Voter ID Laws: A Critique

Moe provides a critique I can resonate with:

VOTER ID: I have absolutely no problem with voter ID. My problem is with 1) making it difficult, and 2) rushing it. Voter ID? Not a bad idea. The way they’re doing it? That’s suppression.

I’m not sure what of the specific way and manner in which she objects, but I’m encouraged by the acknowledgement that proving you are who you say you are is not scandalous.

9 responses to “Voter ID Laws: A Critique

  1. pino – how to make it happen? Lots of ways for feds/states to explore. I favor some sort of universal card to be automatically issued. No application necessary. It could simply attest that one is now a legal voter. How the various municipalities, states whatever worked out the residency stuff would be up to them I guess, but they pretty much do that now, so it shouldn’t be too hard.

    I’ve always favored some sort of universal ID but that has always been vigorously opposed. If we had somethng like that, voter ID could piggyback where applicable.

    Lots of ways for the policy wonks to figure out.

    • I favor some sort of universal card to be automatically issued.

      I’ve never understood the opposition to ID cards, national or state. Then again, I resonate with the whole, “show me your papers” mentality.

      I don’t like any plans that require massive amounts of bureaucracy or money. In fact, I think the cost of such a plan is such that now isn’t the time too implement voter id. However, having a requirement to prove identify is a reasonable one.

  2. There are a whole heap of ironies here.

    Some conservatives claim to want voter ID laws, even though they oppose the idea of a mandatory state/national ID, which would actually put everyone on a level playing field.

    Other conservatives see no problem with MANDATING the possession of a national ID card, but think mandating health insurance is a bridge too far.

    Plus, I (and many others) are still waiting for someone to show some evidence that actual voter fraud is a real problem in our elections. At most, all I’ve seen is some instances of fraudulent voter registrations, but that was just people doing voter registration drives making up names to fill their quotas. That’s not evidence that people were actually fraudlently voting.

    • Some conservatives claim to want voter ID laws, even though they oppose the idea of a mandatory state/national ID, which would actually put everyone on a level playing field.

      Other conservatives see no problem with MANDATING the possession of a national ID card, but think mandating health insurance is a bridge too far.

      I’ve not read about the card. I guess that can be good [I don’t have bias] or bad [I’m not educated] but I’m okay with whatever when it comes to the whole national ID card. I can see it as a pain in the neck if I have to go to some DMV styled thing to get one, but aside from that, I’m not sure what the beef would be.

      Plus, I (and many others) are still waiting for someone to show some evidence that actual voter fraud is a real problem in our elections.

      That’s another reason I don’t think it needs to be a priority. The need is low and the cost can be somewhat high. With that said, I don’t think it’s a bad idea or voter supressionie to want a valid ID.

      If you trust me as an “insider” the reasons folks are pushing for it are two-fold:

      1. They are afraid of ACORN style voter fraud. If they can register voters illegally, the logic goes, why can’t they get people to VOTE illegally?

      2. People are afraid of illegal immigrants voting.

      My problem is the accusation that the only reason people are doing this is to suppress votes. I am SO over the racist accusation being thrown against the right.

      • But it is to suppress votes pino – the rush in the face of overwhelming evidence that a problem doesn’t exist is, to me, proof of intent. Again, voter ID? Sure. This year? Nonsense.

        • and now PA announced it isn’t allowing online voter registration after all. And they announce it the same day they get a ruling on their Voter ID law. It’s obvious what is going on here; they’re not even trying to hide it. This is an attempt at an end around to beat Obama not by getting more votes than him, but by stopping people who support Obama from voting. Pino, if you don’t want to call it racist, fine. But it’s wrong regardless.

          • This is an attempt at an end around to beat Obama not by getting more votes than him, but by stopping people who support Obama from voting.

            At it’s ugliest, I can agree with this assessment. However, two things:

            1. Asking for ID is not unreasonable.
            2. If minorities and the poor were republican voters, you theory is they wouldn’t be pushing these laws. Q.E.D.

        • But it is to suppress votes pino – the rush in the face of overwhelming evidence that a problem doesn’t exist is, to me, proof of intent.

          That may be a fair assessment. At least you don’t object to voter ID just ’cause.

Leave a Reply to dedc79 Cancel reply