Saturday, August 4, 2012

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Voter ID Laws

Voter IDs laws have become a political flashpoint in what's gearing up to be another close election year. Supporters say the laws — which 30 states have now enacted in some form — are needed to combat voter fraud, while critics see them as a tactic to disenfranchise voters.

We've taken a step back to look at the facts behind the laws and break down the issues at the heart of the debate.

So what are these laws?

They are measures intended to ensure that a registered voter is who he says he is and not an impersonator trying to cast a ballot in someone else's name. The laws, most of which have been passed in the last several years, require that registered voters show ID before they're allowed to vote. Exactly what they need to show varies. Some states require a government-issued photo, while in others a current utility bill or bank statement is sufficient.

As a registered voter, I thought I always had to supply some form of ID during an election.

Not quite. Per federal law, first-time voters who registered by mail must present a photo ID or copy of a current bill or bank statement. Some states generally advise voters bring some form of photo ID. But prior to the 2006 election, no state ever required a voter to produce a government-issued photo ID as a condition to voting. Indiana in 2006 became the first state to enact a strict photo ID law, a law that was upheld two years later by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Why are these voter ID laws so strongly opposed?

Voting law advocates contend these laws disproportionately affect elderly, minority and low-income groups that tend to vote Democratic. Obtaining photo ID can be costly and burdensome, with even free state ID requiring documents like a birth certificate that can cost up to $25 in some places. According to a study from NYU's Brennan Center, 11 percent of voting-age citizens lack necessary photo ID while many people in rural areas have trouble accessing ID offices. During closing arguments in a recent case over Texas's voter ID law, a lawyer for the state brushed aside these obstacles as the "reality to life of choosing to live in that part of Texas." Read more.......

12 comments:

  1. All these so called burdens disappear we these lazy people want a handout. This is bullshit. We need voter ID laws now to stop the fraud. End vote by mail as well. If these lazy fat citizens cannot get off these asses once or twice a year to protect democracy then they do not deserve to vote.

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  2. In response to the two fat, lazy anonymous posters who produce their fair share of horseshit--from Buzzflash:

    Debunking the myth of voter fraud, the Brennan Center produced a study that showed in a state such as Wisconsin, where Scott Walker led the charge against "alleged" voter fraud, there were only minute voting errors in the 2004 election (.00006% of ineligible voters casting ballots in the state that year) - and that "none of these problems could have been resolved by requiring by requiring photo ID at the polls."

    Writing in the Michigan Law Review in 2007, Spencer Overton bluntly lays out the facts:

    The Carter-Baker Commission's Report noted that since October 2002, federal officials had charged eighty-nine individuals with casting multiple votes, providing false information about their felon status, buying votes, submitting false voter registration information, or voting improperly as a noncitizen. Examined in the context of the 196,139,871 ballots cast between October 2002 and August 2005, this represents a fraud rate of 0.000045% (and note also that not all of the activities charged would have been prevented by a photo- identification requirement)

    When you balance taking away the Constitutional right to vote of millions of Americans on the basis of 89 people being charged nationally with illegal voting over a three year period, those who seek to restrict access to the ballot box are engaged in a fraudulent scheme to impact elections through the denial of the most basic right of citizenship.

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  3. TSA gate raping and showing a government issued ID to fly is OK with liberals. Shucks, there were only 19 hijackers after all, hardly a reason to take away the Constitutional right or 300+ million to travel unmolested. But when it comes to protecting the integrity ballot box they scream like stuck pigs.

    People, use your common sense and don't bother listening to the likes of SEIU/Acorn bloggers like sharonsj. Your right to vote is guaranteed. In this day and age you cannot go through life without an ID. Buying cigarettes, taking out a library book, getting a job, entering a federal building, picking up a prescription, picking up mail at the Post Office, subscribing to cable tv, cashing a check, taking out a loan, etc. etc.

    Guarding our election integrity is one if not the most important aspects of securing our nation from declining to another banana republic. Do not believe those that work to destroy the ballot box. Our public library's protect books better than the Democrat's protect the ballot box. If that doesn't put a chill down your back then you are ready for another Cuba here on US soil.

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  4. This post on "Depression" has nothing to do with the TSA.

    I have never worked for ACORN or belonged to the SEIU.

    If you are concerned about election integrity, then get rid of the computerized voting machines. It's already proven they've been hacked and elections have been changed.

    And, as usual, you conservatives can't find any FACTS to back up your nonsense about voter ID. Just the fact that only Republicans have pushed the crap about voter fraud is enough to raise a red flag. Meanwhile, here in PA, during the lawsuit about voter ID, our stupid Republican reps cannot offer any proof of any voter fraud, have no idea how many people the ID requirements will disenfranchise, don't even know what the requirements are, and have publicly admitted that ID requirements keep poorer Democrats from voting--and they passed the law to help Romney get elected!

    You are the main reason why America is so fucking stupid. In Canada and the United Kingdom, Fox News is banned because those countries have laws about news programs--they insist news programs actually contain news and have denied Fox a license because they are proven liars.

    Six different university studies about who is knowledgeable about the news have found that Fox viewers are more ignorant than people who watch no news at all.

    Instead of calling me names, come up with some actual facts. I bet you can't.

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  5. The question is why would anyone oppose the most basic means to ensure only legitimate votes are cast? With a national outbreak of organized identity theft to believe the ballot box is somehow immune to abuse is ludicrous.

    Trust, but verify.

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  6. I just explained that there is virtually NO voter fraud. So the requirement for ID is based on an invented problem--the purpose of which is to keep poorer people from voting. In fact, the Republicans--who are the only people claiming voter fraud and instituting requirements for voting--have admitted THERE IS NO VOTER FRAUD! They make plenty of claims but if you actually look into the claims, they turn out to be lying.

    For example, the Texas Attorney General claimed he prosecuted 50 instances of voter fraud. The Dallas-Morning News investigated his claim and found there were 26 cases (not 50) over a 3-yr period--that 9 cases a year out of a population of 26 million--2/3 of which involved mistakes in the voter form or people who were confused about their rights (like felons). The last 1/3 of the cases WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY THE USE OF AN I.D.!

    Identity theft involves stealing money or using credit cards--not stealing someone's identity to vote. You have yet to say anything that is actually connected to elections and voting. That's because you don't think for yourself. All you do is repeat what you heard on Fox News or Rush Limbaugh.

    That's it; I'm not wasting any more time on idiots. Read a fucking newspaper.

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    Replies
    1. Enlighten yourself and start reading/listening to both sides of the aisle, will you? I tire of your rhetoric BS. Your talking points only come from left leaning news sites and democrats. And please, do stop wasting your time...TROLL!

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  7. Ms. Sharonsj. Learn to think and stop reading talking points from the Chicago mob. Positive I.D. is the most basic level of fraud prevention. You make absolutely no sense with your babbling potty talk. As if your vulgarity makes your party talking point somehow valid.

    The states are catching on to the Marxist shenanigans and they are going to stop voter fraud whether you like it or not. One citizen = one vote, get used to it.

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

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  8. Sir, and I use that term loosely, in none of your replies to me have you quoted one single fact having to do with voter fraud.

    I'm giving you real facts from investigative reporters and all you can do is call me a troll, a Marxist, and--gasp--a Democrat.

    You are the reason this country is going to the dogs and my apologies to the dogs.

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  9. Soon you will have to show a valid ID to vote just like you do to cash your welfare check. Or are you just mad because you are illegal? That would explain everything.

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  10. If you have to show ID to cash your welfare check that means so-called poor people were able to access and afford some time of acceptable identification. So, I don't see the problem as to why they can't show it at the voting booth. I'm required to show my ID for many things.

    Also, Illegal immigrants shouldn't be voting and when they do they vote democrat, the democrat party knows this. That is why the democrat party caters to them. Yet, the citizens of the US end up footing the bill.

    There have been proof of people voting more than once and under false names. There is even a video of a man admitting that he voted for Obama numerous times and laughing about it as if it was funny. Not to mention the dead people that have voted LOL!

    To say that there is no facts having to do with voter fraud is a LIE!!! And I blame both parties for it. Yet, there is a rabid bitch that constantly comments about this country, conservatives (without admitting her fraudulent party's faults) and attacking all who disagree with her.

    Madam, YOU are the reason why this country is going to HELL. I refuse to use the term *#@s, they deserve better.

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  11. Please do not insult madames, they provide a valuable service in a time honored profession. Parasite is an acceptable name since they provide nothing of value and feed off a host.

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