canvassers have been found guilty of faking registration forms and others are being investigated"

I am a Democrat and I have no problem with requiring a valid ID when voting. As it stands now, if I know my neighbor's name and address I could vote using their name. I could be charged with forgery by signing their name when you sign to vote but who really checks that sheet for valid signatures unless there is a problem. I don't think it should be that way. One vote per REGISTERED person. Why not use a voter ID card. I would have to apply to get a new one because I don't know where the old one is since I have never used it to vote.

Who knows, requiring a valid ID might eliminate the chance of the supreme court from choosing our next president. Or it might prevent a person whom died 20 years ago from voting in the up coming election. Isn't that a novel idea?

Rationalthinker: accepting your statement as fact, how many of those 400,000 fraudulent registrants voted ? Yeah, I can't find any information saying that there was a single one either.

Fraudulent voter registration may be rampant, but actual voter fraud is virtually non-existent.

Ummm - how would we know if any of those people actually voted? ID was not checked so ANYONE could have voted.

You absolutely CANNOT proved the negative here. You have to measure something to know how much of it there is. Blather does not make it so.

You have to check Voter ID.

hey patriot-thinker

i see you like the insult "pmsnbc" that's a Oxy addict Rush Limbaugh line..

do you actually HAVE thoughts of your own or does druggy rush spoon fed you all of your throughts?

you can answer, which i am sure you'll do since your narcistic rage will insist that you do....but, i already know the answer

JCB-1236504, voter fraud means that someone actually tried to use a fake id to vote. It does not mean some person faking some registration form in order to meet their quota and get paid. None of those fake registrations ever vote. Half the addresses are fake as well. None of them match up and so no one can vote with them. It's just stupid people wanting to get paid. It's not right that people do this. BUT, it's not voter fraud.

.

I believe Jeb Bushs state of Florida did this FRAUD thing first. That's what started all of this. GWB had to have brother help get him elected. YIKES... What an HUGE mistake that was.

You really don't have a clue, do you?

Jeb had absolutely nothing to do with the federal elections. If you had been paying attention or done any homework, you would have known that it was the Secretary of State that handled the elections.

And you would have know that the US Supreme Court finally put an end to the useless chad-sniffing and tarot-reading that was going on.

And you would have known that George Bush indeed got more votes in Florida than Al Gore, even with all those Democratic election boards ignoring logic while divining voter intentions from punchcards.

voter fraud means that someone actually tried to use a fake id to vote.

And if you don't check voter ID, voter fraud is very easy.

Dr Larry, there have only ever been 9 cases of documented voter fraud.

Voter fraud is very rare in these days of verifiable names and addresses that each Supervisor of Elections has at each polling location.

They check your name off when you come to vote so no one else can vote that name and address.

.

Dr. Larry,

The FL SOS Katherine Harris was the state co-chair of the GW Bush campaign.

Also I'm sure you're aware that the case heard by the SC was Bush v Gore, not Gore v Bush. To make that more clear for you, it was GW that sued to get the counting stopped, not Gore. I'm sure you're also aware that your statment about Bush getting more votes was false. As a consortium of newspapers went back two years after the fact and counted all the votes. Gore won by almost 13,000.

Gore's biggest mistake was only asking for recounts in certain counties. If all counties would have been recounted, he would have won. Except GW probably understood this, and sued to stop the recounts.

I'm just saying.

If the reason for all of this rigamorole is to stop "voter fraud" shouldn't they have to prove voter fraud really exists?

Ann Coulter committed voter fraud in Florida. She voted in her lawyers district instead of her own. Funny how she wasn't prosecuted though.

ALL RIGHT The ANTE has just been UPPED AGAIN !!

JCB-1236504

Hey UnitedStates1776 / patrioticthinker, don't let facts get in your way.

fact check.org

"Several ACORN canvassers have been found guilty of faking registration forms and others are being investigated"

So by USING your own rule of indicting an entire organization for the misdeeds of less than .0001 % of their workers I can now state that the GOP is a Homosexual & Pedophilia oriented enterprise that supports Prostitution within a marriage....? ( Larry Craig/ Tom Foley/ David Vitter)

Thanks for the Holiday present.... brainless just plain brainless

people in their 70's and 80's vote the most how many of them would have a current picture ID. Most are on fixed incomes and can not afford it. Hens a poll tax based on there income. Most student have student ID's hens poll tax if forced to show a state issued picture ID. Almost student don't work but attend school full time, again poll tax. Poll taxes are illegal and have been since the 1960's civil right act. Now you want to say that law is false?

It's funny every time repuk governors get in office how they try to suppress votes. Dems want more people to vote not less.

This ID thing is geared at the poor and elderly who ever don't get that is just a F-in idiot.

Now i will vote twice.

Another part of the law disenfranchises college students; they will only be allowed to vote in the precinct of the address on their official government-issued photo ID, usually their drivers license. They will have to travel from their campus to their home town by plane, train or automobile across the state or the country. This is unaffordable in money and time.

The "lame idea" that "elderly people do not have PHOTO ID" is one of the most ignorant ideas anyone could ever begin to suggest.

Having traveled and lived in many parts of the USA, and personally working with and knowing many, many elderly people over the past 50+ years... from ALL racial-ethnic and religious backgrounds...

I can GUARANTEE that elderly people always have LOTS of identification... rarely change their living address... and if living in ANY type of 'group housing or assisted living facility" elderly people have far more encouragement and assistance when it comes to voting than almost ANY other segment of our society.

Aside from everything else, a high percentage elderly people really don't have much to do and pay attention when it comes to voting... far more than any younger group of society.

ANYONE 'even suggesting otherwise" is operating on their "imagination" and/or just plain ignorant of the facts.

Sorry Moral...a college student does not have to travel from their campus to their home town to vote. They can use an absentee ballot. I used them for many years.

Moral Conscience - College students ought to only be able vote in their registered home. Then their views can only dilute their own or their parents elections. For years I've had to be subjected to 20,000 university voters, most of which have no plan on staying in my community when they graduate, yet my representatives (state and federal) are elected based on their liberal leanings.

Solution

how many people do YOU know in their 70s and 80s? That age of people will be on some form of social aid. To cash those checks they need ID. So your reasoning is not valid. It does not require a drivers licence, just a picture ID. States offer a valid ID that is not a drivers licence. These are extremely cheap, but do require a previous form of ID birth certificate, former drivers license, etc. But as I said, these people HAVE to have ID anyway, so the only ones who will have an issue are non citizens (the REAL elephonat in the room). Even homeless, such as vets need id to get into veterans hospitals They will have military id with PICTURES. Most would have former ids from clinics, mental hospitals, drivers licences on file. I had to make sure that my father had one, (he had Parkinsons), no he did not vote when he became ill. But most people in that age range are still mentally competent and able to drive or take a bus or other form on public transport. I live in the country and there is still public rural transportation available. These people you are talking about still have to go to doctors appointments, buy groceries, or have them bought. Have you ever tried to cash someone elses check for them? They require photo Id of the person who the check is from or to (if a services check), proof of WHO you are and that YOU have the right to handle their business for them (a power of attorney). It is bull that any one will be disenfranchised who has a right to vote. I can promise you, if the voter IDs laws come into use in every state, both the Republican AND the Democratic parties will offer transportation to the DMV and the county court houses to get every one who wants it the proper IDs, just like the non ID'd voters are buses to the polling places not. The only difference is anyone who votes at the polling places will be known eligible voters.

@Carlos Toadvine

Simply put, many of the things we do with ID's are a privilege. Driving, buying alcohol, purchasing property, you get the drift........... Voting is a right and responsibility for ALL US Citizens (minus felons and those under 18).

Unbelievable, where I live we have an expression "vote early vote often"a check of an ID might not be a negative if it were done properly, there are few people who do not have ID'S. I tried to keep it simple too.

Solutions539 my mother is 88 years old, she carries a valid state ID on her all the time. To say, people in their 70's and 80's vote the most how many of them would have a current picture ID. Most are on fixed incomes and can not afford it is putting down our seniors themselves.

wildmemphian, it doesn't cost anything in Tennessee to obtain a non-driver photo ID. It looks the same as real DL. Most old people, I are one, are a little more in tune with voting than the average American. Students can vote in their home state and in their college state, not legally, but there is no way to stop them from voting twice in a national election.

We see some of the ridiculous "reasons" liberals oppose voter ID in this thread. The only people likely to not have, or be able to easily obtain, photo ID are people that should not have them. Period.

You know, like dead people, felons, illegal aliens, multiple personality folks, etc.

I think I read that people with vacation homes can vote in both places too. And they should be able to vote in the local elections in both places, that is only right (they are paying property taxes in both places), but should not be able to vote for the President more than once.

I get a kick out of people who have this"I am too busy or to important to be bothered with showing my ID!" I find that those who scream "Violation of my rights" are most likely to want the removal of another persons rights.

Here we have the Democrats crying "FOUL" on requiring ID, saying its a Republican conspiracy to limit Liberal voters. Really? What are they afraid of? It exposes their guilt.

I know what they should be afraid of...2012!

I am more liberal than I used to be, but why should a Mexican citizen be allowed to vote in the USA because he or she has a utility bill in hand?

A utility bill is proof of identification for registered voters, yes, if they arrive at the polling place without their voter registration card. If it shows your name and address and you are voting in the district that the address is in. But a Mexican citizen cannot be registered to vote in the first place. The voter registration form requires either your SSN or DL number (both of which have your citizenship status tied to them), you have to avow on the form that you are a US citizen. It is a federal offense to lie. Do you really think that people who are not eligible to vote get through all the checks in place and somehow get on the voter registration rolls? You can't just walk up with a utility bill, you have to be registered also. You are assuming that anyone who appears to be of hispanic heritage at the polling place must be a Mexican citizen. That is simply an assumption on your part.

It's not that difficult to carry a photo ID. Get over yourself.

At least forty percent of our voting age citizens will never pay enough attention to even bother to vote. That is not a bad thing, if they are that derelict in a citizens's duties, they are too dumb to be affecting any election.

Heaven forbid that the Democrats should lose the vote of the illegal immigrant. Damn those voter ID laws anyway! ID (laws), we don't need no stinking ID laws! Let the laws say that only legal U.S. citizens can vote in a presidential election, but we just can't have any ability for this law to be enforced! We must keep up the pretence of having only legal U.S. citizen vote in presidential elections, however in reality that is apparently what the Democrats fear the most!

This is not the first time that this problem has been brought up, but it is the first time with Obama as POTUS and running for re-election. I am betting that at the very least those states who have voter ID laws, will have a stay order put against them "just in time for the 2012" presidential election. Think it is not possible or likely to happen? Remember this: Desperate people do desperate things, and Obama is desperate to get re-elected. He has already proved that he is a student of "Chicago politics" and will stop at nothing (that he thinks he can get away with that is) to secure his re-election. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Ask yourself who the most powerful person in America to day is, then consider the aforementioned statement of fact.

I have never seen any studies that show one way or another if voter fraud is a problem. I have seen some self-serving "studies" done by political parties where they have found only the information they want. I was asked about voter fraud by the Democrats once but quit the survey when I realized just how self-serving the questions were - "How many people do you know who have committed voter fraud?" and similar questions.

What statistics? You mean the ones where people don't require ID so no one knows if there is fraud?

Right.

If you do not have a ID you should not be allowed to vote and that is for all you DemocRATS that are begging for the Illegal vote they ARE ILLEGAL NOT LEGAL and the only reason you do not want everyone to show ID is because you would not get the Mexican vote If a American don't have a ID of some kind their is a problem some where and it is not the Governments fault If you are a American you have to have a ID you drive, cash a check, get a JOB, go to the Doctor, go to school BUT IF YOU ARE ILLEGAL YOU DON'T NEED A ID FOR ANY OF THESE THINGS SO WAKE THE HELL UP PEOPLE AND VOTE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Pokey, that is the reason the left doesn't want to know if a person is eligible to vote, and surely doesn't want the dem voter to be denied the ability to vote several times.

The DOJ does not make anything legal. The United States Attorney General appointed by George W. Bush, Alberto Gonzales, did not challenge the allegations of torture in the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Gonzales resigned from the position in 2007; he was involved in several controversies and accused of perjury before Congress, although no charges were ever filed.

HEY Crusher They sure protected your ass But maybe you would think a little different if someone you loved was killed back then

Larry

How about the NAACP? here is an article about a NAACP Offical voting 10 times in ONE ELECTION and she was found guilty.

After confessing to what appears to constitute voter fraud, high-level Democratic Party insider Andrea "Andi" Pringle has abruptly quit her post as senior aide to Washington, D.C., mayor Vincent Gray.

The resignation comes as several U.S. states initiate a crackdown on voter fraud. It also comes weeks after it was reported that Lessadolla Sowers, a member of the executive board of the Tunica County, Miss., NAACP, was sentenced to five years in prison for voting 10 times in the names of other people.

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=344577

Here is one for ACORN

In April ACORN pleaded guilty to felony-level unlawful compensation for registration of voters. With the full knowledge of upper management, ACORN illegally offered cash bonuses to its voter registration canvassers in a scheme called "Blackjack." Canvassers received extra money if they hit the magic number of 21 registrations in a day. (ACORN, predictably, denies its upper echelon knew anything about the scheme.)

http://www.lvrj.com/news/judge-fines-acorn-5-000-for-voter-registration-scheme-127467598.html

Notice that this was in Las Vegas Nev.

Gee!! I wonder who is a Senator from Nev.?? I also wonder what city had the highest votes for him?

Here again, you are claiming voter fraud. THIS IS NOT VOTER FRAUD - this at worst is Voter Registration Fraud. Just because the people accumulated invalid voter registration cards, these people DID NOT VOTE. What do you not understand about this ... some stupid organization paid people PER registration they acquired... this has nothing to do with voter fraud... this is a poor system to increase voter registration. Show me any proof that these invalidly registered individuals actually had a vote processed which counted towards the election.

Senator Harry Reid. . He also has the largest Mexican turnout percentage wise of any senator.

Man what are you smoking?? Must be pretty good stuff to be absolutely so oblivious to what is REALLY going on.............wake up dude or get so stoned we don't have to bother listening to your dribble!!

skunk budd...mountain grown...

UHHH. Dennis

If you fraudulently register are you not intending to fraudulently vote?? Did you not read the Lessadolla Sowers case? She was convicted of 10 counts of VOTER FRAUD not Fraudulent Registration. Why didn't you comment on that part of my post?

By your description, you must have no I.D.: correct?

And of course you have absolute proof that this "liberal voter fraud" exists?

Leona, although your statement about voter registration is false. Photo ID leads to more voter turn out. So go ahead GOP ask for photo ID's.

Leona, I find your remark totally accurate. I lived in Pa during the 2008 elections and a great number of voters in Philly were terrified and some flat out didn't vote because of the voter intimitation of the dem supporters. This is flat out not right. Eric, you sound like a far left liberal. I am an independant voter who made a terrible mistake in 2008 when I voted. Every voter should and needs to show voter ID when voting. People with mental problems should not vote and neither should street people or shelter people. If you cannot or don't understand the candidates or issues then those people should not vote. i am all for peoples rights but votes affect our lives in some drastic ways and just because someone is a "warm body" should not be the one affecting my future.

@LEONA-2986819

Anyway, what kind of individual does not have a photo ID ? Answer: One who doesn't have the ability to know the issues or who they are voting for .

Since when did knowledgeably about issues deny a U.S. citizen the right to cast a vote? Mentally challenged individuals work, pay taxes and should have the right to vote just like anyone else here.

I'm just sayin'.........

I see you're not aware that ACORN doesn't exist anymore. Time to get an updated script.

What happens when your State (North Dakota) has no voter registration??? :)

That is why the only form of ID should be a voter registration card issued by the Election Board. That is the way they do it in the USVI and it is a FREE card. When you go in to register, you are photographed and a photo ID is issued. That is the only ID that will get you through the checkpoint at election time. As I noted above, you have to be registered to vote anyway, so there should be no excuse for the election boards not to issue a photo ID voter registration card.

SCGrey,

ACORN changed their name. They exist all right.

BTW, " Time to get an updated script."

Gee, it's too bad that for the YEARS before the "DMV offices are shut down in urban areas" that people didn't get their identification.

They just happened to choose that particular day and time to try to get an ID, when they had ample YEARS, if not DECADES, to get one, so their voting rights are being taken away from them, is that correct?

And of course you don't mention that getting a simple ID card is actually FREE for everyone. It's getting a license that actually costs money.

A State ID card is not free in all states:

Alabama – $23
Alaska – Under 60 is $15, over 60 is free
Arizona – $12. Over 65 is free
Arkansas – $10
California – $23. Free for those over 62. $7 for low income folks
Colorado – $10.50. Free for those over 60
Connecticut – $15
Delaware -$5
Florida – $3
Georgia -$20 for 5 years, $35 for $10 years
Hawaii – $15 for under 65, $10 for over 65
Idaho – $7.50
Illinois – $20, free for seniors over 65 with no renewal necessary
Indiana – $13 under 65, $10 for over 65, last for 6 years
Iowa – $5
Kansas – $18 under 65, $14 over 65
Kentucky – $12
Louisiana – Average $21, free for over 60
Maine – $5
Maryland – $15, free for those over 65
Massachusetts – $15
Michigan – $10, free for seniors. Oh, and those with mental impairments
Minnesota – $15.50, $10.75 for those 65 and up
Mississippi – $13
Missouri – $11
Montana – $8
Nebraska – $23.75 (lots of different fees for those under 21)
Nevada – $11.25. For 65 and up, new is $6.25, renewal is $2.25
New Hampshire – haven’t been able to find the cost, even at the New Hampshire DMV or New Hampshire’s main site
New Jersey – $24
New Mexico – $5 for 5 years, $8 for 10 years
New York – Depending on length, $9 to $14. 62 and up, $6.50
North Carolina – $10
North Dakota – $8
Ohio – $8.50
Oklahoma – $10
Oregon – $29 for 8 years
Pennsylvania – $10
Rhode Island – $15, free for 59 and up
South Carolina – $5
South Dakota – $8
Tennessee – $12.50. For those 65 and up, they never expire
Texas – $15. 60 and up, $5 and never has to be renewed
Utah – $18. Never expires for those 65 and up
Vermont – $15, $10 if you get Social Security Income
Virginia – $10
Washington – $20
West Virginia – can’t find an actual figure
Wisconsin – $28 for eight years
Wyoming – $10, never expires
Washington, D.C. – $20

(from: www.thepiratescove.us/2008/04/28/what-does-a-state-id-cost/)

Wow!! I can see how getting an Identification card will prevent anyone from voting based on that. Why, the costs you list would just about bankrupt anyone that actually had to get one.

Especially since the BIGGEST gripe was that seniors "couldn't afford" to get ID cards. Based on your own list, seniors are the cheapest and easiest go get ID cards.

And in California AND Hawaii, both of my sons got ID cards, FREE, so despite your "list", you might just have some either "mistakes" or out and out lies, especially since it seems as though you got your information from that "factual" site, "piratescove".

I cant even put money in my bank account that i've had for 16 years without an ID.

@Moral Conscience My sister works at the BMV in our state (Indiana). Check your information..... If you are a US citizen, will be 18 by the next election, and do not have a valid driver's license, then you are eligible to get a FREE identification card.

Honestly...what percentage of those who don't have photo ID's feel it is important to vote. If they are going to vote it is because organizations such as ACORN have gone after their vote. I agree that almost everyone has a photo ID. This day and age it is known that we can't just trust people, so requiring proof of who they are only makes sense.

The "pirates cove" list above is total crap - incorrect and probably intentionally so.

This is pasted from the State of Indiana official website:

If you do not possess an ID that is acceptable for voting purposes, Public Law 109-2005 requires the BMV to issue an Indiana State ID Card for free.

Cheryl, although those prices for ID seem low to you, to many citizens that money is the difference between eating this week, having heat in their home, paying their rent or other utility, or even getting life saving prescriptions. so tell me which of the above must a poor person give up to receive an ID? not to mention since the patriot act the simple task of obtaining an ID is next to impossible, tons of red tape and multiple trips to the DMV before one successfully meets their satisfaction for ID. and with the costs of gas and public transportation many might get the money for the ID but not afford the way out to the DMV to get one, not to mention the high chance that they will just be turned away for not having valid ID.

now you can not use your current drivers license to obtain a new one, you must present 2 forms of government approved photo ID to receive an ID, and your current drivers does not count even if it is still valid.

I am sure they will stick the same guidelines to voter ID as the DMV sticks to us for the same.

getting a valid form of ID anywhere in the US these days is next to impossible and nowhere as simple as you think. but then again all people work and have income great enough to afford even the little things? right? and also all people just so happen to have their birth certificate, passport, a military ID, state ID and valid drivers license on hand at all time and an abundant amount of time to waste to go through the process of getting it done and afford multiple trips during working hours to travel to the closest DMV to wait in line for many hours? wow you are just the assumptive one.

I'm sorry, but so? They aren't requiring ID for absentee voting, so wouldn't that cover the people who 'either can't afford the fee for a state ID, or the time and effort one has to waste to obtain one'. So where's the problem? If you don't have a picture ID, vote absentee. Big whoop, a registered voter is a registered voter. If they have transportation problem with getting to the DMV for an ID they probably aren't able to travel to the polling place either. This is all just a bunch of noise. The people that want to vote will, the rest won't. Same as it's always been.

they announce poll winners before absentee votes are even counted meaning they are not counted

NO state or government law of any kind on any book REQUIRES any US citizen to carry any form of ID. every US citizen has the right to vote, except felons, who also can have that right easily reinstated. of course homeless people carry ID, probably more so that the working class as they are constantly in question of it.

but the greatest issue of vote process is the hijacking of the voting system by republicans. Dibold and other voting machine and vote tallying companies are ALL republican owned and operated. and from the bush elections 2000 and 2004, corruption, vote rigging, and tally total tampering was discovered in every one of these companies and their machines and processes. and it was all to favor republicans.

sure an ID should be required, but the corruption in the voting system needs fixed first.

Jim

According to this report there are about 237 million people of voter age. There are about 187 Million Registered voters.

http://www.eac.gov/assets/1/Documents/2010%20NVRA%20FINAL%20REPORT.pdf

Now that looks like about 60 Million people haven't bothered to Register to Vote. So how does requiring a Photo ID restricts any one who wants to vote from voting? Since 60 Million haven't taken the time or effort to register you may assume they don't want to vote or are ineligible to vote.

1. What a load of garbage. Since they actually drive somewhere to buy their food, clothes, tools, equipment, and entertainment, and are NOT hermits who live their whole lives "driving on private property", they are required to have a license.

2. The "poor" can get an Identification card in ANY state in the nation, especially since EVERY state in the nation requires that everyone have identification. And in almost EVERY state, if not all of them, a simple ID card is FREE.

3. The elderly who do not drive anymore are either voting absentee ballots or are driven around through public transportation, family, friends, or some other way. So getting an ID card is simple, EVEN IF they can't drive anymore. As a matter of fact, in the last election here, Democrats actually paid for bus's to get elderly, disabled, homeless, and anyone else they could find (including illegals by the way) registered to vote, and bussed to the polling stations.

4. The handicapped and disabled ALL have identification because of their handicap or disability, so they can receive care, or to simply prove they are in their "status" as handicapped or disabled. And they don't need a driver's license, since a driver's license is NOT the only identification out there.

5. If you check, on EVERY reservation in the country, you are required to have a driver's license if you drive, or some form of identification to simply prove you are a Native American.

Government of the People, for the People, and by the People does NOT mean ALL the people when it comes to voting rights. Simply proving who you are and that you have the RIGHT to vote does not include EVERYONE in the country like you want it to.

Ther are NO Jim Crow laws (put forward and enforced by DEMOCRATS if you'd actually check) in force any more.

And to require someone to actually PROVE who they are in order to PROVE they are eligible to vote, ONE TIME, in an election is NOT a "Jim Crow law".

People like you think that having felons and illegals voting is alright because they vote Democrat, because Democrats think felons should be running the streets and illegals have "rights".

People like you think that the term "vote early and often" is actually a mandate instead of a joke.

CherylLM - what a load of garbage you write.

I replied to "Anyway, what kind of individual does not have a photo ID ?", and listed possibilities.

1. Some = being an unknown, undetermined, or unspecified unit or thing

There is actually still some subsistance living in the United States.

2.

A State ID card is not free in all states:

Alabama – $23
Alaska – Under 60 is $15, over 60 is free
Arizona – $12. Over 65 is free
Arkansas – $10
California – $23. Free for those over 62. $7 for low income folks
Colorado – $10.50. Free for those over 60
Connecticut – $15
Delaware -$5
Florida – $3
Georgia -$20 for 5 years, $35 for $10 years
Hawaii – $15 for under 65, $10 for over 65
Idaho – $7.50
Illinois – $20, free for seniors over 65 with no renewal necessary
Indiana – $13 under 65, $10 for over 65, last for 6 years
Iowa – $5
Kansas – $18 under 65, $14 over 65
Kentucky – $12
Louisiana – Average $21, free for over 60
Maine – $5
Maryland – $15, free for those over 65
Massachusetts – $15
Michigan – $10, free for seniors. Oh, and those with mental impairments
Minnesota – $15.50, $10.75 for those 65 and up
Mississippi – $13
Missouri – $11
Montana – $8
Nebraska – $23.75 (lots of different fees for those under 21)
Nevada – $11.25. For 65 and up, new is $6.25, renewal is $2.25
New Hampshire – haven’t been able to find the cost, even at the New Hampshire DMV or New Hampshire’s main site
New Jersey – $24
New Mexico – $5 for 5 years, $8 for 10 years
New York – Depending on length, $9 to $14. 62 and up, $6.50
North Carolina – $10
North Dakota – $8
Ohio – $8.50
Oklahoma – $10
Oregon – $29 for 8 years
Pennsylvania – $10
Rhode Island – $15, free for 59 and up
South Carolina – $5
South Dakota – $8
Tennessee – $12.50. For those 65 and up, they never expire
Texas – $15. 60 and up, $5 and never has to be renewed
Utah – $18. Never expires for those 65 and up
Vermont – $15, $10 if you get Social Security Income
Virginia – $10
Washington – $20
West Virginia – can’t find an actual figure
Wisconsin – $28 for eight years
Wyoming – $10, never expires
Washington, D.C. – $20

(from: www.thepiratescove.us/2008/04/28/what-does-a-state-id-cost/)

3. You suppose to much. Some elderly people, especially the poor, lead solitary reclusive lives.

4. Again, you assume too much when you declare "all" disabled and handicapped have official government-issued photo identification.

5. Tribal identification is not official US government-issued photo identification. There are Native Americans who have never traveled from the reservation.

So, you do not believe that government should represent all the people and that only some citizens have the right to participate in it. You would be very happy living in 1930's Germany.

The Jim Crow laws of the South were supported by the Dixiecrats, a dissident Southern Democrat; specifically : a supporter of a 1948 presidential ticket opposing the civil rights stand of the Democrats (Websters). They left the Democratic party after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and joined the Republican party. This is why the south consists of "red states" today.

Can you read? Where did I mention anything at all about "felons and illegals", about "voting Democrat", or "mandate to vote early and often"?

And people like you have

1: a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control

See Websters for the definition of Facism, or just look in the mirror.

If "identification is such an issue for the poor and disenfranchised... how do these very same people EVER "cash a check from anywhere?"

It is virtually impossible to function in day to day society without "basic forms of identification"... not to mention "for those people who supposedly WANT to vote".

Nothing works 100% for everyone, but "Voter ID Laws" do far more to allow "legally valid voters to vote in their legally valid district".

ZERO sympathy and very little empathy for those who don't meet the requirements.

But for those of you "who CLAIM to be SO CONCERNED" I'd suggest YOU put YOUR MONEY where YOUR MOUTH is and DO SOMETHING for YOUR community... volunteer YOUR TIME to help YOUR HELPLESS neighbors get "proper voter ID's, etc." instead of just WHINING ABOUT IT here?

Otherwise, all of your pathetic, whiny little complaints will fall on totally deaf ears.

Thanks for playing :-)

Sorry to blow the whole cost of ID post of Moral....but most I won't say all states that have a voter id requirement the id is free to the person. Now it cost the states millions in dollars to supply but not the individual. His/her info is from 2008 which is prior to most id legislation and not of much use in this debate.

moral conscience....why don't you stop making up "reasons" why people are being "disenfranchised" because they might have to actually show some identification to vote?

If people REALLY want to vote, they'll get an ID card, it's that simple.

And by the way, on a reservation, that reservation ID is LEGAL to use for voting in an election since the people are voting in a polling place ON THE RESERVATION! Been there and seen it.

This B.S. that people like you post is nothing more than the usual left wing garbage to justify ILLEGAL voting in elections.

Unfortunately to get a State issued photo ID you need to show your birth certificate. In North Carolina the minimum cost for the birth certificate is $24.00 each. Many older folks who have stopped driving no longer have any ID, and for hundreds of thousands of the non driving elderly or the very poor, they just can not afford the luxury of spending that $24.00 out of extremely little income or savings. In rural areas of the country it can be a difficult problem for non drivers to get to State MV offices located in distant counties.

I know of MANY people who take public transportation because they can't afford an automobile. These people shop, go to work, doctors appointments, etc... on public transportation. What about peoples DL who are temporarily/permanently suspended?

Guess they HAVE to have ID anyway, huh?

My only argument is that the "right" is sooooo intent to say in one breath, "We as Americans have been forced to do things we don't want to do. We have the right not to be forced to (insert personal right issue here.. ie. using my public tax money for planned parenthood... )" but in the next breath want someone to have a non-mandatory ID to vote. HUH? GTFOH with the double standard crap!!

A U.S. issued birth certificate allows anyone here to register to vote. If you let your registration expire, go register again, if not, don't vote. Please do not change your views issue by issue.............

hey Moral Conscience - please stop repasting that same "pirates cove" list. It is wrong.

Debate your case - please explain why Democrats are coming down in favor of voter fraud. It makes them look pretty shabby. Read the part of the article about the voter ID law in Rhode Island. It was passed and approved by Democrats.

Because only that one name at that one address can actually vote.

If the people at the polling places DO THEIR JOB, and check their databases when voters come in, multiple voting by one name at one address will be prevented.

My first time voting, I was in college and was living with a boyfriend (so bad!). My photo ID was with my parents address and I had no bills in my name. To be able to register to vote, I only needed someone to vouch for me. Some nice couple in line I had never seen before vouched for me. Nice of them. But honestly I could have gone from there and driven the 2 hours to my parents home town and voted again with my ID...who would have known.

My morals tell me that this is voter fraud and of course I didn't, nor would I do such a thing. But as our prisons are over populated, we all know that not everyone thinks this way. There are people who will go to the extreme (on either side) to get the candidate of their chose in office.

Requiring photo ID should be in everyone's best interest. May the best candidate win!

Yes there is voter fraud from Non-US citizens

If that's true, why do investigations of possible voter fraud always turn-up zippo? Where do you get your facts? You can't just pull statistics out of your ass! The rightwing zealots are famous for making-up imaginary problems and then passing laws to solve the nonexistent problems, e.g., protecting the definition of marriage, defending the national motto, . . . preventing nonexistent voter fraud.

Now we know the real meaning of the "TP" after the slash in the GOP/TP party label - it stands for 'toilet paper' which is what the current crop of GOP politicians needs to wipe their mouths after spreading their usual bull@!$%#.

I am in full agreement that ID should be required to vote. That being said, the ID that SHOULD be required in EVERY state is a VOTER ID CARD that is issued by the state during the voter registration process. Since you MUST prove your eligibilty to vote in order to register, it would be simple enough to create a voter ID card. Any ID being required in order to exercise your right to vote MUST be free of charge. It is, or should be, illegal to REQUIRE a citizen of the US to purchase an ID in order to exercise their right to vote.

I don't care if you have to show ID in order to buy alcohol or drive - that argument is not valid as neither of those are a RIGHT, they are priviledges and not everyone drinks alcohol (I don't) and not everyone drives (like my 92 year old great aunt). State ID cards are NOT free in most states. If it's not absolutely free, I believe it violates the citizen's suffrage rights.

I also vote in Texas and you only show your ID if you don't have the voter registration card which has no picture to match. If you have the reg card you don't show a picture id in the past now you will have to show an id to vote that is the difference.

ahhh I see, I always forget my voter registration card, thanks gtouch.

College student ID cards will NOT be acceptble inTexas. Gun ownereship cards-yes.

Good. I always have my CHL on me. Don't always have the voter registration card.

I just got the newsletter from my state representative (Sid Miller) here in Texas it states that:

In order to participate in an election, voters will required to present one of the following: a drivers license, personal identification certificate, military identification, election identification certificate, United States citizenship certificate, passport, or concealed handgun license. DPS must create an election identification certificate to be issued by DPS for registered voters who do not have any of the other acceptable forms of identification. The election identification certificate will be distinguishable from a drivers license or a personal identification certificate, and will be issued free of charge. as listed in Election Code 63.0101

So that clears up what's needed at least in Texas.

Doing what you propose would cut the left's jugular and they know it. Why else would they be against something that makes so much sense other than they're idiots?

Jim in Dallas, of course you are correct. If the democraps cannot do the swindle like they did in Florida and count democrat votes twice, well they will have to try to get anyone to vote. All dems want is to get elected, not manage this country. They could care less if it cost US trillions to get them elected. They spent almost 17 TRILLION since Odumbo got elected. That is why we are near bankruptcy.

Yeah and the Republicans have done a bang up job managing this country into the ground.

I think overall the politicians lately have done a bad job with almost all issues...but really, is requiring photo id to vote a bad thing. And honestly why are we trying to politically correct illegals. Are they not breaking the law when they are in this country illegally? So why do we now call them undocumented workers...like they have done nothing wrong.

Drewster-4378715:

Democrats have controlled the Government more years than Republicans...

Having said that, if "THEY" are so frigging great why haven't they fixed all of the, supposed, Republican screw ups?

I don't recall when photographs became part of the drivers license but I've had at least one form of "Photo ID" since I joined the Navy at 18... And a drivers license since I was 16... Somewhere in that time frame I had two or more Photo ID cards. Hell, even my Costco card has my picture on it!

The I-9 form you MUST sign to get a job requires you to provide two (2) forms of ID! That doesn't mean they aren't fradulent, but you have to provide two...

Here in Los Angeles an ILLEGAL ALIEN can "buy" a VALID Drivers License for a few hundered dollars. I don't want THOSE people having a say in how our country is run!

I think it's so funny when an election doesn't go 'your' way it is always because the other group 'cheated'.

thats true Enough, but sometimes there is actual evidence of the tampering, such as when truckloads of uncounted ballot boxes coming from predominatly black and demo areas mysteriously disapear, as was the case in Florida.

please supply a link to the story about truckloads of ballots disappearing.

Jim, It is harder to round up the bums and free-loaders on election day, and take them to the polls with a voter ID. That is the why the liberals are against it. That is their base.