Jesse Jackson on new voter ID laws

[specific_name]

I wonder why these laws are being passed now, let's ask ourselves that. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. The Republicans want to suppress voter turnout when it doesn't favor them.

The problem with this forum and why I've largely stop posting is because everyone is thinking in terms of the conventional strategy of the last 30 years. Massive change is on the horizon and the old rules don't apply. It goes way beyond rigging the system, which both parties attempt to do in their favor. I see no point in arguing for one corporatist team over another. I pretty much give up for now, it's getting to be a waste of time.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I wonder why these laws are being passed now, let's ask ourselves that. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. The Republicans want to suppress voter turnout when it doesn't favor them.

The problem with this forum and why I've largely stop posting is because everyone is thinking in terms of the conventional strategy of the last 30 years. Massive change is on the horizon and the old rules don't apply. It goes way beyond rigging the system, which both parties attempt to do in their favor. I see no point in arguing for one corporatist team over another. I pretty much give up for now, it's getting to be a waste of time.

The difference is; Democrats try to tilt it in their favor by expanding turnout wherever possible. For the country with some of the lowest rates of turnout among developed democracies, I don't consider it a bad thing.

[Tender Branson]

I have one little  question that comes to mind. How does one get registered to vote in the first instance without some form of ID?  Or can one register by just claiming to be Bill Clinton or something?

I've not really looked into this exactly, but for myself specifically, I registered to vote without any ID whatsoever, just filling out my address, name, and all the usual personal information. I was merely required to present an ID at my local polling station on election day.

I think only government agencys should be allowed to register voters and also only if these potential voters show a valid state-issued or government issued photo ID.

Shady groups like ACORN need to be banned, because it seems that they can register tons of people even without any state-issued or government issued photo ID.

[Sbane]

I have one little  question that comes to mind. How does one get registered to vote in the first instance without some form of ID?  Or can one register by just claiming to be Bill Clinton or something?

It has been a while, but for NY I think you either need Drivers license # or Social security # to complete the registration form and you just mail it in.

That's how it is in California. And since I voted by mail I never had to physically show my ID to anyone.

[J. J.]

I have one little  question that comes to mind. How does one get registered to vote in the first instance without some form of ID?  Or can one register by just claiming to be Bill Clinton or something?

I've not really looked into this exactly, but for myself specifically, I registered to vote without any ID whatsoever, just filling out my address, name, and all the usual personal information. I was merely required to present an ID at my local polling station on election day.

I think only government agencys should be allowed to register voters and also only if these potential voters show a valid state-issued or government issued photo ID.

Shady groups like ACORN need to be banned, because it seems that they can register tons of people even without any state-issued or government issued photo ID.

I disagree.  I have no problem with groups doing it, provided they don't commit fraud.

There is another point.  In this day and age, for a number of practical reasons, I think people should have identification.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

J.J., one thing all of those alternate forms of ID require is considerably more time and money than producing a birth certificate, and the state is doing absolutely nothing about making it easy.

Baptismal records are generally free.  A statement for a relative is the cost of the ink, the paper and the notary, maybe $6.00.  School records?  I was able to get mine for free.  And the key there is, that is the cost to get the documentation for a passport, which isn't needed for voting.

Somehow I doubt the people affected by this are worrying about how to pay for their overseas vacation, J.J.

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Which isn't needed to get ID entitling you to vote.  Nobody, except you, has jumped to the conclusion that you need a birth certificate to vote.  That is only needed for one method, and even then the supporting documentation that can be generated for virtually no cost.
[/quote]

If the documentation exists (and can be found), or if the name given on those alternates is consistent.  What you sadly continue to fail to realize is that not everyone has the documentation you think is so easily provided by everyone.

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Photo ID does nothing to stop voter fraud that has been shown to occur with people using absentee voting to let them vote from multiple addresses, but since the poor seldom have vacation homes in another state, why worry about that form of voter fraud?  So far the GOP has shown its concern only in stopping the forms of voter fraud that if they occur to any great extent (which has not been shown for any type of voter fraud in this country) acts to their disadvantage.

There is another point.  In this day and age, for a number of practical reasons, I think people should have identification.

A point I agree with.  What I disagree with is that the GOP solution is to force the people who don't have identification suffer all the burdens in providing it, as if in every circumstance it will be a trivial expense in time and money.  While that is the case for most, it isn't the case for all, and thus as implemented the current photo ID programs serve as another way to punish the poor for being poor.

[J. J.]

J.J., one thing all of those alternate forms of ID require is considerably more time and money than producing a birth certificate, and the state is doing absolutely nothing about making it easy.

Baptismal records are generally free.  A statement for a relative is the cost of the ink, the paper and the notary, maybe $6.00.  School records?  I was able to get mine for free.  And the key there is, that is the cost to get the documentation for a passport, which isn't needed for voting.

Somehow I doubt the people affected by this are worrying about how to pay for their overseas vacation, J.J.

Ernest, a passport is perhaps the hardest document to get, and the the documentation to get it is both accessible and inexpensive.  Somehow I doubt that that the people claimed to affected could not get alternative documentation.

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Ernest, school has been compulsory for generations, even in the Carolinas.  We're now down the scenario of a 125 year old man that has lived in a cave for the first 75 years of that.

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You are now saying, voter fraud is okay, if it acts to the disadvantage of the R's?  I have no problem with stopping absentee voter fraud, but let's hit all and give a pass to D voter fraud.

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Again, you are now arguing the point that voter fraud is okay if done by the Democrats.  As I've pointed out, even the poor need ID.  Today, if you want Food Stamps, you need ID, to get an SSN.  In PA, you will get photo ID or your family will have a record can serve as proof to get photo ID.  Sorry, this only a barrier for people too lazy to get photo ID, not too poor to get it.

Photo ID will help prevent voter fraud, and has other practical uses.  We should force people to get it, but we should if they wish to vote.