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Yes. Vivien Send a noteboard - 18/01/2012 09:32:25 PM


There will always be people on the fringes of society that feel intimidated about voting. Even if it's just the conspiracy theorists! So the trick becomes where you will draw the line, not IF you're going to draw the line..


Yes, absolutely, there will always be a line. Unless voting is compulsory and not voting is a verifiable punishable offense, and I don't see that as a voting rights utopia. Although there is always a line, I do think there is something wrong if it moves in the wrong direction- and by that of course the direction of less representation by those in the fringes or close to the fringes.


Given that one of the reasons a lot of people in my demographic (18-24 white middle class) don't vote is that we feel our vote is useless. Such a feeling is compounded by the implications of voter fraud, as well as the feeling that a lot of people are voting that have NO IDEA WTF IS GOING ON. I'm not saying we should deny ignorant citizens the right to vote! But from that view point, yah you know what? If someone is too ignorant/lazy to go get an appropriate ID to vote, why SHOULD I care? That's just one less vote from someone who would place an uneducated vote likely based on the appearance of the candidate or (more likely) what party they were...


Yes this is basically the argument that's at the heart of the matter- the ignorant stupid voter who doesn't even care enough to learn enough about the voter id requirements and how to get it, let alone read up on he candidates and issues. IMO, the voter fraud argument is a sham to cover the real reasons underlying this because admitting the real reasons can be unpleasant and people do their best not to do this. I really appreciate your willingness to discuss it.

Now let's discuss the ignorant/lazy voter. Odds are, the real distinguishing factor between him or her and someone who others wouldn't even suspect is ignorant or lazy is social class. Just because someone has money and has all the possible id's necessary for voting by default (like how someone who drives a car will have a valid driver's license) it doesn't mean this person is educated on the issues and candidates. All it means is that this person drives a car, has a driver's license and therefore will never by touched by voter id regulations.



I definitely think that ID laws are okay in general. I think that the states requiring them should ALSO make sure acceptable forms of ID are as broad as possible (the example of the utility bill above is a good one), or if they are going to tighten down, they need to improve accessibility to acceptable forms of ID (ex. opening ID centers in accessible areas). .


Yes, I think this is a decent way to go- if you are going to tighten voter id laws you absolutely have to do everything possible to make sure that anyone who could vote before will be able to vote again. This will take a lot of resources.

As far as just not knowing about the state laws, I see no reason why that should be a problem. You're not registered by default to vote, so when you go in to register they can just have a poster or a pamphlet or something.


The knowing thing- it's not that hard to mislead or intimidate people who aren't that confident of their voting rights in the first place. On one hand it's tempting to recall Jim Crow type examples, but this type of thing is done today. I linked to an example.
Black Voters Told, 'Relax, Don't Vote'
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How does requiring photo ID disenfranchise the black/minority community? - 15/01/2012 05:14:16 PM 1959 Views
I certainly don't know. *NM* - 15/01/2012 05:32:42 PM 550 Views
From what I understand ... - 15/01/2012 05:34:39 PM 1071 Views
but you need a photo ID for so many other things - 15/01/2012 05:42:06 PM 949 Views
Well. - 15/01/2012 05:53:04 PM 1076 Views
your last bit is a good point *NM* - 15/01/2012 06:07:17 PM 591 Views
The SCOTUS disagrees with you. - 16/01/2012 03:14:57 AM 919 Views
I didn't even need to show a voter regestration card last time I voted *NM* - 16/01/2012 11:45:23 PM 688 Views
That is kind of pathetic. - 17/01/2012 06:45:19 AM 867 Views
you are not taking my amazing good looks into account - 17/01/2012 11:22:16 AM 785 Views
I cannot speak to that. - 17/01/2012 04:11:53 PM 982 Views
It "disenfranchises" whoever only barely brings him- or herself to vote as it is. - 15/01/2012 05:34:50 PM 950 Views
That really only reinforces the idea to me that this is just people looking to fight about something *NM* - 15/01/2012 05:45:37 PM 529 Views
Did you read your own article? - 15/01/2012 05:48:21 PM 999 Views
but out of that 200,000, how many would go get an ID? - 15/01/2012 06:08:44 PM 963 Views
I think that's an exaggeration, but to play devil's advocate... - 15/01/2012 05:41:10 PM 892 Views
it doesn't strike me as a very big layer to add. *NM* - 15/01/2012 05:43:37 PM 527 Views
Someone presents a poll worker a non-DL photo ID. - 15/01/2012 05:48:50 PM 964 Views
This is a remarkably calm and reasonable political discussion. What's going on? *NM* - 15/01/2012 08:05:30 PM 548 Views
I'm magical? *NM* - 15/01/2012 08:59:33 PM 618 Views
It is not a black and white issue - 16/01/2012 01:07:14 AM 971 Views
I prefer to think i'm magical. *NM* - 16/01/2012 01:20:49 AM 539 Views
I don't see any cat nearby, thus no magic was used *nods* *NM* - 16/01/2012 01:28:50 AM 566 Views
that's too obvious. - 16/01/2012 02:48:29 AM 951 Views
You did not just compare a cat to a rabbit - 16/01/2012 03:07:49 AM 962 Views
have you ever had a rabbit? - 16/01/2012 03:25:26 AM 1007 Views
A cat would never lower itself assumming the form of a fluffy rabbit - 16/01/2012 12:49:26 PM 1038 Views
that's just what they want you to think. - 16/01/2012 02:34:48 PM 892 Views
Viscous does not mean Magical - 16/01/2012 02:45:10 PM 1087 Views
Not that I care much either way, but please, answer this: - 15/01/2012 09:26:23 PM 1025 Views
definitely not. However, ID cards are free in South Carolina. - 15/01/2012 09:33:06 PM 1104 Views
You could walk. *NM* - 16/01/2012 06:31:58 AM 538 Views
Oh I could, theoretically. Although this year, my poll is a good 7 miles away - 16/01/2012 08:45:42 AM 1110 Views
7 miles away, isn't that illegal? *NM* - 16/01/2012 05:35:50 PM 538 Views
probably, but not really at the same time. It's my own fault regardless. - 16/01/2012 10:46:06 PM 1005 Views
Illegal? My polling location is > 7 miles from my permanent residence. - 17/01/2012 12:19:21 AM 957 Views
I really have no idea what the rules are. *NM* - 17/01/2012 03:02:04 PM 542 Views
Every state has its own rules - 17/01/2012 03:54:43 PM 999 Views
No, and there's is no place in the US that is the case - 16/01/2012 12:11:36 AM 1015 Views
Short answer: Yes. (Let me know if you want the long answer.) *NM* - 16/01/2012 07:52:36 PM 640 Views
that would be interesting. *NM* - 16/01/2012 08:45:24 PM 555 Views
I don't see how it does - 15/01/2012 10:22:29 PM 1024 Views
Re: I don't see how it does - 15/01/2012 10:57:20 PM 964 Views
I believe most states also offer a non-drivers ID issued by the DMV - 16/01/2012 12:12:09 AM 915 Views
Also passports work too in most places. *NM* - 16/01/2012 06:59:51 PM 573 Views
those are far far from economical or practical compared to state IDs *NM* - 16/01/2012 07:12:30 PM 448 Views
Non-driver IDs, as said above - 16/01/2012 11:55:55 PM 991 Views
they don't cost in all states. They are free in SC *NM* - 17/01/2012 12:00:14 AM 558 Views
It is a catch 22 situation, the free id is not a perfect solution - 16/01/2012 12:53:11 AM 1083 Views
That problem is significant, but far bigger than voting. - 16/01/2012 02:53:13 AM 1021 Views
Also you can't claim voter fraud is a big problem - 16/01/2012 12:57:18 AM 983 Views
can you prove that voter fraud is not a problem? - 16/01/2012 02:04:52 AM 911 Views
In 5 years of investigation, 120 people were charged national with voter fraud, 86 were convincted - 16/01/2012 02:33:07 AM 1145 Views
That's smoke and mirrors - 16/01/2012 01:51:34 PM 1037 Views
It seems you didn't read the article, or understand its point - 16/01/2012 02:39:39 PM 975 Views
I suspect I know a good deal more of this subject than the author of your 5-year old article - 16/01/2012 05:37:54 PM 974 Views
Question for you - 16/01/2012 06:01:09 PM 1014 Views
I'd prefer photo-ID only but I don't see too great a need. - 16/01/2012 06:37:13 PM 1153 Views
I tend to agree - 16/01/2012 06:50:43 PM 911 Views
I'd definitely encourage absentee voting - 16/01/2012 07:14:02 PM 1018 Views
I am required to produce a state ID to vote. - 16/01/2012 02:21:27 PM 1019 Views
Re: How does requiring photo ID disenfranchise the black/minority community? - 16/01/2012 02:42:28 PM 1005 Views
Keep wearing that tinfoil hat. *NM* - 16/01/2012 03:09:56 PM 558 Views
I'm not reading the article but... - 17/01/2012 09:48:27 AM 944 Views
maybe there's no excuse in your area - 17/01/2012 03:05:53 PM 909 Views
I think when you get to such extreme examples, the point often becomes moot. - 18/01/2012 07:26:10 PM 879 Views
that pretty much sums up my thoughts no it - 18/01/2012 08:57:41 PM 906 Views
Re: I think when you get to such extreme examples, the point often becomes moot. - 21/01/2012 02:44:56 AM 1140 Views
Well, that's kind of what I meant. - 21/01/2012 02:15:30 PM 1046 Views
Re: Well, that's kind of what I meant. - 28/01/2012 03:48:19 PM 1231 Views
Re: maybe there's no excuse in your area - 21/01/2012 02:39:12 AM 996 Views
What? I'm the only one who cares? - 18/01/2012 02:14:28 AM 1086 Views
Yes, just you, the rest of us have been discussing baseball this entire time *NM* - 18/01/2012 02:41:25 AM 556 Views
I'm the only one who cares with fervor in a non nuanced way ok? *NM* - 18/01/2012 03:07:07 AM 544 Views
imo, fervor has no place in political discussion - 18/01/2012 02:35:56 PM 950 Views
What? - 18/01/2012 03:57:10 PM 859 Views
What about those who don't have an id and have been voting fine before? - 18/01/2012 06:06:19 PM 1098 Views
the problem with that last point is... - 18/01/2012 09:05:43 PM 946 Views
Yes. - 18/01/2012 09:32:25 PM 1109 Views
Cry me a river. Honestly. - 20/01/2012 05:28:05 AM 865 Views
What's your real question? - 18/01/2012 05:07:30 PM 907 Views
Question mark notwithstanding, there was no question. - 18/01/2012 06:16:46 PM 1003 Views
Be outraged. Be passionate. Be surprised. - 19/01/2012 05:42:37 PM 1151 Views

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