USA -- Where do you live? There is NO law requiring one to carry ID. That is crazy.

A poll tax by any other name still smells of voter suppression.

OK here's the deal. You can't vote if you're not registered. You can't register if you are not a citizen. So, illegals are not showing up at the polling booths on election day to vote. Do you really think that illegals are going to risk being deported just to have the opportunity to vote in elections they care nothing about??

Can someone please provide proof of wide spread voting fraud from either party? I'm not talking about instances where .001% of votes were illegal, I want to see the mass fraud some of you folks claim is happening. Either provide proof, or shut the f*ck up about it. The rhetoric is becoming retarded.

Hey, Future... where is your documented PROOF (not right-wing blog innuendo) of this "proven voter fraud" in 2008? Give us referrals so we can judge for ourselves, or STFU!

With what is now known about what is going on in Florida with fraud and voter suppresion, my question is why aren't these people in jail? Now we know how Bush won in Florida, the bunch of lying cheats!

Let me guess.............the judge is either a democrat or a minority. So, ONE INDIVIDUAL, strikes down a law that is already in effect because he thinks he knows better than everyone who voted for the law. That is just messed up.

Um that's kinda the purpose behind having a judge. So one person can make those decisions. Otherwise you elect a committee.

And since you're either too ignorant or too lazy to look it up yourself, the judge is both WHITE and a REPUBLICAN. Sorry to f*ck up your little bit of cleverness.

http://magnanamouse.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/magnanimous-news-wednesday-15-august-2012/

Mike in Delray

A year wasn't enough time to get a Photo ID ??? The law was passed a year ago....Talk about lazy...Talk about a lame excuse for a Judge to use....

Well that's one spin...how about "Talk about a judge seeing through Republican corruption and their true intent to take away the voice of the people." See what a nice positive spin you can put on it. You neo-conservatives are just way too negative...always seeing the WMD bunker half empty.

Russ that's completely different. These laws were designed to suppress democratic votes and nothing more. There is no widespread voter fraud except under Republicans in Florida.

Wow, an honest judge... But I'm bothered that he didn't address the issue that this law is to make it difficult for certain people to register to vote...

If every eligible citizen is able to receive a social security card, then I see no reason why the state and federal government can not issue photo Id to all citizens over eighteen... Simple... and get it done before the next election in four years...

If that would happen then the republican party can kiss their majority good-bye....

Strange, the GOP controlled legislatures vote to create voter ID laws, yet we have Florida with its GOP Govenor, and legislature, who, along with the Voter Fraud law enforcement has seemingly chosen to ignore the GOP sponsored voter registation drive in that state,which so far, as come up with 10 Florida Counties which have Romney's former aid involved in deliberate attempts to register illegal and non eligible voters. Please note, this was a GOP/Romney sponsored drive, not an independant effort such as ACORN which was castigated by the GOP, and funding blocked. So, where is the outrage on the part of the Right Wing? Where are the attacks?

At some point the voters are going to wake up to what the GOP has become, and see it for what it really is, which is not a Party for All Americans,or even a party which has the Nation's best interests at heart. It is only about winning, control and power, no matter the cost the People of this Nation have to pay for them to continue to implement their goals.

For the past 2 years, "making Obama a one term Presidient was Job One" for the GOP. Not people, not jobs, not rebuilding our economy. It has appeared on every aspect of voters rights, voter suppression, fraudulent voter registrations in Florida, blocking and stalling any legislation prsented by Obama to create jobs, redistricting (aka Gerrymandering) which every 10th grader was taught was wrong, to insure a group or political majority in a district are split up into other districts with larger numbers of GOP registered voters.

It is all about winning at any cost, not about People or Nation. This is what the GOP has become, a Failed Party with a Failed economic plan which only increases the wealth and power of the very rich and Corporate America, Romney and Ryan are just part of the problem, and not the solution.

all you need in new hampshire the state i am from is proof of residency. i know i just drove my niece down to the dmv a while back so she could get her non driver id the day before she turned 21. she didnt need a birth certificate she just needed her social security card, and her utility bill. i think everyone that is a legal citizen already has their ss card dont they? hell as far as the birth certificate everyone should have a copy of that as well. i know i have always had one.

While I personally have no problem with voter ID's it's the issuing of them that is the problem. When you are talking about the poor and elderly charging them a fee can be the cost of a medication or food on the table. For the average person even a $25 fee wouldn't break the bank with some people it's a weeks worth of food. And how are they supposed to get to the place where the cards are issued. Not everyone has a car and with the prices of public trans. going through the roof again a simple trip can cost $5 to $10. These are only two issues that have to be dealt with.

I love it when the right wing voter fraud drama queens come out talking about the country going down the tubes while the largest fraud problem going on is in Florida by republicans.

So, How do you vote if you do not have an ID? How many times can you vote? Sounds like the Chicago Way, The Obama Way.

This is fabulous news! Justice has prevailed in Penn's Woods! (William Penn is resting comfortably now.)

Memo to Mike Turzai:

Strike down unfair and suppressive photo ID law: DONE!!

Wave 'bye-bye' to the Keystone State, Mittens!

GreenTimer

Eric, The law still stands, but cannot be enforced THIS election - thereby giving a reasonable law a chance to be properly put into practice.

Doesn't matter! It's all in the timing. There will be plenty of time for voters to get photo ID's now before they will need them to vote. :)

HALLELUJAH!!

Seventy ACORN employees in 12 states have been convicted of voter registration fraud and a congressional report revealed that more than one-third of the 1.3 million registrants submitted by the group in the 2008 election cycle were invalid.

That's nice...but voter registration fraud and voter fraud are not the same thing.

For all you idiots who want everyone to think you can just walk into as many voting booths as you want and vote multiple times ?

Your just showing how stupid you really are. Everyone who has voted knows you are assigned to a local precinct, and only that precinct, so that is the only place you are signed up to vote at. You can not voter anywhere else.

You walk into your assigned precinct (building where your voting booths are located), you show the person at the desk your ID, they look on the list (yes there are large books with the people who are allowed to vote in that area) and check off your name and you get your ballot, go into the booth and vote, drop your ballot in the box on the way out..end of process.

So for all your fools who try to make others think they can vote just anywhere? You dont have a clue obviously. Dingy jerks! This is not rocket science despite all the horror stories they have been spreading.

It has been this same way for years.

So Erik what are they trying to surrpress now everybody will need an I.D. just like I wrote before

littlechanges You do understand that 1/3 of the people who have been honored by the State of PENNSYLVANIA for voting in 50 straight elections would have been PROHIBITED from voting on November 6 because they did NOT have a STATE REQUIRED ID, right? How many times do read about someone being found dead on the sreet with NO ID?

People have NO IDEA how hard it was to get an ID card for my blind 84 year old father. He had long since lost his birth certificate, social security card and lived in a nursing home. People are not lazy but it took me months to get him an ID card because I had to get copies of birth records etc. I can't imagine how hard it would have been to get him one if I hadn't lived so close to him and was able to jump through all the hoops to get him one. These voter ID laws are all about suppressing votes, and nothing more.

I'm sure the country will go down the tube without PA being able to require photo id on Nov. 6.

Wow, so many people will be able to vote so many times under so many different names. And no election official will be able to notice that their voting signature does not match their registration signature.

And those ever-so-accurate photo Ids will just have to wait the next election to ensure that every person gets their vote properly counted after it is cast.

No photo-id will ever be hard to match with a face in the relaxed easy-going atmosphere of mild-mannered folks standing in line for 15 min or 2 hrs.

This absolutely sucks! I was going to take my drivers license, passport, birth certificate and other biological samples with me when I went to vote. Thanks judge... for ruining my day.

Looking Forward- Acorn was registering people to vote, duplicating or falsifying names, not actually affecting the voting turn out itself because these false names could not cast votes. Acorn itself brought this to the attention of voter watch groups. Haven't you heard the GOP's latest scandal with Strategic Allied Consulting? These people were registering people to vote and if they weren't registering as Repubs or Indies, their forms were destroyed. In some cases, they were actually stating that they were only registering Repubs as well. This actually does affect legitimate voter turnout. People would show up thinking that they were registered but in actuality, their forms were never submitted and/or destroyed. This has been confirmed to be the case in every Pres Election since '04. I was a victim of this when I went to register in MD after I moved there in mid-'04. I registered as an Indie but was unable to vote due to some reason unknown to me. Since then, I always register through the DMV. Desperate people do desperate things.

This is good news for a FREE AMERICA.The Tea-Nation of idiots start whining about fraud,just look at the fine example exhibited by the Tea-Doped republicans.The IOWA caucuses and several primaries are still disputed as to who won the delegates,now we have the RNC contracting with a felonious firm to gather voter registrations for TPR only,which is illegal.when conducting registration drives ,YOU CAN NOT GIVE THE SLIGHTEST HINT OF PARTISANSHIP,IT'S ILLEGAL,but the un-American TPR don't play by the AMERICAN CONSTITUTION.The Governor of PA and his POLITICAL HACKS in the legislature tried to put the voters in their version of MITT'S WORLD,where only the elites are worthy to vote.I'm happy that Judge Simpson blocked this FASCIST attempt to steal the election for the CORPORATE Lackeys. Vote for America's future OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 ..Hillary 2016..VOTE NO on the TEA NATION DOPES..

ProBusiness "This country is in collapse. ....This country is in the middle of a collapse of our sovereignty and our economy and nobody cares............ And this nonsense is just further confirmation that we have lost this country. This used to be a great country but can't last another 10 years in the direction we are going. What a sad sad day............"

------------------------------------------------

Such Rwing NONSENSE. So you'll be moving to the Cayman's then? Bon Voyage!!

I have two (2) Black Labs and they are voting for Mr. President Obama. They are both of age in dog years and have ID cards. I have not figured out who I am voting for yet. I will be watching the debates closely, to see who is worthy of my paw print. It looks like the dogs will win no matter what. We still get fed. Arf!

republicans like to scream about all these illegal votes but very, very few cases of voter fraud have ever been found. they find a dead person still on the voter polls and they claim thats voter fraud even though they did'nt vote. the vast majority of voter fraud has come absentee voting and the majoruty of that has come against republicans. just last week in florida thousands of cases of fraud by a republican group. voter id is not about stopping people from voting, it's about voter supression. if you really want to stop voter fraud look at absentee ballotts and don't wait till election year to do it

Does anyone remember this story from March? I'd rather live a world where we didn't require ID as well, but the truth is that voting and registering has been largely based on the honor system. And honor is severly lacking at the moment. Democrats are worried about disenfranchisment. THey should be worried about Republicans exploiting the flawed system and doubling of tripiling their votes. Do you really think that the Tea Party is above doing this? Never mind illegals, do you want legal citizens voting for Romeny 6 times in different polling places? Think about it....

Voter registration fraud is no laughing matter. That is, unless you're registering a dog. Thomas Tolbert, an Albuquerque man, received the registration card for his dog when he passed a voter registration booth on the University of New Mexico campus a few weeks ago, according to KOB.com. Upon seeing the booth, he decided to see how easy it might be to register Buddy to vote. It wasn't very hard to pull off. Tolbert, a Republican, was able to register the dog as a Democrat. "They should verify," he told KOB. "Somebody should have verified this information and somebody should have come out and took a look at exactly who it was. But I made up a birth date, and I made up a social security number and I had a voter registration card in my hand for Buddy two weeks later." Beyond having a laugh, Tolbert had hoped to expose how easy it may be to falsely register to vote. According to the Albuquerque Journal, County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver didn't find much humor in the situation. “I would warn those individuals who think this type of activity is a joke or a 'gotcha' that, regardless of their intentions, they have broken the law and will therefore have to be subject to due process of law," she said in a statement. And, it appears Tolbert is no exception to the rules. According to the Smoking Gun, a county sheriff's spokesperson signaled an investigation into the fraudulent registration is underway. The outcome of the probe being conducted by the office's Criminal Investigation Division remains to be seen.

@RM Fields and others.

I'm guessing it had to do with all the red tape they had to go through to get the ID, which is what the Republicans were banking on.

Red Tape? You mean standing in line at the local DMV for up to an hour. Paying 10-35$. Getting your picture taken. Waiting 7-10 days in the mail for your permanent legal ID. You mean all that Red TAPE the Republicans are banking on...... I grew up in Southern California, Probably the WORST LINES in the WORLD in those DMV for Identification or Drivers License based on the population. I have as of yet, to spend More than One Hour in ANY DMV, State Office, or Federal Office waiting on an ID. Its not red tape, IT's out right laziness.

There are very few things you can do in a legal sense, that do not require Legal ID in almost every instance, (Rent/Own a home, car, boat, property, cash checks, be legally employed in the United States, be able to drive a motorized vehicle, register for school and the list goes on.)

Republicans or Democrats, does not matter. If you have an ID, and you vote, why is this still an issue for you. Because the POLI (TICS) IANS have made SHEEP out of you, and are keeping the MASSES mesmerized so that you will believe anything they say. If you have the legal right to vote, then do so. Either way, your voting this year, your voting for My Fathers Dreams of being a TIC, or Corporate Dreams on being a TIC

The last time I wrote a ckeck I needed a photo ID to cash it,the judge must be a dumbocrat.

This is just another issue that the progressive/liberals are wrong about. That is why the November elections will be the continuation of the "shellacking".

1/20/2013 - the end of an error

So, How do you vote if you do not have an ID? How many times can you vote? Sounds like the Chicago Way, The Obama Way.

Here in New York, just outside of Albany in the town of Bethlehem, when I go to vote I check in with the poll watchers. They have a complete voter roll for my voting district. I announce my name and they find my name in the roll. Next to my entry is a copy of the signature from my original voter registration. I must then sign the ledger next to my name.

It has been this way for the last 23 years since I first voted. My identity has never been questioned and never has there been any attempt by someone to vote claiming they were me nor any question of how many times I voted.

Ridgelon

You sound like a programmed faux news watcher. You couldnt sound more brainwashed if you tried.

The dems work for ALL the people not just the precious few.

Try looking up the definition of democrats and republicans...and conservatives and liberals for that matter.

I would rather be a free thinking liberal anyday then a total robot who blindly follows without question. You are such a drone. You dont even realise how close minded you are. I would rather think things thru then automatically believe anyone without question because of a letter behind their name.

Why would you even care about freedom if that is how you think?

Jerry-1927474

Judge Robert Simpson, communist. Traitor to America. Ask this idiot, why does he think someone who is not a legal citizen in America be allowed to vote. WHY!

He's a White Republican, lol. Go figure.

So you mean to tell me that in the year 2012 that no one has to show ID to drive to buy liquor, or beer, or to show that thier child has an immunization card, to cash a check, to get a social security checks, they all just run around town and say I am who I am let me have it or cash this. Your all full of crap and you know it - Voter Supresion my butt one excuse after another. You must not care that your country or your state is being hijacked at all, you would rather pay high taxes and give it all to everyone who doesnt even resided in this country your all a bunch of traitors to our country and this republic, you make me sick. Yet the Military vote will be discounted also and held up again. This shouldnt even be an issue. Hell lets let people in europe vote also they at least have an ID in thier own countries - IDIOTS.

I am still somewhat amazed that people and the government are fighting having to show your ID to vote. Personally I do not know anyone that does not have a ID considering that you need one to pick up prescriptions, to cash a check, to go to the hospital, you need one to drive, but they are fighting to have one vote? I think that since voting effects everything a ID should be required to make sure that people do not vote more then once and are not voting illegally. Why is it that this administration fears a voter ID law, is it because as is common practice in Chicago the dead will not be able to vote this time? Or could it be that the illegals that Obama has been trying to appease will not vote? I think it is time both parties make this part of the constitution and then all the fighting over this will end.

I am amazed that the the White House is fighting this but then in the next breath are fighting to keep people that are putting their lives at risk for our freedom from voting. Talk about screwed up priorities!

Starsailing, Still spreading your biased lies I see. Come back when you have facts to back up your outrageous contentions.

VETERANS CAN'T USE THEIR ID CARD

Those damn cheating veterans, f*cking with the system to bring down this country, because they don't have an address on that veteran card. DRIVING is clearly more patriotic than FIGHTING FOR YOUR COUNTRY.

In the Reagan era, non fake conservaties actually fought on the side of veterans. Between asking to cry away from the Middle East and this, your current fake conservative has the guts to waive the Republican banner above their heads. At least the insanity of the Democrats is consistent. The Republicans have decided Commie Red is their favorite color and veterans are THE ENEMY.

Have not read all of these.. this is my thought... the # is the same even if it is expired.. some of us do not have the $$$'s if we have had a child support offence or DUI ... to have a current ID... but we have had an ID... if it doesn't pass why should we have to have a Drivers Lic. or any other kind... Also, there is no longer a need for any thing other than ( One Person/One Vote).. We all have acess to the polls... un like when a Rep traveled from farm to farm.. NO LOBBYIST, NO REPS ... JUST A FEW OF THE MANY OF Wolf'Bblinz : )

To whatever idiot stated that photo IDs are already required in all states...........those would be communist and fascist states over seas. Not here dumbhead. They were required them in Nazi Germany too. All heil Romney, the fascist tax cheat.

Kevin Bitz and Catydid - About your reference to Fla and the republican voter registrations being less than correct. You do realize that the Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner is a Republican?

So.... your point is? The company more than likely was defrauding the Republican party on how many voters they registered for payment vs. trying to commit voter fraud....

" A GOP-backed consulting firm may have submitted "hundreds" of faked voter registration forms in Florida, according to the Florida Department of State.

You do realize that the Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner is a Republican?

The GOP cut ties with the third party voter registering company Strategic Allied Consultants on Thursday after the Palm Beach County elections supervisor flagged 106 of the firm's registration forms for having similar handwriting, incorrect addresses and incomplete information. "

Straight facts please.... no innuendos....

hey libs,, you know exactly why you don't want voter ID. Must suck to be you guys!! That is ok, you haven't seen economic collapse yet. Give dumbazz another 4 years, you will all find out!!

Gary Johnson 2012

I'd vote for Hitler if he could get rid of all the illegals!

Hey Mr. Turzai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuOT1bRYdK8

Suck on that!! Aww, poor baby, you mean Romney will actually have to win PA fair and square now.

/tear

Probably depends on youre district how many times you could vote and get away with it. At my polling place the little old ladies are gossiping behind the table and when you walk up to them they ask what letter your last name starts with, then they direct you to the book where you look for your name and sign. No one asks you for ID, I have no idea where my voter ID card even is... Honestly I wasn't sure I was even registered in that district the first time I went, but my name was in the book so I figured I was and voted. It could have easily not been and all I would have to have done is looked and found some other name that didn'thave a signature yet and told the ladies "yep Found it!" and voted under someone elses name. No big deal at all. No one checked to make sure my name really was Xina Awesome. They just took my workd for it. *Shrug*

I'd vote for Hitler if he made all the people who thought voting for Hitler was ever a good idea disappear!

There go those people lying that they are conservatives again. Its like a costume party in here!

Mr R, I suppose I need to clarify about my "red tape" comment.

Take for instance student photo IDs.

The proposed law stated that a "photo ID cards from an accredited Pennsylvania public or private institution of higher learning" was acceptable.

First, tens of thousands of students who will wish to vote in Pennsylvania will not have a Pennsylvania driver’s license; Pennsylvania has more out-of-state freshmen at their schools than any other state. Some native Pennsylvania students will not have a driver’s license or identification card. In fact, in 2010 the number of 20 to 34-year-olds without a driver’s license reached 15.7 percent and is increasing. That percentage is even higher for people aged 19 and younger. This means that a student ID will be the last fallback for many young people in need of a voter ID.

The law becomes much more problematic for students because it requires a student ID to have a photo and an expiration date. Few student IDs meet these requirements. A recent study by PennPIRG suggests that 85% of students in Pennsylvania go to schools without acceptable IDs for voting. A survey that is underway of 186 colleges and universities by the ACLU, Advancement Project, Fair Elections Legal Network, PennPIRG, and Rock the Vote also indicates that most schools’ IDs are not (and will not be made to be) acceptable before the November 2012 election. Therefore, at many Pennsylvania schools the last lifeline for students to dodge this suppressive law is cut.

The problem is compounded by poor communication. Not all school officials are aware of the law. There are not provisions in the law for communicating its requirements to schools or students. This is a glaring omission because without voter education, students will be less likely to find out about the new law before Election Day. Fair Elections Legal Network has reached out to campuses in hope that its Campus Vote Project can help spread the word on the new law.

Do you think a university will simply change the format of their photo ID overnight to comply with voter ID guidelines? This would have to go through numerous levels of authorization before the change is made.

That, sir, is just ONE example of how this law would have made it unreasonably and unnecessarily more difficult for U.S. citizens to cast their votes.

LogicReguired Comment collapsed by the community

If you are in Pennsylvania and want Romney as president you need to vote not using an ID and vote as many times as possible. Democrats will only care about who is voting if they think it is costing them not benefiting them.

Cheat to win, that's your strategy? That's the sound of desperation, folks!

And ha ha...it won't work! Voters must be registered no later than October 9. They must provide a PA driver's license number or SS number and sign the form, and their signature on the form is compared to their sign-in signature at the polling place.

Romney loses the Keystone State by double digits!

Obama worshipers care about the votes from dead people, but stay silent when the Government suppress the vote of our Military because 58 % favor Republicans. Yes, one more step to a fraudulent election , thanks to liberal pro-Obama judges.

The Republicans on the board should learn some basic math. It wasn't because people were too lazy to get their Id's it is the fact that it was a physical impossibility. Even if you had 365 days and the offices were open 12 hours every one of those days they would have to issue one Id every 1.25 seconds in order to service the 350,000 people that needed a voter Id card. That is why the law was put into place so they could steal the state for Romney I mean the head of the RNC for the state admited it in public! O and Tbenton that claim the Whitehouse cut off the ability for the soilders to vote has been ndebunked by O I don't know EVERYONE!!!!!

hell it took my niece all of a half hour to get her non driver photo id at the dmv the day before she turned 21 so she could go out and party!

Your niece isn't elderly or disabled, and you provided a ride to the DMV. Not everyone is so lucky. In live in a county in NJ with a population of 700,000+ and just TWO DMV offices. They aren't served by any form of convenient mass transit and I can't imagine expecting an elderly or disabled person to stand in those lines.

... hell as far as the birth certificate everyone should have a copy of that as well. i know i have always had one.

Good for you. That's not true of the very elderly who were born before birth certificates were the norm.

Requirng a photo ID to vote (which is a right, not a privilege like other activities that require a photo. The only way that this can be fair is if the state will send officials to individual's homes to issue the IDs and to assist individuals in obtaining the necessary documents.

LogicReguired

Mail in ballots go to a specific address, yes it is possible for someone to try and steal that ballot but most mail boxes are locked and the fact you probably had to show ID to get a residence makes it a little different.

Maybe where you are and definitely if you have a PO box but most of the home mailboxes I've come across in the 3 cities and 2 rural villages I've lived in over the last 25 years have completely lacked locks. Just open the box and insert or remove mail.

Their ID's were checked when moving in to the residence or when they registered.

You base this on? I haven't needed ID for the 5 out of the 6 last places I lived in, the one exception was needing ID to get the mortgage. If it isn't an apartment complex then ID isn't always needed. Just a check for first month, last month and deposit. ID is never needed to register to vote. Walk into the post office, request a moving packet, inside will be a form you fill out with your new address, you can put any old address on there you want and drop it in the mail. Viola, you are now registered to vote at the address you wrote down no ID required. In 18 years of being able to vote I have never once produced ID, not to register, not to change address and not to actually vote. Seems like a fine system to me.

What smells is the fact anyone can walk in to a voting place and vote under a name without any proof of who they really are. Why does this make sense?

Actually you have to state your name and address, only if you can state both do you pass, want to make it harder, have the last 4 digits of the person's social security number be listed as well, so the person has to state name, address, and last 4 digits. That last piece should stop most people who try to cheat the system.

You Knuckledragging Reich Wing Neo Con Fascists crack me up, You Biach and complain about govt intrusion and lack of freedom yet you want govt issued I.D. You complain about spending, yet spending 100s of millions of dollars for this is OK, You talk about Democratic dead people voting and yet you say squat about what is happening in 5 states by SAC voter suppression ( the Republicons Acorn) and you know as well as I do that once the truth comes out about SAC There will be Millions of voter Fraud cases committed by the Republicons.

Way to go GOP/TP = American Taliban Chairman Mao and Joseph Stalin would be proud of you. You have done more to make our country Communist than those 2 of possibly dreamed of

Geo - please stop positing about voting if you obviously don't even vote. You asked, "How do you even vote without an ID, how many times can you vote, as many as you want?" NO! If you ever voted you would know you give your name at your local voting place ONLY, your name would not be on the books at other voting places. Then they pull your name up and you have to sign under it, THUS, if you tried to come back and vote again you would be denied. Could you just say one of the other names you seen on the list? Sure, you could attempt that, but how do you know that person did not vote since you last seen their spot empty? How do you know the people at the polling place won't recognize you? Now, ask yourself this. Who would actually attempt that just to get an extra vote or two in, while risking serious legal ramifications of getting caught? Answer = almost no one. All the fraud is done through mail in and absentee ballots, which obviously do not require ID. So why are Repigs so bent on trying to require it? VOTER SUPPRESSION!

Scott, Guess again. The judge is neither a Democrat or a "minority". So your ASSumptions that only politics could delay this law are all wrong. This case was sent back to this judge by the Pa Supreme Court. He was told t ospecifically find if the State law was having the effect of restricting voter rights. The State continued to offer different last minute strategies to issue voter id but could not issue enough to satisfy the court. The law was rushed into effect specifically for political advantage. It has now been properly stayed to allow time for all citizens to get proper id.

The only documented case of wide-spread voter fraud in this country occurred in Florida THIS YEAR and was sponsored by the Republican National Committee.

"It's like a sow-na in here."

When they were caught, they fired the company they hired to commit the fraud and pretended they didn't know anything about it.

"No mas pantelones."

The guilty dog ALWAYS barks first.

Obama/Biden 2012

I suppose it's necessary to put controls in place to prevent possible fraud in EVERYTHING we do, yet this seemed so contrived in PA and other states that have purged thousands from voter roles in the last 12 months. I'm thrilled that Justice prevailed in PA, and that people will be given the time they need to get ID. It is a complicated process, in my experience, and one that needs to be updated constantly. Getting a photo ID for an 89 year old woman took almost 5 months because she wasn't born in the US. Her drivers license had expired (Thank GOD!), but the concern was how she could fly without ID. BTW, she's lived, worked and paid taxes to the US since the late 1950's. Was naturalized around that time and has voted for years without questioning.

Greentimer, good point. I have a lot less of a problem with voter ID laws if people have a year or two to adapt. If you can't get a photo ID in time for an election happening in two years, you're too stupid to vote.

Grats to illegal aliens, lazy people whom will not likely vote anyhow, and the Democratic party!

For Ridgelon and all others who are calling Judge Simpson a Democrat and Communist.

I thought I would point out that Judge Robert Simpson is a Republican.

If you are too lazy to get an ID what gives you the gumption to vote? More like starsailing and all his radical friends are going to be busy handing out six packs. They want to fundamentally change American. The greatest country on Earth and they want to radically change it. And yes while these criminals perpetrate their fraud, there will be no cases of voter fraud brought by the Justice Department. How could there be with something as fundamental as an ID is not allowed. I see starsailing voting as women; old black, Chinese, Mexican, white, Indian, etc. men, 18-24 year old apathetic kids. I wonder how many votes he will get.

Da Noid: I also have my signature compared when I go to vote. I can't imagine someone trying to copy my signature and practicing it for however long, to get it correct, to vote illegally. Really folks..... such hyperboyle! The judge got it right. And, he checked with the judges on the Pa Supreme Court beforehand.

Try getting an ID for someone who gave up their license years ago, was born at home, and whose school was closed 40 years ago.

Stop the nonsense. The only VOTER FRAUD so far has been in Florida, and I would suggest that all those people who recently registered, check with their Board of Elections to make sure their registration was received. Othewise, they may get a nasty surprise on election day. Also, save those cards you get from the Elections Board they send you and take them with you when you go to vote. Most of them have the page number and line number your name is listed on.

Another free Obama ad msnbc. Vey charitable but not reputable "news" behavior. And I see no mention of the judge's political affiliation. Anyone wanna bet?

I don't see the big deal in proving you are you and that someone else isn't stealing your vote. I need to show my ID to buy a gun or buy alcohol or what not...but they can't ask me that when I vote? It's to prevent voter fraud. Who doesn't have an ID??? Really?

LogicReguired

If you are in Pennsylvania and want Romney as president you need to vote not using an ID and vote as many times as possible.

Why don't you try that? Seriously? Give it your best shot. Then come back here and tell everyone what you got away with.

Or didn't, because you know damned well it isn't going to work

Well first of all I'm not from Pennsylvania and honestly I'm not really sure what the law is in my state. But if my state you need nothing as far as ID to vote I may or may not decide to vote more times. If the race in my state is close it I might try it but if it isn't a tight race why give a crap. I will not come on here and admit to committing voter fraud that would be stupid and I would be trying to get away with fraud not try to get caught to prove it happens.

Please tell me if I were to vote illegaly in Pennsylvania how exactly would I get caught? No one will check my ID, all I need is a name and address of someone in that district, not to hard to come by.

WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!

Now all you Lib's cant vote more than once again!!!!!!!!

YEAH!!!!!!!!!

My mother does not have a photo ID. She is disabled and hasn't driven in years, so her drivers license expired. Getting her to the DMV for a photo ID would be very difficult, as she is disabled. It is NOT ILLEGAL for her to not have a photo ID and it is her constitutional right to vote.

We do not have a problem with voter fraud in this country, we have a problem with voter turnout. The GOP has not been able to show ANY EVIDENCE of voter fraud. Look into it...this is a sham, an attempt to keep those that would vote democrat from voting. It's shameful.

Danoid...........ever hear of ACORN?? You libs are are really full of it. I bet the welfare crowd has no problem getting an ID to cash their check but to VOTE?? Oh geeezzz, big problem.

The Republican commit says it all(They will think it is in effect so it will have an impact), no case of voter fraud so what impact will it have? Does that mean if you are voting absent ballot you have to show a ID in the state 6 days before the election? Military personnel can't always do that.

In order to vote in the first place you have to be registered anyway so if they have already approved you to vote then what is the point of the Id. They mark your name off when you get your ballot. You can get a picture ID even if you are illegal so what does the ID solve?

EMILY.

To hard to get her to the DMV, but easy to get her to the voting station????

Think before you speak.

Your comment makes no sense!!!

bscol Comment collapsed by the community

Let's see - I need a photo ID to drive, to cash a check, to go to the hospital, to get a drink at a bar if they think I'm underage, to buy a pack of cigarettes if I look under 30 years old - but not to vote in an election.

Do you need to submit a signed registration form 30 days before you go to the hospital? 30 days before you can go to a bar for a drink? 30 days before you can buy a pack of cigarettes?

I didn't think so. But if you want to vote in Pennsylvania, you need to be REGISTERED at least 30 days before the election.

There sure are a lot of people with little to no knowledge about this issue.

I guess some of you don't vote.

Fortunately the judge knew what he was talking about.

You can really identify the partisans when it comes to this issue. This is one issue the vast majority agrees on.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/april_2012/73_think_photo_id_requirement_before_voting_does_not_discriminate

Tennessee has a photo ID law now. In the past I only showed my voter registration card plus I renew my drivers License on-line so I don't get a photo. If my registration was good enough in the past then it should be good now. Besides, they sure as hell don't ask for an ID when I pay my property taxes, income taxes, state taxes, or any other damn tax!!!

Strange how Liberals always point to Western Europe to model our country after. Every large nation in Europe has voter ID laws - as is logical to have. Also in England if you sue someone and lose you pay their attorney fees. This keeps bogus lawsuits to a minimum. The legal lobby would never allow that tort reform to take place here.

I am a bit too lazy to get my licence, but, if I were to be given a ride, free lunch, and a pack of smokes, I could be enticed to vote!

This is really insanity to me. Everyone keeps talking about certain groups of voters being suppressed. The law was enacted a year ago. These voter ID laws have been talked about for months now. If you STILL have not gotten your butt up to go get one then that's your fault, your problem, you deal with not being able to vote. Don't blame the law for your inability to get things done in a timely fashion. Apparently no one has any self responsibility anymore. United We Stand, you got the ID didn't you? It took 5 months but kudos for you staying with it and getting it. You need a photo ID end of story. You need it to receive benefits, write checks, open bank accounts, etc. I have zero sympathy for people who do not have one by now and I am going out on a limb to say if you don't have one its because you are illegal, you don't want someone to know who you are, or you just don't feel like standing on the DMV line. In that case, no I don't want you voting for my next President.

in New Hampshire you can vote without an ID. all you have to do is show up and sign an affedavit that says you are who you claim to be and go.

what is the big problem?

priceml

The last time I wrote a ckeck I needed a photo ID to cash it,the judge must be a dumbocrat.

He was a white Republican. Stfu, kthx. I love when people do all their own work to look retarded.

Wow...there's a whole lotta cryin' goin' on in the GOP as they watch it all slipping out of their greedy grasp.

You should be rejoicing that justice still prevails in The Land of the FREE and the Home of the Brave!

Republicans, reform your party now or go the way of the dinosaur.

Sucks to be G.O.P.

Wow, nice that so many of you have zero clue about things
that you haven’t had to experience, therefore no realization of the problems
this actually can create. No one said most people don’t have an id, but that’s
not the point, is it? The people that don’t have an id are being suppressed
because they are forced to go through extra hoops to get an id just to vote! This
is called a poll tax! Obviously a lot of people on here buy cigs and go to bars
as you’re apparently getting carded a lot! Not all of us do that! I can’t remember
the last time I had to pull out my id. I board airplanes, use my credit card,
go the clinic and hospital, go to the movies, and multiple other things people
on here have mentioned without showing an id. So, get off your high horse and
realize that the folks who don’t have ids are the very people who the Repubs
are trying to suppress because they usually do vote Democratic. By the way,
what is this PA law really proving if people can use things like a college id?
I thought the point was proving citizenship? A college id doesn’t do that. Social
security cards (no picture anyway) don’t do it either.

Non-citizens go to college all the time and yes the do get
social security numbers as resident aliens. And contrary to what several on
here have said, the kind of birth certificate they’re referring to isn’t the
kind you get from the hospital when you’re born. Most people wouldn’t have a certified birth
certificate unless they had gotten one for some other reason before. A
certified birth certificate is only obtained through the courthouse in the
county in which you were born and does require a fee. Many people live hundreds or thousands of
miles from where they were born! My mother was born in Seattle, but grew up in
Minnesota. When she had to get hers about 14 years ago, it was a major
undertaking, similar to that shared by Slinger above. Additionally, some of you on here have said,
how can this judge overturn a law, blah, blah, blah? I fear for this country
when so many don’t understand the essential duty of a court: to ensure the
constitutionality of laws! People vote on and legislatures create laws, but
that doesn’t necessarily make them constitutional! Remember the whole “checks
and balances” thing? This had been argued to the appeals court and sent back
down to this court to determine if it could be carried out in the time before
the election. This is his duty! Interestingly, when the lawyers arguing in
front of the appeals court were asked to provide ANY proof of voter fraud…they
couldn’t produce a single case!

If you don't have to show any form of ID to prove who you are, please tell me how you would find out if someone was lying and committing fraud? You want to say unless there are massive amounts of fraud being caught it isn't a problem, but my question is what measures are in place to help catch those committing voter fraud?

Can you answer that question?

Brian, yes, very easy to get her to the HANDICAPPED polling center...we pull up to the curb, a reserved area, and I run in and tell them my mom is here to vote. They come out with their list, for her to sign next to her name, and then they give her a special ballot that she fills out right there in the car. Why don't YOU think before speaking. Jerk.

Logic, you sign where your name is. If someone else comes in trying to be you, your signature will be there and they can't vote. If you come in and there's a fake signature there, you file a claim of fraud. Very few fraud claims are filed. Like I said, we have almost no voter fraud, the main problem is getting people to vote.

while i do agree that voter id laws is a good thing. three points.

first, it would cost a state millions of dollars to enforce such a rule. money which at this time in our economic struggles we do not have.

second, voter fraud is a fictitious problem. there have been more instances of votes being "miscounted" throughout the years than voter fraud. why spend the money to combat something that doesnt exist?

third, as House Leader Turazi clearly stated for everyone to hear, the purpose of the laws was to help Governor Romney win the election in PA. this is just plain dishonest.

i am not a supporter of President Obama, or Governor Romney. i have no party affiliation, i do not feel either major party candidate is qualified to run this nation.

The Repubs want to make the Dems jump through hoops in order to vote? I say go for it, we need a National Uniform ID Act. Picture, Bio-metrics, with transponder. Everybody to carry one, everybody to supply status of citizenship, proof of birth to a post-office near you. Everybody to get user ID and password to access your status on line. Nobody is against a voter ID, just the crap and inconsistencies you have to go through to get one.

PS.
The only fraud of any consequence being committed was that of the GOP think tank that came up with this brain storm.

Democrats are useless if they find a way to cheat they would do so. Even in the third world country they have photo Electoral voters ID to avoid cheating. there was nothing wrong with photo ID. you know how many Legal resident not us citizen but yet they still vote. you democrats are a bunch of looser. Obama will give you free cell phone as long that you vote for him. Jimmy Carter was better than him 100 times.

Bringing more people into the voting process is never good for the republicans. If every american eligable to vote did so, the Dems would win every national election. Is there a problem with voter fraud? No. You need ID for certain privliges in this country like driving or opening a bank account but not voting. You guys like to point to the constitution all the time until it doesmt suit you. Do not think the hypocracy is not missed by all fair minded citizens

Be honest republicans, you want to change the rules because it will prevent more Dem voters, not for fear of fraud

You should be rejoicing that justice still prevails in The Land of the FREE and the Home of the Brave!

You dont feel this way about the Trevon Martin case I bet! Just because it goes your way this time, you rejoice. Well, that is fine, but dont get too excited! You will be bitching your ass off on here in about 5 weeks :)

Hmmmmm I bet that when an ID needs to be shown for welfare-it will be produced. When an ID is needed for buying cigarettes or other tobacco products-it will be produced. When an ID is required for food stamps-I bet it will be produced. Yet, people are complaining that they should not have to go out and get an ID to vote? Amazing. Goes to show you where this Country is heading.....and it is heading that way right now, in front of our eyes and the Dems are "waiting for their paycheck to be delivered". Dont drink the juic.....er...nevermind, it is too late for you....damage is done and continuiing to get worse.

Those that state that their State has never had voter fraud, you may want to do you homework, or, as you usually do, read your "facts" online like usual. It is apparent that manynews sources are pro Dem's and are controlled by them. That is how they are able to push the Dem's propaganda as they do. I truly wish it was as it was designed: you serve a term, once that term is complete, you leave office (and do not continue to gather a paycheck) and go back home. That is how it was designed, our Forefathers are rolling in their graves...... I am ashamed for them.

For those that think that something magical is going to happen if obama gets elected, look at what good he has produced for you in the first 4 years, read what he said before he was elected compared to what he is stating now because he has not fulfilled any promises and continues to put the US deeper in debt (average is 4 trillion increase, he has already bypassed 5 trillion----but he is helping?). What do you have as a future now? What have you gained? Can you sleep well at night knowing that who you serve And yes, you do serve him...like a cult, has created even deeper hardships with our elderly (which you will be one day)? Amazing. I hope you get what you deserve following him, I truly do. Karma is a beautiful thing. Good luck with that.

Hi my name is Barrack Obama, and I'm here to vote for Romney.

And the best thing is you don't have the right to question who I say I am.

The idea that you can vote without proving who you are is absolutely retarded.... Which I guess is why the liberals are pushing for it. You've got to have an extra chromosome to be a liberal.

I honestly don't really see how it's 'suppression' to want to know that the Voter casting the vote is who they say they are and is legally allowed to vote. That just seems to be logical?

Besides, the article already says: "that 91 percent of the state’s 8.2 million registered voters have Pennsylvania Department of Transportation issued licenses which are acceptable ID for voting" and that "other forms of ID are acceptable, such as military ID cards, U.S. passports, identification cards from accredited Pennsylvania colleges or universities or state senior care facilities, or other photo identification cards issued by the federal, Pennsylvania, county or municipal governments."

And that "nearly 760,000 voters couldn’t be matched between the state’s voter list and the driver’s license database. But some of those non-matching names were merely name mismatches..." so I'm not sure anyone is wanting to 'suppress' any legitimate voters, just make sure that everyone casting a vote is legally allowed to do so.

ROMNEY: WTF? I said Friday that I was going to win PA. But how can I win if everyone is allowed to vote?

Hey GREG, Did your FOX masters forget to tell you the free cell phone program was a Bush era program

Mguy, isn't technology wonderful ? You can edit comments to look like people said something they didn't and dumbasses like you will believe it.

There is no need for voter ID laws, the only reason... the ONLY god damn reason... for these laws were to try and win the election for Romney. THAT was the ONLY reason.

How do I know? Because the god damn REPUBLICAN governor ADMITTED it.

How is it voter ID laws only seem to affect democrats??? Don't republicans have to show ID as well? How is it a law that is applied equally to everyone of every race, gender, and political idiology is somehow Republicans trying to cheat?

The governor never admitted anything, he said they got voter ID laws in place to help Romney win because DEMOCRATS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CHEAT! Not because it was going to limit democrats from voting.

Florida stole the election from Al Gore in 2000. My thinking is that for national elections, there should be a uniform federal law that dictates voter registration policies and procedures for all the states and US territories. States should only be making laws, regulations, polices and procedures for their state and local elections. Lots of people don't have government issued photo IDs, for very legitamate reasons, Old and no longer drive, disabled and don't drive, write checks, homeless, living in a shelter. Haven't passed the driver's test yet. No $ for a passport. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and surrounding areas, the evacuation order seemed like a logical thing to do. Except no one took note of the fact of the level of poverty and that so many people did not even have a car, so yes, lots of people do not have government issued photo id cards. What's interesting to me is that all the states that have passed these voter suppression laws, are almost a solid block across the south, except for Louisians. These states have a well-documented history of keeping black people from the polls, through intimidation, poll taxes, grandfather clauses, literacy tests, including killing and maiming people, destroying property, etc. When my grandfather registered to vote in Louisiana, the KKK burned a cross in his front yard. My grandmother was so intimidated, she never voted and went to her grave in 2009 without ever voting.

It's not THAT easy to get an ID here in good old Florida. I just RENEWED my driver's license last year and had to provide: my Pennsylvania birth certificate, my Social Security card, two documents to prove residency (a utility bill and my auto insurance declarations, in my case), my marriage license and my old license. It cost me $25 and over an hour out of my life - and that's with an appointment. And did I mention that FL is the ONLY state I have ever held a license in? Guess they still don't believe I am who I say I am.

You want to say unless there are massive amounts of fraud being caught it isn't a problem, but my question is what measures are in place to help catch those committing voter fraud?

Can you answer that question?

I am a property owner, resident in the same location for 40 years, voting in the same school for all those years, know most if not all of the election officials, and now they don't know me unless I have a photo ID, bull sh*t!!! It is a convenience to renew drivers license on-line, it is inconvenient as hell to go to the DMV and stand in line for over an hour to have a photo made. My voter registration, my drivers license number, and my social security number sure as heck lets them know who I am. These ID laws are meant for one thing and only one thing, to make it harder for the poor and the elderly to vote. The so called voter fraud is scarcely enough to worry with, in fact it is rare. As a property owner, maybe we need to bring back that only property owners can vote or maybe the old Poll Tax and then see how many would want to vote. Most republicans I know are too tight to spend an extra penny for the people or the Nation, that is unless they want to send our young people to war and then they spend like there's no tomorrow so they probably wouldn't pay a Poll Tax.

bet ids come out in a hurry when its time to buy 40s

Tbenton.....geez...turn the channel from Fox news so you can catch up on current events. Notice you provide no sources against my facts!

Nov. 6th, Tuesday of the living dead. Hey, just let the racoons vote, what the heck. Lets let the dogs, cats, squirrels, rats , mice, aliens, criminals, kids, what the heck, what different does it make? There no more stupid than some of the adult humans.

I don't know what all the humbug is about voter suppression. If you want to vote for Romney all you have to do is polish up your tin foil hat, nice and shiny, go your voting precinct, if it is still there, once there just tell them you believe everything Romney ever said, they will let you vote. Just be sure you are wearing your ear plugs when you finish, because all the people will be laughing at you, really loud!!

A little-reported Washington Post poll Monday (August 2012) indicated that nearly 75% of adults in the country support laws requiring voters to show official ID's.

Democrats going against the American peoples wishes again and calling it democracy!

I'd be happy to explain all the intricacies of why the PA photo ID law (passed by a majority Republican legislature in March, 2012) was unfair and suppressive. I've done it before after other articles.

But it's a waste of time trying to explain anything to willfully uninformed people whose minds are closed as tight as a clamshell.

So you'll just have to accept and abide by the judge's ruling. Go to law school if you want to know more about reason and the law.

"One for the good guys?" Who are these "good guys" exactly? Are they leftist douches working around the constitution so illegal aliens can vote? Stay here and collect state aid? Burden school districts with kids who don't speak English? Oh, I know, so they can vote for the liberal candidate of the lefts choice.

In the '08 elections, Missouri had 1531 cases of people, their Raza we won't get into, who tried to vote using the Identity of dead people, fake I.D.'s ( the makers of which were arrested and sent to federal prison and when they are released deported, and a few just tried to vote saying they didn't understand NON-citizens are not legally able to vote.

And to top it off our soon to be EX-democrapic governor refuses to even talk about a voter I.D. law despite the fact Missouri has documented cases to prove it happened. Who knows how many illegals voted and didn't get caught but, I guess allowing illegals to vote for the leftist candidate of choice is a win for the "good guys". If the good guys are the corrupt, make the laws to suit your agenda guys.

Anyone in 2012 but the empty suit in chief currently making millions while the people he professes to care so much about go hungry. After all, Obama recorded a federal ADJUSTED income of $1.7 million of a salary of just over $400,000. How much did you Obama-bots post above you salary last year? Did you even have a salary last year? Where's all the jobs he promised ONLY he could deliver? Where's the economic rebound he swore ONLY he could do? Why are foreclosures still at record highs, when he insisted HE would fix? Why is he running when he himself said he would not if the economy and jobs were not back to normal after his first term? Oh yeah, just another lying political hack. What a surprise.

This is really typical of democrats. I remember voter ID was metioned on this site at least 2 months ago and still a majority of people didn't believe that it was necessary to have one. The fact is, most democrats are TOO LAZY to go out and get an ID which is why voter fraud is becoming so bad.

Do you need to submit a signed registration form 30 days before you go to the hospital? 30 days before you can go to a bar for a drink? 30 days before you can buy a pack of cigarettes?

I didn't think so. But if you want to vote in Pennsylvania, you need to be REGISTERED at least 30 days before the election. I guess some of you don't vote.

Fortunately the judge knew what he was talking about.

Kaybeetoys:

Unfortunately that is where you are wrong. With the exception of the hospital, all people are required to show ID when they go to a bar or get a pack of cigarettes, if you "look" under the age. Young people CHOOSE TO FORGO those opportunities until they get the proper identification.

Which is how we should look at voting; as an opportunity. You want to forgo that opportunity, don't bother to get the ID.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/09/6537361/reform-democrats-claim-widespread-voter-fraud-hasidic-williamsburg

Voter Fraud in Brooklyn, NY

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/21/officials-plead-guilty-in-new-york-voter-fraud-case/

Voter Fraud in Troy, NY.

Walker, the KKK is not a government entity. Secondly, Louisiana had to resort to a debit card system for food stamps and other public assistance programs - welfare fraud was so rampant because you do not need an ID to receive public assistance. You want someone to blame, blame the people who abuse the system in the first place. Drive through poor neighborhoods in BR and NOLA and you'll see shacks with "Welfare Cadillacs" parked in the driveway. I actually worked in the office of the Election Commissioner in the 1980's and voter fraud was rampant - and the one time there was a voter purge of dead voters still registered - AND VOTING FROM THE GRAVE apparently - the Democrats shouted "help, help I'm being repressed."

WalkerVC, first of all there was no MANDATORY evacuation in Louisiana for Katrina. Thank Gov Blanco for that.

Has anyone ever bothered to look and see if any studies have been done on this issue. Well, they have. Univ. of Missouri did a study in Indiana in the 2006 election and found that in traditional democratic counties the voter turnout was HIGHER. Unv of Delaware and i think the other was Nebraska also studied this in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 and found there was no correlation with voter ID laws and suppressing anyone. Imagine that! The studies are there, they just don't proove the liberal theories.

Why is it not also supressing to have an ID for driving, fishing license, renting a car, getting a loan, buying a house, food stamps, welfare, hotel room, renting a library book, using a credit card, hunting license, renting from blockbuster, getting on an airplane, cashing a check and dozens of other things we have to show ID for? Why is voting the only one of a hundred reasons we are required to show ID that Dems claim to be "supressing" people?

Arizona has had a voter ID lae in place for years and there has been no voter supression. Poor people, democrats, the elderly, etc all vote at the same rates as before. Voter fraud has moved to absentee voting. And for those who say there is no voter frad: LBJ, Bob Dornan, 18th Congressional District of Texas, Rhode Island, Vermont, Morth Carolina, Washington DC, Illinois and of course the city that made voter fraud a world record - Chicago. In each case there was proven fraud or reasonable evidence of fraud that was not followed up on by the authorities. Voter fraud is real and enough dead people and other people known to be illegally on the voter rolls to decide any election.

Great job by the judge, he finally got it right with a little nudge from Supreme Court. It was not as easy as people think to get these IDs even though they say "Free"

If you don't have a drivers license - Why would you have a car to go to DMV????

Senior citizens have their license revoked by the state for age and left on their own to get ID.

Some voters have moved from birth and obtaining needed proof was difficult. State did loosen requirements though but not early enough.

Rep. Terzai stated-THIS LAW WAS PASSED TO PROVIDE GOVERNOR ROMNEY THE WIN!!!!!

I am a Pennsylvanian, I have no problem showing ID but the restrictive nature of the ID required is ridiculous- picture is OK but expiration date on it????

kaybeetoys, you can explain your theories to us all day, then go look up the 3 universities that did studies in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 that say there was not one bit of evidence that says that. But i'm i'm you are smarter than 3 universities.

Due to the fact that local city and state governments have sent out taxpayer funded stamped return adressed registration forms to welfare recipients (many who don't actually live at their stated addresses, but receive EBT cards direct deposited to their bank accounts), yet military personel have not received nearly the same attention and will most likely not have the same right to vote, illigitimizes this election in my eyes.

Frankly, if Obama wins re-election, I personally, will refuse to recognize him as the president of the United states.

2012, Journalism is dead.....Higher Education is dead.....State and local government is dead....the Judicial system is dead..... All victims to an infestation known as "Liberalism."

Kaybeetoys,

So if you and I lived next to each other in Pennsylvania (so I knew your name and address) and I decided knowing you to be a left wing liberal I would vote once by mail in ballot legally, and once using your name what would stop me and how exactly would I get caught? I could simply go down give them your name and address and vote, correct? Is there anything in place that would stop this fraud from happening, or anything in place for catching me if I were to do it?

Seriously, people? If you are old enough to vote, and you STILL have no id of any kind, something's not right. And if it so offends you to show you are who you say you are, it's not a conspiracy...it's NOT Obama trying to do the Vulcan mind eld...it's YOU who has a problem.

Done anything to be paranoid about being caught?

Do you even remember how and why the ability to vote was aquired? And you think it's ok for some to just walk in and vote, to use that powere w/o being responsible enough to have a simple id to prove they are?

When I voted, they always checked my name off...now how would you feel if you went in and your name was already checked off? Trying to tell them you were never there, and they won't allow you to vote because, according to their list, you already did.

That id would be looking pretty good right about then, huh?

Use some common sense, and stop following your party so closely you forget how to function.

@mj in post 1.11- so if everyone in the state voted as you say and the will of the people said that marriage should just be between a man and a woman, would you still be willing to accept the people's will, or would you go running to the courts to find a liberal judge to strike it down? Hasn't the will of the people already spoken when the law was passed?

OK, now everyone pull out your google machine and look up ..."University of Missouri Indiana voter ID law"

It was done in 2006 and was probably the most extensive of all of the studies. Jeffrey Milyo did it and it DISPROVES these suppression theories. As does the Delaware and Nebraska studies.

Flurry of Voter ID laws tied to conservative group ALEC

From a continuing series of articles, Who Can Vote?, a News21 investigation of voting rights in America. Read the previous article, Disabled and elderly voters face a new Voter ID hurdle at the polls.

By Ethan Magoc
News21

Discuss this series of stories on the Facebook page for Open Channel, the NBC News investigative blog.

A growing number of conservative Republican state legislators worked fervently during the past two years to enact laws requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls.

Lawmakers proposed 62 photo ID bills in 37 states in the 2011 and 2012 sessions, with multiple bills introduced in some states. Ten states have passed strict photo ID laws since 2008, though several may not be in effect in November because of legal challenges.

A News21 analysis found that more than half of the 62 bills were sponsored by members or conference attendees of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a Washington, D.C., tax-exempt organization.

ALEC has nearly 2,000 state legislator members who pay $100 in dues every two years. Most of ALEC’s money comes from nonprofits and corporations — from AT&T to Bank of America to Chevron to eBay — which pay thousands of dollars in dues each year.

“I very rarely see a single issue taken up by as many states in such a short period of time as with voter ID,” said Jennie Bowser, senior election policy analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan organization that compiles information about state laws. “It’s been a pretty remarkable spread.”

A strict photo ID law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, requires voters to show photo ID or cast a provisional ballot, which is not counted unless the voter returns with an ID to the elections office within a few days. Less-strict laws allow voters without ID to sign an affidavit or have a poll worker vouch for their identity — no provisional ballot necessary.

The flurry of bills introduced the last two years followed the 2010 midterm election when Republicans took control of state legislatures in Alabama, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina and Wisconsin. The same shift occurred in the 2004 election in Indiana and Georgia before those states became the first to pass strict voter ID laws.

Who can vote? A national News21 investigation of voting rights in America.
Is voting fraud a serious problem in American elections? Will new identification requirements at the polls disenfranchise prospective voters among minorities, college students or the elderly? Should ex-felons who've served their sentences be allowed to vote? Are voting machines reliable?

To report this series of articles, two dozen top student journalists from 11 universities are investigating the impact on American voters of recent changes in election laws and voting procedures in many of the 50 states.

The series is published by NBCNews.com.

ALEC members drafted a voter ID bill in 2009, a year when the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization had $5.3 million in undisclosed corporate and nonprofit contributions, according to Internal Revenue Service documents.

At ALEC’s annual conferences, legislators, nonprofits and corporations work together without direct public input to develop bills that promote smaller government.

The group’s Public Safety and Elections Task Force at the 2009 Atlanta meeting approved the “Voter ID Act,” a photo ID bill modeled on Indiana and Georgia laws.

Lawmakers proposed 62 photo ID bills in 37 states in the 2011 and 2012 sessions, with multiple bills introduced in some states. Ten states have passed strict photo ID laws since 2008, though several may not be in effect in November because of legal challenges.

A News21 analysis found that more than half of the 62 bills were sponsored by members or conference attendees of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a Washington, D.C., tax-exempt organization.

ALEC has nearly 2,000 state legislator members who pay $100 in dues every two years. Most of ALEC’s money comes from nonprofits and corporations — from AT&T to Bank of America to Chevron to eBay — which pay thousands of dollars in dues each year.

“I very rarely see a single issue taken up by as many states in such a short period of time as with voter ID,” said Jennie Bowser, senior election policy analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan organization that compiles information about state laws. “It’s been a pretty remarkable spread.”

A strict photo ID law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, requires voters to show photo ID or cast a provisional ballot, which is not counted unless the voter returns with an ID to the elections office within a few days. Less-strict laws allow voters without ID to sign an affidavit or have a poll worker vouch for their identity — no provisional ballot necessary.

The flurry of bills introduced the last two years followed the 2010 midterm election when Republicans took control of state legislatures in Alabama, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina and Wisconsin. The same shift occurred in the 2004 election in Indiana and Georgia before those states became the first to pass strict voter ID laws.

Who can vote? A national News21 investigation of voting rights in America.
Is voting fraud a serious problem in American elections? Will new identification requirements at the polls disenfranchise prospective voters among minorities, college students or the elderly? Should ex-felons who've served their sentences be allowed to vote? Are voting machines reliable?

To report this series of articles, two dozen top student journalists from 11 universities are investigating the impact on American voters of recent changes in election laws and voting procedures in many of the 50 states.

The series is published by NBCNews.com.

ALEC members drafted a voter ID bill in 2009, a year when the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization had $5.3 million in undisclosed corporate and nonprofit contributions, according to Internal Revenue Service documents.

At ALEC’s annual conferences, legislators, nonprofits and corporations work together without direct public input to develop bills that promote smaller government.

The group’s Public Safety and Elections Task Force at the 2009 Atlanta meeting approved the “Voter ID Act,” a photo ID bill modeled on Indiana and Georgia laws.

guest34-4211651, sorry pal, you don't get to choose who votes for OUR next President. Voter fraud is almost non-existent and illegal. One of the most crucial aspects to prosecuting a crime is motive.

Put yourself in this man's shoes. Jose crossed the border illegally from Mexico two years ago. He has worked very hard since then to make a living and avoid detection. He speaks English and watches television. He is well aware of the many political ads swamping almost every station.

Jose is motivated to do one of two things;

(A) Attempt to vote illegally. Working and living in the community means there are many co-workers, friends and acquaintances that will easily recognize him (that are also aware of his status). He runs the risk of being investigated, arrested and then deported to participate in an American political process.

(B) Stay the hell away from the polls and continue to work here as long as he can.

Instead of getting your panties in a bunch about thousands of illegal migrants trying to cancel your Republican vote, perhaps you should put your thinking cap on and put yourself in their shoes. It ain't happening.

If liberals were REALLY worried about individual rights, they would recognize that the same document that gives everyone the right to vote also gives everyone the right to own guns. Yet this same group of people insists that not only should that right be taken away, you need not just a photo ID, but to run a background check before you are able to exercise that right.. Why the hypocrisy? Why take two inalienable rights and treat them completely differently? You have to prove who you are and that you have not broken certain laws in the past to own a gun (an inalienable right), yet you can just walk into a voting center, say you are Bob Johnson and vote with no ID, no proof of who you are, and nobody even wondering even though they know that Bob Johnson passed away 4 years before.

I just ask for the same level of scrutiny on the legality of voting as is required for the legality of purchasing a firearm. Heck, I would just be satisfied with simply proving you are a legal American citizen.

As someone who has the right to vote that was hard won by my ancestors giving up their lives, I hold the right in high enough regard to be OK with the hassle of showing my ID, which I carry with me because it is required to do just about everything these days.

I don't have a problem with the law in reference to needing to have a picture on the ID (whether it is driver's license, passport, state ID, college ID, etc) that also contains your address. I've always thought it was stupid to have a voter card without a picture. I've never used it because I had a picture ID. My problem with this is the timing of these laws. Why can't

Panic Moon when was the last bit of voter fraud in Louisiana? We have not had voter fraud in a long time. If you think that welfare fraud is the biggest problem in the county, then I feel very sorry for you. As for welfare fraud due to Katrina, there wasn't any. I did get food stamps after Katrina, then I found a job and I was yelled at because I "made too much" and they were upset when I was applying for them because I didn't and still don't have any kids. If you are talking about the recent food stamp deal Isaac, there was no fraud also. this is what happened. The announcement was given that you can apply for food stamps and to do so on the web at the government website. This was for people who lost their food, i.e. flood victims and folks who lost electricity for long periods of time. They did not list the income requirement until Wednesday morning, the first day of processing. That is why a lot of people were angry because they didn't clarify anything.

AHAHAHAHAHAH HA HA!

try and suppress the vote, good luck! this is AMERICA!!!! we ALL have a RIGHT to vote if we are citizens whether we have ID or drink 40s or are on food stamps no matter WHAT you republicans say!

its our RIGHT AND YOU WILL NEVER STOP IT!

now just keep on trying to actually find some cases of in person voter fraud! good luck!

there is this case going on in florida.. but its clearly republican!

These laws, and the legal and rhetorical debates surrounding them, leave me in a quandary. I'm more sympathetic to the Democrats, but I can see no reason why voters should have to give proof of their identity before voting.

I also agree with this judge's ruling, that the laws implementation just weeks prior to the Presidential election, does not give voters sufficient time to comply.

Well, as we say in Boston most Septembers, wait until next year, or the year after that.

For all of you screaming about lack of proof regarding voter fraud. How many more reports do we need to see by ABC / NBC / CBS or whatever news agency proving how easy it is an in reviewing voter rolls after an election to point out the number of deceased persons who managed to vote?

It happens and we all know it happens, so let's stop pretending it doesn't. It also bothers me that everyone is making it an ethnic / illegal / Republican or Democrat issue. Just stop it. It's an American issue that ensures the ensures our election process is fair and has integrity.

Complaints saying the law was enacted and being enforced without allowing citizens ample time to get an ID is valid. But to try to completely repeal the law to continue to allow people to vote without proof that they are eligible to vote does nothing but validate the argument of those saying there is a movement afoot to get ineligible voters to the polls because it may benefit your candidate.

And to those who keep harping about how impossible it is to get to a government agency to get an ID.... I don't know how your state handles voter registration, but in my state, you need to do it in person at a government agency, whether it be a local town hall or through one of the state's offices like the RMV. So if you can make it to one of these locations to register to vote, or you can make it to a location to cast a vote; your "i have no way to get to an agency to get an ID" argument fails the sniff test.

Commonsense, just how would you know voter fraud is nonexistent? Do you personally monitor the 20,000 voting stations? Did someone do this in exit polls ..."uh sir, did you vote illegally"? All people can do is give a guess. You can be sure people from every party cheat. To what extent no one knows.Dead people are found to have voted every year.

Voting should be easy to do, yet hard to cheat. We have 100 reasons now to show an ID, but voting is the only one that is bad? Polls of minorities that people claim are affected the most SUPPORT voter ID by a large margin.

For the brain trust who continues to bring up the Persecution of the Poor argument using Katrina as an example: here’s a cold, hard fact of life – NOLA is a bowl surrounded by water. It is below sea-level. It always has been. This is not news. Thousands have died in hurricanes from flooding over the last few decades. For anyone living on the coast, hurricanes and storm surges are a way of life. If you can’t afford to leave, if you do not have the resources to leave your home ahead of a major storm, you need to consider living elsewhere. That’s the bottom line. The truth doesn’t get much plainer than that. I said the same thing to a friend in Nebraska who has lost her third manufactured home to a tornado. If you can’t afford a safer structure, you either have to move or take your chances where you are.

I don't know what all the fuss is about... Showing your ID when registering or voting; is no different than showing your ID when using a credit card or cashing a check. Whether it is pollster or department store; they have to ensure:

a) You aren't attempting a fraudulent vote or transaction, by using a fake or stolen ID. In the case of voting, to ensure you have the legal right to vote. (We already know there was fraudulent voting going on in many states in 2008 election, due to ACORN registering dead and illegal voters. How those votes were accepted without verification, is a problem that we are now addressing again. It appears the same process is attempting to repeat itself).

b) You are legally registered to vote.

The only one's who have a problem with this are those trying to stack the votes with illegal votes and duplicate voting... This issue isn't about Political Party; it is about ensuring the vote is honest and ethical. Plain and Simple, Folks!

VETERANS ARE LAZY

If they don't have a current gun license or drive. You know, because maybe they're old. They shouldn't vote.

THANKS FAKE CONSERVATIVES FOR LETTING ME KNOW.

You see here, and the joke is they say they hate entitlement. Still waiting for actual conservatives to drown out the voices of the Tea Douche morons.

It's sad to see all you liberals pretend to be worried about voter suppression yet nothing is ever written about or talked about when it comes to the military who has had their vote suppressed this election season against laws on the books.

The Obama Re-election campaign has filed a lawsuit to overturn a law that gives members of the military a few extra days to vote early.

As noted in the MVP report, and later confirmed by a U.S. DOD Inspector General report—the Pentagon and its Federal Voting Assistance Program failed to comply with a key provision of the MOVE Act to provide greater voter assistance on military installations.

Last week, the MacIver Institute discovered the FVAP website listed “listed Wisconsin's ballot return date as seven days after the actual deadline, an error that could have disenfranchised thousands of military voters serving overseas.”

After the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) published an incorrect deadline for the return of absentee military ballots of Wisconsin servicemen overseas, the Department of Defense emailed service members Thursday to inform them the initial deadline was wrong.

First of all, voting isn't a privilege, it's a RIGHT. I can't find any Voter "Privileges" Act of 1964. You can also find the right to vote in the 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments to the Constitution.

Second, because this is SO CLEARLY a RIGHT, any comparisons to driving, drinking, using a credit card, yada, yada, yada, are completely illogical, irrelevant and off point.

Third, Logic Required you really want to pay attention to this one, we do not allow the government to screw with our rights based on what might be happening that we don't know about. There MIGHT be all sorts of crimes being committed that we don't know about. Someone MIGHT be committing liable as we speak, should the state shut down Newsvine and increase the difficulty of practicing free speech? If we use that logic, the government could expand its power all it wants, with no check on it.

Finally, there is no freaking, in person, voter fraud and we already need ID's to vote. Obviously, if we already need ID's and there is no fraud, the system we have in place is working. So all you, "small government conservatives" who want these laws in place, what is the proven, compelling state reason, the government needs to enact legislation that has been shown to limit the rights of citizens, and where is the evidence that that reason exists and is a valid concern?

800,000 children of illegals who got a 2 year work visa might try to vote and they will lose their visa. That would be ironic.

3000 illegal votes were thrown out in one county (milwaukee) in 08 and more will be thrown out this time. 1 acorn worker got convicted of voter fraud and he is still in prison. there were more who were prosecuted for voter fraud and registration fraud.it's funny that someone's 87 year old grandfather can get social security but can't get an ID. that is a lie.you need an ID to get a bank account. If you are too lazy to get an ID than don't vote.

why is it that this only effects blacks and hispanics?

As Obama* said, "if you don't want to show an ID then you must have something to hide".

Long time no see Sarah my favorite Democrat. How does showing an ID limit my right as a citizen? The many dead people that vote every year is one reason. It doesn't have anything to do with a class of people, but unethical people from every party that tries to one up whatever party they are with.

It should be EASY to vote, yet HARD to cheat.

Derek in regard to post #1.69," two hundred years ago you didn't need a picture ID to vote". Whoa there fella, 2 hundred years ago women could not vote,in some states you could own slaves, free blacks could not vote and Obama sure as Hell wouldn't be on the ballot! Is that what you want to go back to? What I can't understand is how anyone can function,unless you do everything online, without a picture ID? I don't sign any of my bank cards other than to say,"see my ID". If someone steals my wallet I'm not giving them a roadmap to my signature as well. Romney is losing in Penn. by these fluffed up polls anyway. Yet somehow this has to be some kind of vote pandering. No picture,no problem, like they say in Obama's home town, vote early and vote often!

There was plenty of time between the signing of this law and the election - to say that there's too litle time now appears disingenuous. This could have, and should have, been adjudicated far sooner.

Well first of all I'm not from Pennsylvania and honestly I'm not really sure what the law is in my state.

Thank you for admitting your ignorance, Logic.

The first step in the process of logic is knowledge.

Too many people are coming here whining about how unfair it is to let students whose school ID's don't have expiration dates, the poor who don't have cars and don't drive, and the elderly and nursing home-bound vote without a state-issued photo ID? Do you live in Pennsylvania? If not, mind your own business in your own state.

As the judge ruled, the primary issue in Pennsylvania is that the state is unable to administer the law before the general election. The state has admitted that it cannot provide photo ID's to every eligible voter in time. They don't have the manpower, the offices or the hours left to get it done. The Republican-controlled legislature rushed the law into effect knowing full well that the state couldn't handle administering the law.

The law has been overturned. That's what the GOP gets for trying to suppress the vote. Quit whining about it and be thankful that your 97-year-old great grandma in Pennsylvania still has her voting rights.

fenderbluesjr, no.

That's like deliberatly missing the point.

Let me explain it this way for you. 200 years ago people ate food and they lived longer.

Do you think we should stop eating food?

No you don't. Because eating food is a good idea. Just like the voter ID system we have in place now.

So stop insinuating something that isn't an issue and trying to tie it to something that is exactly the opposite of what it says.

Panic, what about those who live in Florida, Texas and Mississippi? Yes, they have hurricanes too, the midwest and east coast have hurricanes and tornadoes, and the west earthquakes. Everybody has something to deal with. So where do you go to live in a safe place. There is none. Please stop hating on Louisiana. Hasn't Florida been @!$%#ed up due to hurricanes? Mississippi. So what should we do, get rid of New Orleans? Well do it to the other states that get any type of storms.

Voting in the United States is a ---RIGHT--- It is NOT a privilege.

Impediments placed between citizens and their RIGHT to vote are anti-democratic and anti-American. Those who sponsor such impediments are the same.

Folks, this is an important reason President Obama MUST be re-elected. As hard as it might be for many to realize, there are forces among us who, while pretending allegiance to democratic principles, actually despise democracy because they have a core belief that some citizens don't "deserve" the right to govern themselves (vote).

A key goal of President Obama's second term must be to strengthen the "Voting Rights Act" and take other steps to foil the relentless forces of fascism.

Benito Mussolini Quote....
"il corporativismo è la pietra angolare dello Stato fascista, anzi lo Stato fascista o è corporativo o non è fascista"
Translation:
"corporatism is the corner stone of the Fascist nation, or better still, the Fascist nation is corporative or it is not fascist".....EndQuote

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Quote....."The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. " .....EndQuote

Theodore Roosevelt Quote......The great corporations which we have grown to speak of rather loosely as trusts are the creatures of the State, and the State not only has the right to control them, but it is duty bound to control them wherever the need of such control is shown......EndQuote

Thomas Jefferson Quote.....I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country......EndQuote

Never was our democracy intended to be dominated by its wealthy few. Those of us who do not aspire to or covet great wealth must, nevertheless, stand guard against those who seek to dominate us by it. It is the solemn duty of every generation of America's great middle class to defend the democratic rights of ourselves and all who come after. The first imperative in that defense is to cast aside attempts to confuse, deceive, and divide us.

Third, Logic Required you really want to pay attention to this one, we do not allow the government to screw with our rights based on what might be happening that we don't know about. There MIGHT be all sorts of crimes being committed that we don't know about. Someone MIGHT be committing liable as we speak, should the state shut down Newsvine and increase the difficulty of practicing free speech? If we use that logic, the government could expand its power all it wants, with no check on it.

I don't put liable and honest elections in the same category do you? The reason we don't know it is happening (actually we do know it is happening we just don't have a good way to prove or prosecute it) is because we don't ask people to prove anything by showing an ID. Iran has elections, but do you think the outcome of those elections is ever in question?

I have asked this question before and got no real answer so let me ask it again....

You want to say unless there are massive amounts of fraud being CAUGHT it isn't a problem, but my question is what measures are in place to help catch those committing voter fraud?

The law has been overturned.

Not quite. It has been put on ice for this election. Because 4 years IS enough time to get the funding, manpower, and hours to make sure eligible voters have photo ID. It's like has been said here before, politicians were banking on the inability of voters to secure a photo ID in time for this election. Because nobody was able to prove a single confirmed case of in-person voter fraud, the judge didn't see what the big rush was.

You want to say unless there are massive amounts of fraud being CAUGHT it isn't a problem, but my question is what measures are in place to help catch those committing voter fraud?

A very good question that begins with touch-screen voting machines that have zero audit trail and a recount is just pushing a button that spits out the contents of the machine's registry. The security problems are known, such as being able to tamper with the machine using a hotel mini-bar key.

And if you're so worried about the old-fashioned kind of fraud, absentee ballots are the place to start, because there's plenty of confirmed cases of fraud there.

Kaybee you must not have googled "University of Missouri Indiana voter ID law" yet or you wouldn't still be saying it supresses vote. As that and all the other studies show.

And the law wasn't overturned on merit, judge only said the time frame wasn't sufficient.

Derek people did not live longer 200 years ago, life expectancy was about 25 years shorter so not sure what that was about. You really trying to correlate eating food to survive with showing an ID to prove you are who you say you are? LOL Thats, uh, interesting :-)

There are lots of laws that are changed every year on every level of govt that are working, yet they are changed to make them better.

LogicReguired

Kaybeetoys,

So if you and I lived next to each other in Pennsylvania (so I knew your name and address) and I decided knowing you to be a left wing liberal I would vote once by mail in ballot legally, and once using your name what would stop me and how exactly would I get caught? I could simply go down give them your name and address and vote, correct? Is there anything in place that would stop this fraud from happening, or anything in place for catching me if I were to do it?

Here's how you can do it, Logic:

Get a sex change operation. Move to Pennsylvania in the next week and register to vote immediately, using my name.

...wait... I'm already registered and my signature, driver's license number and SSN are on file. Do you know my voter ID number? Can you forge my signature? You will have to apply for an absentee ballot and it would be mailed to my address. Are you going to steal it out of my mailbox? That's a federal offense, pal.

What happens when I show up at the polls and sign in to vote?

Are you willing to go to jail?

So if i lived in Detroit and read the obits that John Q Smith just passed, then i go vote as John Q Smith how would i be caught? How would anybody but myself know i just committed fraud?

Kaybee, the poll workers don't sit there and compare signatures or want a DL number. There is no need to re-register if i decide to vote as yourself. If i do so in your name and you show up later, you won't be allowed to vote as you will be listed as already voted.

The Republicans accuse the Democrats of fraud and the Democrats accuse the Republicans of fraud. Be truthful neither party gives a crap about the citizens of the US. All their interested in is how much money they can make from the lobbyists. You have to decide which man you think will do the least harm and that's who you vote for.

Voter ID is NOT an undue burden, so says the SCOTUS.

Really? Tell that to a retired war vet, who have no need for a driver's license, that has voted more times than you, in your scared little lifetime.

Now, you want to tell them they can't vote for some fabricated idea that it is voter fraud when, in fact, all it is, is to suppress the vote?

You need to pull up your boot straps a little more to keep the BS from getting you covered in it.

As Obama* said, "if you don't want to show an ID then you must have something to hide".

You must have meant Romeny since there isn't a reference, a news story, or blog about this statement.

You should receive a voter registration card, if you are a registered voter. Every, single poll place should be video monitored. You honestly think they don't know who is voting, and who shouldn't be. Please...and how many bank accounts do you plan on opening in a lifetime? You vote more often than that. Obtaining an ID doesn't mean that someone who really wants to vote in your place cannot duplicate it, as well.

Really? 3000 illegal votes? Didn't make news. What did, however, is the illegal Republicon registering happening in Florida within the last few days. That's illegal.

Well first of all I'm not from Pennsylvania and honestly I'm not really sure what the law is in my state.

Thank you for admitting your ignorance, Logic.

The first step in the process of logic is knowledge.

So I'm ignorant for not knowing if my state requires an ID to vote or not? I don't know because I HAVE AN ID and don't care if they rquire me to show it. I have never thought about committing voter fraud before so it was never a question I asked. (In my state you do need to show an ID which is good for fairness but bad because I really wanted to cheat to prove a point.)

Anyway the bottom line is most Americans (75%)want fair elections with no fraud and support voter ID laws so it will happen with liberals such as yourself kicking and screaming along the way. Yes there will be set backs like this but eventually you will actually have to be who you say you are to vote. The only ignorant ones here are the ones who think you can have millions of people voting without any verification and think there is no fraud, that truly is the most ignorant argument.

In the previous state i lived in all that was asked was your name, then they gave you a ballot. No signature comparison, nothing. They found me on the list and then crossed my name out and gave me a ballot. Anyone could have done so.

1. This law was passed in March 2012. Why did they wait so long? (Hint: one of our Republican state legislators proudly announced that the law would hand Pennsylvania to Romney.)

2. Prior to the new law, Pennsylvanians had to show photo ID only the first time they voted at a new precinct. If you had lived in the same place since before that law went into effect (as I have), then you might never have had to show photo ID, but many had to do so once.

3. Until the state government was challenged in court, in order to get a Dept. of Transportation driver or non-driver photo ID, you had to show a birth certificate, a social security card, and two other proofs of residency, such as a lease or a utility bill in your name. This rules out many people, including many elderly and many homeless. Although they knew that they were turning thousands of people away, they refused to relax these requirements because the ID could be used to get through airport security.

4. Once they were challenged on this in court, the Department of State offered a "voting only" photo ID, but at first you had to sign an affidavit that you had tried to get a DOT ID but couldn't. Then they started requiring the exact same documentation needed to get a DOT ID. Then, six weeks prior to the election, when our state Supreme Court said that these things were problems, lo and behold, they stopped requiring them. Frankly, it's the state government that's the problem here. We're five weeks out from a major election and they're still changing the rules.

5. What the judge decided today was that he doesn't believe, now that the rules for getting an ID are acceptable, that there is enough time for everyone who needs one to get one.

6. Notice what Rob Gleason, the head of the state GOP, says in the article here. He thinks the law will still have its effect because now, people are going to be confused about what the rules are, and therefore, lots of people who don't have IDs won't get out and vote. He ought to be ashamed of himsef.

7. And for those of you who worry about ex-felons voting -- welcome to Pennsylvania, where your voting privileges are automatically restored the day you get out of prison.

8. Finally, the state stipulated in court that it had no proof of even a single incident of voter fraud ever in Pennsylvania history, and that it would not even try to prove that there was any risk of it in the future. Also, the case was not decided under either the US or the PA constitutions. The voter ID law itself said that valid ID must be made "liberally available" or some such language.

Why would anyone want voters without ID to vote? left or right?

I would prefer not having a single vote from the deadbeat population that cannot produce ID.

Do they have a right to vote? Sure they do! and having a proper ID should be easy. SS security card, Birth Cerificate, state ID card, DL, Fishing License, library card?, every person should have one of these even if they cant produce photo ID,

Can anyone from either party say they would not mind if someone came to a homeowners association and placed a vote without ID? or your company board meeting? how about your PTA meeting? etc,etc,etc,

Anyway the bottom line is most Americans (75%)want fair elections with no fraud and support voter ID laws so it will happen with liberals such as yourself kicking and screaming along the way. Yes there will be set backs like this but eventually you will actually have to be who you say you are to vote.

Just for the record, I'm fine with requiring voters to show photo ID...but don't make it a law so soon before the election that people don't have time to get the ID. Don't make it so restrictive that only the state issued ID with an expiration date is valid photo ID. Let students who have out-of-state drivers licenses, for example, use them for photo ID to vote.

In the previous state i lived in all that was asked was your name, then they gave you a ballot. No signature comparison, nothing. They found me on the list and then crossed my name out and gave me a ballot. Anyone could have done so.

You actually think they will sit there and compare signatures? I don't know how it is in your state, but in my state there are volunteers who do this kind of thing. They aren't FBI handwriting experts.

Why would anyone want voters without ID to vote? left or right?

I don't. But the timing smells of manipulation. If fraud was such a major concern, it should have been addressed 4 years ago after the election, which presumably was when this fraud occurred. I'm fine with the law provided it isn't put into place so close to an election.

No Derek, It's like you deliberatly are not making a point? Do not assume I know where you are coming from and just being obnoxious. Of couse eating is a good idea Derek,but like your post #1.69 it has nothing to do this article. And again," 200 years ago people ate food and they lived longer" are you impling by today's standards? I agree with you our voter ID system as a whole is good in Ill. You registared to vote by a certain date. When you went to the polls however your name and address was on a sheet, which you had to show ID to verify who you are before you were given a ballot. Your ID could be your DL, student ID,even a water bill to prove you lived in the precinct. The fraud comes in when that "sheet" not only has the names of the registared voters but also every address in the precinct. Like has been documented for years in Chicago. And to tie my statments into the article is a picture ID would prevent this kind of fraud.

For those who are suggesting the judge was a democrat judge acting out, the Washington Times reports in a story from August that Judge Simpson is in fact a Republican.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/15/judge-upholds-tough-pa-voter-id-law/

my question is what measures are in place to help catch those committing voter fraud?

A legitimate question. But one with an obvious answer. Voter fraud isn't happening at vote stations where bipartisan monitors check to see what is going on and see people in person.

Voter fraud happens MOST WITH VOTING ORGANIZATIONS. Acorn is the example for the Democrats. Strategic Allied Consulting is the example for the Republicans.

BUT SEE NOBODY TALKING ABOUT THAT

This is why Newsvine is full of crazy party advertisers. Nobody here supporting the Democrats wants to talk about real voter fraud with Acorn. And nobody here supporting Republicans wants to talk about SAC. Nobody wants to talk about the absentee ballot system, either, where your voter photo ID won't matter.

So? BULLS**T? I say HELLYEAH!

Here's how you can do it, Logic:

Get a sex change operation. Is the government going to pay for it like they do in California

Move to Pennsylvania in the next week and register to vote immediately, using my name. If you are a resident of Pennsylvania (like in my example you would be) you are probably all ready registered (which you state you are) so I don't need to do any of that you have done it for me.

...wait... I'm already registered and my signature, driver's license number and SSN are on file. Do you know my voter ID number? LOL. You do realize I don't need a Driver license, SSN, or your voter ID number which is why we are pushing for voter ID laws. How funny. As far as your signature goes do you really think they compare signatures? LOL That's funny as hell.

Can you forge my signature? Like I said I don't need to forge anything they will never check, hell I probably don't even need to spell your name right.

You will have to apply for an absentee ballot and it would be mailed to my address. Are you going to steal it out of my mailbox? That's a federal offense, pal. Like I said I will just go down and vote using your name, it is very easy, here is a video of a man who would have been able to vote using Eric Holders name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5p70YbRiPw - Enjoy

What happens when I show up at the polls and sign in to vote? You better have an ID or they will think you are the fraud. Even if they figure it out what are they going to do track me down? They have no idea who I am. NO ID - Get it!

Are you willing to go to jail? Going to jail assumes I would get caught, please tell me how I would get caught!

Need a laugh while getting proof of voter fraud????? Well here you go.....

US Attorney General Eric Holder's Ballot to Vote Offered to Total Stranger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5p70YbRiPw

Just for the record, I'm fine with requiring voters to show photo ID...but don't make it a law so soon before the election that people don't have time to get the ID. Don't make it so restrictive that only the state issued ID with an expiration date is valid photo ID. Let students who have out-of-state drivers licenses, for example, use them for photo ID to vote.

Actually Kaybeetoys, I would be ok with that. UMMMMMM, I guess I will leave on a note of agreement, since it so rarely happens.

@LogicReguired (Reguired?)

I will likely vote mainly Democrat and I wish I could give every qualified person a ballot and have them vote, regardless of any affiliation. These sweeping accusations from any side are quite funny, yet sad.

Logic, the only way you get caught is if the volunteer at the polling place actually knows the person you are trying to steal the name from. Other than that you just say "i'm Fred W Smith" and they give you a ballot no questions asked. VERY easy to cheat as all the volunteers do is look for the name on a list and give you a ballot.

Kaybee i don't follow the Penn law, and have no idea of the time frames, but would agree with the judge on any law if the time frame isn't sufficient for public education. What is suffient is different to a lot of people. However, most state laws allow provisional ballots if you aren't aware of the ID law where you can go get an ID and bring it back at a later time. No idea if Penn law does that.

@fenderbluesjr

Okay, then, but to you I would simply refer the same post @1.227. Voter ID is NOT A PROBLEM. But it would make 21 million people who should vote not eligible. What IS a problem in fraud is where no ID can be required and that should be no surprise.

And it should be no surprise that Democrats and Republicans both concentrate their most fraud in the places where Voter ID laws would change nothing.

For the brain trust who continues to bring up the Persecution of the Poor argument using Katrina as an example: here’s a cold, hard fact of life – NOLA is a bowl surrounded by water.

Panic Moon, you did notice that the article was about a voting law in PA, not floods in LA, didn't you?

Even outside the brain trust, we try aim our comments at some aspect relating to the story.

That was a funny video Logic. Holder saying there is no proof of voter fraud, yet the poll worker offered Eric Holders ballet to the guy with the camera. LOL I noticed he never said he was Holder but asked "do you have an Eric Holder"? He actually crossed Holders name off i wonder if Holder was actually allowed to vote? LOL

Anyone that doesn't believe how easy it is to vote under someone else's name should watch your video link.

I SUPPORT VOTER SUPPRESSION WHEN IT MEANS NON-US CITIZENS WILL NOT TAKE PART IN ELECTING A PRESIDENT FOR A COUNTRY TO WHICH THEY DO NOT BELONG!

If that is voter suppression, or simply playing it safe, it is necessary just as I wouldn't want anyone cashing my checks without ID, because... what if they weren't me?

C'mon now, how is this even an argument.

Look up: Cloward-Piven, reveals his real intent and it is frankly, quite obvious.

Derek, I got ya, and I agree, thanks for reiterating. My God if there ever was voter reform in the South Side of Chicago the turnout would probably be cut in half ! :)

What is up with this class of people that can not get an ID. That's the real issue, we are in the 21st century and they can't get an ID. I'm sure they can get their Obama phones. They can make it to the voter booth but their entire lives they can't make it to get an ID. I guess they have never wanted to attend the democratic national convention. Another interesting trait about these people, if anyone talks to them they become timid little rabbits. If God forbid someone did ask them for an ID they would purportedly have an aneurysm.

Big ATC,

This is the source of the problem...

It's been shown that millions could be disenfranchised by these laws, while they're not solving any known problem. We can make up all the scenarios about stealing identities and the like, that we want, they HAVE study this and addressed those concerns, and found them invalid.

We don't risk the rights of citizens, for what could be going on. That's the whole concept of presumption of innocence and the accusitorial system we have. If we did that, all of our civil rights could be limited based on a political party's "hunch" or desire.

Imagine what would happen, if democratic controlled state legislatures, starting upping the ID requirements for gun ownership, without any proof that there was a "gun" issue?

Voter ID is NOT an undue burden! - I think both parties stink, but if you want to vote in an US Election, then you should be a US Citizen, be registered to vote and be able to show the proper identification at the voting place when you do.

Commonsense101 are you serious. What exactly were you just trying to prove with that? All you said to me is that the guy is here illegally and shouldn't be able to vote. First off, IM not chosing who can or cannot vote. YOU CANNOT VOTE IF YOU ARE ILLEGAL AND NOT A CITIZEN what do you not understand about that. And to your buddy Jose, if he came over two years ago why hasn't he gone for his citizenship yet? He's had plenty of time to attempt to get it, right? Or is that just too much to ask for, for someone to play by the rules and OUR COUNTRY'S LAWS. No sympathy with that pathetic story here. You proved nothing.

Hooray for some sanity! This law should have been passed last year or next year, not this year. Now that it looks like it will not go into effect until after this election I am cautiously for it. I have no problem with requiring id to vote. I do have a problem with an ALEC orchestrated drive during an election year with the clear purpose of suppressing votes.

patrick demarco, scroll up and read my comments. My mother is one of "these people" that can't get an ID. Have some empathy, many of these people are disabled or elderly.

What makes requiring an ID an undo burden is that IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW TO NOT HAVE A PHOTO ID. And it is the right of every citizen over 18 to vote. Ask WHY this law was proposed and by whom...ask what evidence there is in the claim of voter fraud. The US has one of the worst rates of voter turnout...why are they focusing their efforts on making it harder to vote? Because they don't want some people voting. A party that benefits from LESS people voting is shameful and pathetic.

Seriously, people? If you are old enough to vote, and you STILL have no id of any kind, something's not right.

The law in PA doesn't allow ID of "any kind." It is quite specific. I'm sure that there are many elderly citizens in PA who don't have a photo ID with an unexpired expiration date. Many of them are probably veterans who fought in WWII. But, that's OK, you can call them "not right."

there are few green card holder legal immigrant that actually register to vote via DMV and they have been voting for the past few years with only the Drivers license as an ID and they not suppose to be voting because they are not citizen only legal resident.

patrick demarco, scroll up and read my comments. My mother is one of "these people" that can't get an ID. Have some empathy, many of these people are disabled or elderly.

You might as well give up, Emily. Patrick, ProtectAmericanJobs, et al, have as much empathy for the elderly and disabled as Mitt Romney. They focus only on themselves.

The level to which the GOP will stoop to get "their" guy "in" is in itself, the whole ideology of their platform; they will lie, cheat and steal to get what they want. They don't care who they step to crawl their way up to "the Chair." You remember the Clint Eastwood, "Chair"?

Perot said: "We're on the edge of a cliff and we have to start fixing it NOW." Where was Ross when the Bush-Cheney cartel were running us into hell? Oh and Rumsfeld, Rove, Libby, the Carlyle Group and Halliburton, also? And all the Contractors brought in (Bush and Cheney) 190.000 contractors, running up the deficit. But lucky for America, President Obama was elected and in 2009 he put an end to unlimited defense spending for contractors with a higher profile on the "bottom line". And despite the useless RepubliCANT's and their blocks toward moving our country forward, Obama still managed to drive us forward. The hardest hit job's lost: Government jobs, as in Government Contractors, as in Defense Contractors making a huge profit off the "orchestrated" 9/11 Towers Demolition that would have never happened had Bush taken all the warnings seriously by all our Allied Countries. What did Bush do? Took a vacation. Bush got his war; and he and all his "buddies": Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, Libby, the Carlyle Group (all of them and those you'll discover only if you venture down the Rabbit Hole. You won't like what you find) made a "killing" off the war; literally and figuratively.

This was in the news the other day: 386,000 more jobs created than previous estimates:The Bureau of Labor Statistics released a new benchmark for payroll employment last Thursday, reporting that the non-farm job count from March 2011 to March 2012 was underestimated by 386,000 jobs.

You know, President Eisenhower warned Americans as he was leaving office to beware of the "military industrial complex": a combination of power and influence that dictates foreign policy for monetary gains (oil) for the select few--the 1%, like the Koch Brothers and the Carlyle Group; who then dump millions into groups like: AMERICA FOR PROSPERITY, Reason Foundation, Heritage Foundation, Mercatus Center, Cato Institution, Koch Foundation, Freedom Works, American Crossroads, American Future Fund, American for Job Security, American for New Leadership, American Solutions Winning the Future. ALL these organizations have been bought and paid for by the Koch Brothers and their interested parties.

If you've never heard of the Koch Brothers or any of the above listed organizations, do yourself a favor and research or watch the documentary: Koch Brothers Exposed on Netflix. Some of you may even see yourselves in the movie!

The Koch Brothers invest in the media, as does the Carlyle Group, to spread their agenda and propaganda, all under the guise of "Grassroots" politics that you Repuke's just suck down without researching ANYTHING. They have the TeaBagNutz so messed up and smoke-screened--the Repub's can't tell that they're like lambs being led to the slaughter. What did RoMONEY say? "I'll increase defense spending." Just like Bush did. And look where that got us. And Romney will deregulate oversight on programs that have been put in place to protect the American people--Romney will only make it easier for rich, millionaires of the powerful "elite" to take MORE taxpayers $$$$$.

Do you have school aged children? Get ready for a few more mandated VACCINES added to the already too many they receive--what is it now, 15 mandated shots? And, EXEMPTIONS will no longer be allowed. But not for the rich and powerful elite's kids. No. They go to elite Private Schools and those rules don't apply. Deregulation IS NOT the opposite of Government "takeover." This is just what the 1% want you to believe. President Obama wants to keep regulation in place. So should you. When you deregulate, you get what the Bush-Cheney Cartel gave us...a huge deficit, Financial Market Crash, Housing Crash, thousands of lost jobs, and a whole lot of money for the very rich, powerful, pompous elite that govern our Foreign Policy by how much more money that can make for themselves and their friends.

Dubya, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, Libby--they all belong in prison for their involvement in 9/11. The Bush family and the Bin Laden family were friends all along and before 9/11.

This decision ensures an Obama win, Republicans cannot win fair and free elections in 2012.

Da Noid,

Can we say 'ACORNn 2008'...? ACORN got people in and had them vote two and three times all over the country, plus they used names of recently deceased people. We need voter ID laws, and a year was long enough for people to take care of it...

Sarah, while you say they "could be" .... they have actually done numerous studies on this and NOT ONE of them has shown it to reduce turnout for those suggested. Look up Hoosiers in the "University of Missouri Indiana voter ID law 2006". Also Univ of Delaware and Nebraska studies that found no suppression of anyone. Four election cycles from 2000-2006 were looked at ..nothing found.

There is a known problem as numerous dead people vote every year. It is extremely easy to cheat and there are plenty of unscrupulous people from all parties that will do it. Watch Logic's link above how the guy easily was offered Eric Holders ballot.

Gun ownership is a right just like voting. If i go down to Sarah's gun shop and tax service i have to show an ID to buy my gun. That doesn't suppress my rights any more than showing my Hoosier ID to vote. I have to do both and am fine with it as it improves the integrity of both and doesn't infringe on my right to do either.

So how is my motor city friend?

So the law was passed a year ago,and people are scrambling and bitching about how CLOSE the decision is to the election.....Geee....I guess none of these people complaining, knew there was an election coming in 2012.....should have paid less attention to thier free cell phones....unless they also thought the reigning King would sidestep the Constitution again,and cancel the elections through ANOTHER executive order......Oh yeah...he said he'd have;"..More latitude to do things AFTER the election..".....so if he wins,...it's THEN we have to worry.........I'm worried about our future,no matter who gets elected at this point.........U.S. Army Disabled Veteran

Cool. All we need to do is get rid of liberal-sponsored voter suppression & everything will be just ducky.

Emily, Barry ... every state has provisions for disabled to vote. Penn. has theirs through the 1995 voters act. There are ways to register for this, you don't have to show up in person, to where you can even have assistence in the voting both if your registration has disabled on it. Or you can do it all through the mail. Even with the ID law there are provisions for the disabled.

BIG ATC,

I'm no longer your motor city friend, I'm now your DC friend. My relocation was the reason I haven't been on in a while. But, I'm great, thanks! Yourself?

You made the comment about needing ID to buy a gun, but this isn't about just needing ID. We already need ID to vote, just like we need ID to purchase a gun. This is about increasing the standards for those ID'S.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/restrictions_could_keep_five_million_traditionally_democratic_voters_from_the_polls_in_2012.php

That's a link to a source that can show you the disenfranchisement capabilities of these laws. On a personal note, I could feasibly be someone effected, since these initiatives also go after things like early and absentee voting, which I will have to partake in this year.

The Overlord,

Yes, you are probably correct, I PRAY NOT! A repeat of 2008, more double and triple voting, along with all those dead people voting for Barack...

If all these people without IDs have enough time to hold protesting signs all day I am sure they have time to wait on line at the DMV

Enough with the DEBUNKED Acorn conspiracy...

According to a recent analysis by Lorraine Minnite, an expert on voting crime at Barnard College, (as quoted in Rolling Stone by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Greg Palast), federal courts found only 24 voters guilty of fraud from 2002 to 2005, out of hundreds of millions of votes cast. "The claim of widespread voter fraud," Minnite says, "is itself a fraud."

And what about ACORN? Aren't they guilty of voter fraud. Actually, no. Of the millions of voters they have registered, only asmall percentage of registrations have been found to be fraudulent, and most of those were identified and flagged by ACORN iteself. By law ACORN and all other groups have to examine the registrations and look for bad registrations--but even this is besides the point. Every state has a system to validate new registrations (just as they do with other documents such as drivers licenses, business permits etc) and states have extensive systems designed not to prevent voter fraud.

http://www.urbanmyths.com/index.php?/Politics/acorn-alert-the-great-myth-of-voter-fraud.html

http://www.velvetrevolution.us/electionstrikeforce/2008/10/obama_acorn_and_voter_fraud_my.html

http://whatreallyhappened.com/content/acorn-voter-fraud-myths-dispelled

Can we say 'ACORNn 2008'...? ACORN got people in and had them vote two and three times all over the country, plus they used names of recently deceased people.

You do realize, CBurroughs, that something you read on the internet, or heard at the water cooler, or in a bar, is not necessarily true?

The allegations regarding Acorn in 2008 have always been long on paranoid rhetoric, and more than a bit short on evidence.

...but I'd still say that this law is a good idea, just not with an implementation date just weeks before the election. That does stink on ice.

How about a real news source

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124182750646102435.html

Since everyone is subject to the same laws and rules to vote, it seems to me that what we have established and confirmed by what I see and hear coming from the Left is that poor people, black people, illegals, and Democrats in general, are too stupid, too lazy, too backwards, too afraid of the cops finding them and/or not legally able to obtain a state issued ID like the rest of us.

Racist and insulting, but thanks for pointing that out.

It's been shown that millions could be disenfranchised by these laws, while they're not solving any known problem.

B.S.!

1.)States that have already passed such laws have not seen any dramatic or even noticeable differences between elections before the laws were in place

2.) Only around 1% of people who vote say they don't have proper ID's. The 11% number people like to throw around don't take into account that most without ID's don't vote anyway.

3.) Even if you don't have an ID and want to vote you are allowed to fill out a provisional ballot.

Again we know voter fraud happens we just have no measure in place to identify, limit, or stop the activity. Having nothing in place to help stop voter fraud means voter fraud is never stopped or caught. We know by the few cases that are captured that most probably get away with it.

The link you put up Sarah, the Brennan Center for Justice that "studied" this, is funded by none other than George Soros. A well known independant (sarcasm)

As it lists "could" affect, "may" affect. Same as all other arguments i hear that say "could" or "may" affect.....

The studies i listed actually followed voter turnout in 4 election cycles. Actual voter numbers in actual elections, no theory. If they had shown regretion in segments of our population then i might rethink, but it did not in any of the four elections looked at.

I hope you aren't disinfranchised as that would make me sad :-) Why did you head out for greener pastures if i'm not being too nosy? You couldn't take living only one state away from me? LOL

BIG ATC,

But we don't risk those "coulds", "woulds" and "mays", without good evidence.

I moved for grad school. American University, holla! I wonder how many conservatives on here just @!$%# their pants, thinking of me in politics and policy?

There is a known problem as numerous dead people vote every year.

Can you cite a credible source for this claim?

Four election cycles studied and found not to have any negative effect is not good evidence for you? Seriously? How many election cycles do they need to study and have the same results before you believe it? And they let you into grad school? ....kidding :-) LOL

Nice campus and from what i remember it's not easy to get in there? I smell good grades. Did you drop my name to get in? :-)

I wouldn't mind you in politics, what's the end game... Gov of Michigan?

there are few green card holder legal immigrant that actually register to vote via DMV and they have been voting for the past few years with only the Drivers license as an ID and they not suppose to be voting because they are not citizen only legal resident.

@gregorio ... that's easy to claim. But, where's your proof?

Derek-381097:

Fortunately for Mexicans, they have no sympathy for anyone outside their race.

How do you say: "Auschwitz" in Spanish?

Da Noid... "where is all of this voter fraud that the GOP believes is so rampant?" In their dreams. It's already been proven to be negligible. This is nothing more than a solution looking for a problem.

Con-science... One more time: Voting in America is not a privilege, it is a RIGHT!

kaybeetoys... Do not argue with idiots. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. When people who are honestly mistaken learn the truth, they will either cease being mistaken or cease being honest.

Big ATC,

Governors are small potatoes. Think, "Inter-galactic Empress". And, of COURSE I dropped your name to get in.

And I'll support those studies, just as soon as you prove this law is necessary. ;)

Ohio is allowing the military the three days prior to the election to vote due to difficulties they sometimes have in moving around. A law that has been enabled to be activated on a county level. Obamas election campaign is suing to stop that. Now why is that? Why would anyone want to deny our boys and girls in uniform a better access to vote? Suppressing the military vote?

You are right Barry, no one has ever voted under a dead persons name.

Looks like the RNC's last-minute attempt to suppress the vote and sew confusion isn't going to work in Pennsylvania.

Another Epic Failure by The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Think Straight.

I say it is necessary through my edict. How's that :-) Maybe it is necessary, maybe not. But that doesn't change the study outcomes.

So when you rise through the ranks you gonna hold a job for me that has some kind of title like "under secretary" of something? I have a lot of Fed govt time so i know how to goof off with the best.

So really, you have specific ambitions? Or just aiming in a general direction for now? I wouldn't bet against you.

It is so comforting to know that the republicans are protecting us from such imminent dangers as people using someone else's name to vote, and next they will protect us from such threats to our democracy as herds of rampaging gay, communist unicorns.

And to those who say that you need an ID to "do a whole bunch of things these days" - the difference is simple - (now listen carefully, because this is important) - voting is a constitutionally guaranteed right! Not one of those other "things" that are mentioned are.

Better 1000 vote who are not eligible than to deny 1 person who IS eligible their right to vote. And if it were you who was being denied the right, you'd feel the same way. Or at least you should.

Big ATC,

Thanks! I wouldn't bet against me either, lol. Obviously, I'll have a fancy, really long title for you, that's based in Hawaii, and over pay you by oodles, using tax payer dollars!

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." Winston Churchill

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." Albert Einstein

"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." H.L. Menken

@ Looking Forward -

"LOL!!!!! Dems need those illegals and dead people votes!

And don't be smashing my comment down when its already been proven this was done by Acorn and other Demo groups in 2008! Vote on the record. Most transparent president??? NOT!!"

You must have selective vision. The GOP just got caught doing the very same thing in FL that you accuse the Dems of doing in 08. How you gonna bash one group for it and not the other? Hypocrite. And btw, it's 2012, not 2008. You're living in the past Jethro Tull. How about getting with the program?

So @Tyler is the judge, jury, and executioner.

Congrats on AU, i'll run the Ford museam in Dearborn. Or a Mackinac or Traverse city post when you rule Michigan will be fine. Off to more important political things, like building a porch swing :-)

I generally do not have a problem with a voter ID law. However, there must be sufficient time to get the paperwork needed to get the voter ID. For some people this may mean copies of a birth certificate, marriage certificates, possibly divorce papers which, even in this electronic age, can often only be obtained at a county court house, sometimes located in another state and with the office only open during certain hours on particular days. Even then, there can be issues because "Mary Johnson" finds out that on her birth certificate, her name is spelled "Marie Johnston" or some other issue.

You are right Barry, no one has ever voted under a dead persons name.

@BigATC ... I never said that it didn't happen. But, in your posting, you claimed that "numerous" people voted under the names of dead people. You still haven't cited a credible source for the claim of "numerous".

I generally do not have a problem with a voter ID law. However, there must be sufficient time to get the paperwork needed to get the voter ID. For some people this may mean copies of a birth certificate, marriage certificates, possibly divorce papers which, even in this electronic age, can often only be obtained at a county court house, sometimes located in another state and with the office only open during certain hours on particular days...

Copies of those items are rarely provided for free. Expecting people to pay for the ID that they need to vote is just another "poll tax." If someone needs a copy of a document in order to obtain a voting ID, the state should cover that cost. It should also cover the cost of traveling to the DMV office to obtain the ID.

Vice President Biden said Tuesday that the middle class has been "buried the last four years" -- a practically gift-wrapped gaffe that Republicans immediately grabbed to hammer President Obama on the eve of the first presidential debate.

Biden made the remark at a campaign stop in Charlotte, N.C., in the course of slamming Republican tax policies which Democrats claim would cut taxes for the rich and hike them for the middle class.

"This is deadly earnest," Biden said. "How they can justify -- how they can justify raising taxes on the middle class that's been buried the last four years. How in the lord's name can they justify raising their taxes with these tax cuts?"

Mitt Romney, it turns out, couldn't agree more with the first part.

He tweeted: "Agree with @JoeBiden, the middle class has been buried the last 4 years, which is why we need a change in November #CantAfford4More."

2.) Only around 1% of people who vote say they don't have proper ID's. The 11% number people like to throw around don't take into account that most without ID's don't vote anyway.

It doesn't matter whether the law has minimal effect on "likely" voters. ALL voters have equal rights. The ID requirement ensures that the "not likely to vote" voters become "definitely will not vote."

3.) Even if you don't have an ID and want to vote you are allowed to fill out a provisional ballot.

That solves nothing. ID is still required in order the provisional ballot to be counted.

Deaf, dumb, blind, stupid, and Mexican. The perfect voter.

Dear LogicRequired - for one who professes that the application of logic be required, you appear to be surprisingly devoid of same.

Please note;

By Natasha Khan and Corbin Carson, Published: August 11The Washington Post

A new nationwide analysis of more than 2,000 cases of alleged election fraud over the past dozen years shows that in-person voter impersonation on Election Day, which has prompted 37 state legislatures to enact or consider tougher voter ID laws, was virtually nonexistent.

The analysis of 2,068 reported fraud cases by News21, a Carnegie-Knight investigative reporting project, found 10 cases of alleged in-person voter impersonation since 2000. With 146 million registered voters in the United States, those represent about one for every 15 million prospective voters.

Or put another way - there were 122,394,724 votes cast in the 2008 election. If, as you say, 1% of voters do not have a photo ID, and therefore would not be eligible to vote, this means that you are willing to disenfranchise 1,223,947 voters in order to keep 10 ineligible voters from voting.

Very logical indeed.

Big ATC, she would still need a photo id and that's unfair. The provisions don't waive the ID requirement. Before the handicapped voting, she voted via absentee ballot.

And this law wasn't JUST challenged...the ruling was just made but it's been in the courts since it was passed a year ago.

We've NEVER had a case of voter fraud in this state.

No, the voter fraud occurs in FL when all the snow birds vote up north, then come to FL and vote again! They need to have a NATIONAL database of WHO voted ONCE!

What about all the absentee ballots? They also vote out of state!

And Eric Holder strikes again!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/01/us-usa-veterans-probe-idUSBRE8901FE20121001

Rorschach-558483:

Why do you people make this crap up?

I do not know, why do you?

Sarah-3043284:

First of all, voting isn't a privilege, it's a RIGHT. I can't find any Voter "Privileges" Act of 1964. You can also find the right to vote in the 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments to the Constitution.

No Sarah you are wrong again.

The Constitution contains many phrases, clauses, and amendments detailing ways people cannot be denied the right to vote. You cannot deny the right to vote because of race or gender. Citizens of Washington DC can vote for President; 18-year-olds can vote; you can vote even if you fail to pay a poll tax. The Constitution also requires that anyone who can vote for the "most numerous branch" of their state legislature can members and Senate members.

Note that in all of this, though, the Constitution never explicitly ensures the right to vote, as it does the right to speech, for example. It does require that Representatives be chosen and “the People elect Senators" and who comprises "the People" has been expanded by the aforementioned amendments several times. Aside from these requirements, though, the qualifications for voters are left to the states. And as long as the qualifications do not conflict with anything in the Constitution, that right can be withheld. For example, in Texas, persons declared mentally incompetent and felons currently in prison or on probation are denied the right to vote.

It is interesting to note that though the 26th Amendment requires that 18-year-olds must be able to vote, states can allow persons younger than 18 to vote, if they chose to.

No, you are wrong. Every Scholar regarding the subject of Constitutional law knows, without question, there is a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT to VOTE. It has been called one of the cornerstones of our democracy, and to say otherwise is flat out wrong.

Yes, the right to vote can be limited, just as the right to free speech can be limited. However, both require that a substantial harm must be shown before any burden will be placed on these rights. The states do not have unfettered discretion to limit these rights without meeting this high standard.

thetrainables:

No, you are wrong. Every Scholar regarding the subject of Constitutional law knows, without question, there is a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT to VOTE. It has been called one of the cornerstones of our democracy, and to say otherwise is flat out wrong.

1. The USA Supreme Court has ruled it is NOT a right, but rather a privilege. Go educated yourself on the subject.

2. The USA is a constitutional republic - not a democracy. The USA's government system is styled on democracy, but it is NOT a democracy.

3. Please list the Law Scholar(s) that you know personally and their stated view on the subject.

4. A person can have their voting privilege canceled. It happens very day in the USA.

Democrat Wendy Rosen dropped out of the race for a congressional seat on Monday, September 10, 2012 after the state party said she voted in both Maryland and Florida in the 2006 general election and the 2008 presidential primaries.

Either liberals don't see this as an example of voter fraud, or voter fraud can only occur if it supports a Republican.

Emily, why do you keep saying that the PA voter ID law was passed last year? It was passed in March 2012, and the PA departments of Transportation and State have been changing the rules for obtaining an acceptable ID ever since then, up to and including last week.

Facts matter. We can't each have our own set.

It is surprising that all who "piss and moan" about having to show an ID to vote, never complain that they have to do show ID at the bank or liquor store.

HOMER: ya need to learn exactly what the constitution states, You do have the RIGHT to VOTE. Your decision not to vote is a privilege.

Homer Adams, please read this

The Fifteenth Amendment (Amendment XV) to the United States Constitution prohibits each government in the United States from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude" (for example, slavery). It was ratified on February 3, 1870.

The USA is not a constitutional republic, it is and has been a Democratic Republic.

@ concerned veteran:

It is surprising that all who "piss and moan" about having to show an ID to vote, never complain that they have to do show ID at the bank or liquor store.

That's a false analogy. You also have to pay money at the liquor store.

One Citizen, One Vote! Recently, there's been a lot said about voter registration, voter fraud and voter ID.
Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court ruled, in an Indiana case, that states can require photo identification from voters. Not only should all states require a voter ID, we need to ensure that only eligible US citizens vote in order to prevent fraud.
It's about time we introduce a secure, tamper proof voter ID, like our neighbors to the South are doing since 2004 and like many stats in our Union provide FREE IDs to all eligible voters.

"Mexico’s Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE) is an autonomous, non-partisan organization charged with ensuring
free and fair elections.
In January, 2004, IFE entered into a four-year contract with Digimarc Corporation to design and supply secure, reliable voter ID cards to Mexican citizens in order to help ensure the ideal of “One Citizen, One Vote.”
In the years since then, nearly 35 million credentials have been produced and Mexico’s voter ID card is now widely regarded as one of the most secure, reliable voter identification systems in the world.
So trusted is the integrity of Mexico’s voter ID credential that amid all the controversy surrounding the close presidential election on July 2, 2006, no one questioned the security, reliability, or authenticity of Mexico’s voter identification itself.
Indeed, Mexico’s voter ID has become the country’s de facto identification document and is readily accepted as positive proof-of-identity by merchants, banks, government officials, and citizens nationwide."

We must demand from our elected representatives that it's time they ensure One Citizen, One Vote, and implement Federal, tamper-proof, Voter ID

concerned veteran:

The USA is not a constitutional republic, it is and has been a Democratic Republic.

The United States, as in many federal republics are Constitutional Republics which seek to ensure the rights of individuals and groups within the republic.

concerned veteran:

Homer Adams, please read this

The Fifteenth Amendment (Amendment XV) to the United States Constitution prohibits each government in the United States from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude" (for example, slavery). It was ratified on February 3, 1870.

Sorry, but that is NOT the 15th Amendment. It is a cut and paste of someones viewpoint. I tend to agree with the USA courts on this subject - the USA's Constitution never explicitly ensures the right to vote. Since 1789, the USA has had several voting laws on who could vote, the requirements, and age.

@ Homer Adams

What are you talking about?

AMENDMENT XV

Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude--

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