West Virginia legislature passes voter id and automatic voter registration

[Virginiá]

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/20160312/voter-id-passes-legislature-statewide-school-exam-dumped

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I was very surprised by the auto voter registration today. I hadn't heard anything of it prior (though I was not really keeping track)

While I'm generally opposed to voter id unless there is actual proof it is needed, this is a very reasonable form of voter id with many options for identification. The automatic registration is a very good trade off too. However, given the fact that Republicans even wanted voter id in the first place, my guess is that the WV Republicans thought automatic voter registration in this state is more likely to help them, or at the very worst, help both sides equally, rather than more significantly favoring Democrats.

At any rate, it's good to see Republicans helping to expand voter access. If only other states could compromise like this instead of just going all out to cut down on voter turnout.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

This would be my ideal system.

[Sic Semper Fascistis]

This sounds pretty good actually. Voter ID isn't really a problem if it's government-issued and everyone automatically gets one (as is the case in most European countries).

[Virginiá]

This sounds pretty good actually. Voter ID isn't really a problem if it's government-issued and everyone automatically gets one (as is the case in most European countries).

Yes - Personally, I wouldn't be opposed if I knew everyone had an ID or could very easily & quickly get one by mail or in person (obviously right now it isn't easy enough or we wouldn't have this problem of so many without IDs)

Looking at the options - student id, various permits, Medicare stuff, social security card, etc, that is a lot of options and it's FAR, farrrr better than some states which are very strict for no good reason other than to depress voter turnout.

I think it may also include allowing bank statements, debit card, or other bills to be used - But another story I saw said they removed that option, so I'm not sure. Either way, this is a good compromise I think.

[DINGO Joe]

Too bad they couldn't pass a budget. 

[Landslide Lyndon]

Huh? I thought Republicans were staunchly opposed to automatic voter registration.
Not that it well help Democrats much in West Virginia but then again you could say the same for a dozen other heavily Republican states that won't even consider debating that measure.

[Virginiá]

Maryland also has the automatic voter registration part. You can register as soon as you get a driver's license.

Not yet. As I understand it, they are still debating it but given the composition of the Maryland legislature and their current support for it so far, it'll probably get passed within the next 1 - 2 months. The current draft is pretty comprehensive too - It's not just auto registration at DMVs, but also social service-related agencies. Their bill might end up being the best automatic registration system in the country.

Considering in 2013 or early 2014, they also passed same-day voter registration for all early voting days only, and expanded the number of early voting sites, Maryland is on track to becoming one of the most voter-friendly / non-vote-by-mail state in the country.

[Virginiá]

Fascinating combination here.  I've said before that I could see something this being the deal Ryan offers Hillary on voting reform: auto registration and a minimum early voting period in all states in exchanged for a federal voter ID law.  Voter ID has never bothered me much as long as there's a straightforward way to get a free ID.  IMO the Texas law goes too far, but something like this one in WV is unproblematic.  I do think this is a bit cynical in that auto registration is likely to benefit Republicans in an Appalachian state while it would hurt them in most other places, including some red states like GA and TX.

I have actually become quite partial to New Hampshire's voter ID measure, at least as I understand it, you either present an ID, or they take a photograph of you so it can be used to help investigations if so required in the future.

We are at a point where facial recognition software could sort through the photos taken and try to find matches in public databases in case of impersonation, or search among all the no-ID photos to try and find double voters. This solves the problem photo IDs are meant to solve without denying anyone the right to vote because of a lack of ID.

However, Republicans refuse to widely implement this and instead use methods that result in a lot of people being turned away. They do this because they know there is barely any in-person fraud and if they did it the better way, then their original purpose, to reduce the number of Democratic voters, would not be fulfilled.

It's so $*!@ing frustrating that this bs is still happening with no end currently in sight.

[Dwarven Dragon]

Surprisingly reasonable. Nice.

[Blue3]

Fantastic!

[Virginiá]

Not sure if another bill is being passed but you certainly register at the DMV when you get your licence. They pull a screen up and tell you to register and pick affiliation. Then they send you a card weeks later. I've seen this happen.

Not sure if it was statewide or just the particular place/county.

Well I know they are working on automatic voter registration still so whatever they are doing, it's obviously not this because they haven't even passed it yet and MD isn't listed as a state with auto registration.

Perhaps either these people asked to register, or the DMV worker asked them even though they weren't required. Auto registration would make citizens check a box to opt-out and if they don't, the DMV/social agency either sends them a card that the person returns with party info, or they fill it out at the DMV/relevant social agency.

So my guess is whatever they were doing wasn't something they did with everyone - Especially considering that a large amount of Marylanders are still not registered. Also, this upcoming bill would expand it to other agencies.

[MK]

I wish all states would do this.

The amount of time you spend doing DMV and other car related paper work in these states and I dont understand why during that process you can be placed into the system has a voter. 

[Zioneer]

This is completely reasonable, a surprising result in politics these days.

[ProgressiveCanadian]

FF decision!

[politicallefty]

I'm not supportive of voter ID requirements on account of my belief that it's a poll tax. However, this law does seem to mitigate that by allowing several forms of ID, including free Social Security cards. I think that is a reasonable compromise, particularly along with the automatic voter registration legislation. I actually support this legislation. (I'm actually more surprised that a state like WV passed it.) I could easily vote for a low-barrier non-photo voter ID law nationwide if we also got automatic voter registration as well. I think this is a bill where both sides can get what they want to a certain extent, but perhaps not all the way.

[Intell]

Doesn't counter RTW, which was abominable disgrace.

[Tokugawa Sexgod Ieyasu]

This actually seems like a really, really good system. I'm very pleasantly surprised.

However,

Doesn't counter RTW, which was abominable disgrace.

[Virginiá]

...

However,

Doesn't counter RTW, which was abominable disgrace.

Well Democrats could repeal it pretty easily if they take back the legislature, but considering West Virginia's sharp turn towards Republicans over the past 6 years, it's unlikely that Democrats will be able to either take it back or even hold power much longer.

So sadly, RTW is probably here to stay, and even if not, it will make a comeback eventually - Sooner than later no doubt.