(USA) The Merits and Drawbacks of Voter ID

[Viritica]

I imagine they'll have a place in their town to go to. Like a voting place during election times. Go there during their operating hours and get a free voter ID.

Well I don't know how the US does it, but the polling station in my town is a primary school the rest of the time. The kids get a day off when there's an election or referendum. Couldn't very well use that as a place to pick up voter IDs.

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the issue was studied in the bush administration and found to be so slight a problem as to have no need for a solution.

But now that Obama has the big seat, suddenly there's a pressing need to stamp out fraud. Weird how that works.

We get a day off for election days too. Schools would be a good place for it.

And it's always been an issue, to be quite honest.

[Greater-London]

Well I don't know how the US does it, but the polling station in my town is a primary school the rest of the time. The kids get a day off when there's an election or referendum. Couldn't very well use that as a place to pick up voter IDs.

Of course you could, you just do it at the end of the school day. Most people are working so won't come till after the children have left. Some people may chose to go earlier or if they unemployed or elderly are free to - needless to say that would be a small minority of people and not enough to disrupt the school. Even if everyone went when the children where there registering to vote it happens infrequently and need only use one room in the school. This hole issue can be avoided as well if its all done by first class post.

[Ifreann]

the issue was studied in the bush administration and found to be so slight a problem as to have no need for a solution.

There are still no mechanisms whatsoever in order to stop it. With no mechanisms we can't know for sure how much of a problem it truly is. Honestly, what's wrong with having security?

What would be wrong with having bodyguards following you around 24/7? You'd never get mugged.

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Well I don't know how the US does it, but the polling station in my town is a primary school the rest of the time. The kids get a day off when there's an election or referendum. Couldn't very well use that as a place to pick up voter IDs.

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But now that Obama has the big seat, suddenly there's a pressing need to stamp out fraud. Weird how that works.

We get a day off for election days too. Schools would be a good place for it.

Seriously? You want to have schools double as the place to get your voter ID? Do you not think that might get in the way of, you know, educating children?

And it's always been an issue, to be quite honest.

And yet after over 200 years your nation persists, not evidently any worse off for all the fraud that might be happening.

[Ashmoria]

the issue was studied in the bush administration and found to be so slight a problem as to have no need for a solution.

There are still no mechanisms whatsoever in order to stop it. With no mechanisms we can't know for sure how much of a problem it truly is. Honestly, what's wrong with having security?

the problem is disenfranchisement.

the problem with voting in this country is non participation not fraud. making it harder to vote makes the actual problem worse and "fixes" a tiny problem.

[Viritica]

There are still no mechanisms whatsoever in order to stop it. With no mechanisms we can't know for sure how much of a problem it truly is. Honestly, what's wrong with having security?

1. What would be wrong with having bodyguards following you around 24/7? You'd never get mugged.

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We get a day off for election days too. Schools would be a good place for it.

2. Seriously? You want to have schools double as the place to get your voter ID? Do you not think that might get in the way of, you know, educating children?

And it's always been an issue, to be quite honest.

3. And yet after over 200 years your nation persists, not evidently any worse off for all the fraud that might be happening.

1. I imagine I could call the police.

2. Not really, considering no children would be there. Since, you know, we get the day off.

3. Weren't people clamping on back when Bush got elected that he cheated?

[Viritica]

There are still no mechanisms whatsoever in order to stop it. With no mechanisms we can't know for sure how much of a problem it truly is. Honestly, what's wrong with having security?

the problem is disenfranchisement.

the problem with voting in this country is non participation not fraud. making it harder to vote makes the actual problem worse and "fixes" a tiny problem.

I don't think getting a free voter ID would be that hard.

[Ifreann]

Well I don't know how the US does it, but the polling station in my town is a primary school the rest of the time. The kids get a day off when there's an election or referendum. Couldn't very well use that as a place to pick up voter IDs.

Of course you could, you just do it at the end of the school day. Most people are working so won't come till after the children have left. Some people may chose to go earlier or if they unemployed or elderly are free to - needless to say that would be a small minority of people and not enough to disrupt the school. Even if everyone went when the children where there registering to vote it happens infrequently and need only use one room in the school.

And who will be paying for the use of the school's property, and the staff needed to man this room?

This hole issue can be avoided as well if its all done by first class post.

Because everyone eligible to vote has an address where they can receive post.

[Farnhamia]

1. What would be wrong with having bodyguards following you around 24/7? You'd never get mugged.

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2. Seriously? You want to have schools double as the place to get your voter ID? Do you not think that might get in the way of, you know, educating children?


3. And yet after over 200 years your nation persists, not evidently any worse off for all the fraud that might be happening.

1. I imagine I could call the police.

2. Not really, considering no children would be there. Since, you know, we get the day off.

3. Weren't people clamping on back when Bush got elected that he cheated?

3. Yes, we were but just like you now, we couldn't prove it. And the main accusation in the 2004 election was that the results from Ohio were jiggered electronically. Voter ID couldn't prevent that.

[Ifreann]

1. What would be wrong with having bodyguards following you around 24/7? You'd never get mugged.

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2. Seriously? You want to have schools double as the place to get your voter ID? Do you not think that might get in the way of, you know, educating children?


3. And yet after over 200 years your nation persists, not evidently any worse off for all the fraud that might be happening.

1. I imagine I could call the police.

You could. But what's wrong with having security?

2. Not really, considering no children would be there. Since, you know, we get the day off.

So you want people to get their voter ID on the day of the election, in the same place people are going to vote.

3. Weren't people clamping on back when Bush got elected that he cheated?

Something about votes in Florida being suspect and the court declaring that Bush had won there, I believe.

[Viritica]

1. I imagine I could call the police.

2. Not really, considering no children would be there. Since, you know, we get the day off.

3. Weren't people clamping on back when Bush got elected that he cheated?

3. Yes, we were but just like you now, we couldn't prove it. And the main accusation in the 2004 election was that the results from Ohio were jiggered electronically. Voter ID couldn't prevent that.

3. And Bush passed a law to prevent it due to the concerns of the people. If people are concerned then the current administration should do like Bush did and pass laws to make voting more secure.

[Viritica]

1. I imagine I could call the police.

1. You could. But what's wrong with having security?

2. Not really, considering no children would be there. Since, you know, we get the day off.

2. So you want people to get their voter ID on the day of the election, in the same place people are going to vote.

3. Weren't people clamping on back when Bush got elected that he cheated?

3. Something about votes in Florida being suspect and the court declaring that Bush had won there, I believe.

1. If someone wants to pay for me to have bodyguards then be my guest.

2. Sure. Go to one booth and provide them with a license or some form of identification. Then get your voter ID and go and vote.

3. Exactly.

[Ifreann]

1. You could. But what's wrong with having security?


2. So you want people to get their voter ID on the day of the election, in the same place people are going to vote.


3. Something about votes in Florida being suspect and the court declaring that Bush had won there, I believe.

1. If someone wants to pay for me to have bodyguards then be my guest.

But you won't pay for them yourself? Why not? What's wrong with having security?

2. Sure. Go to one booth and provide them with a license or some form of identification. Then get your voter ID and go and vote.

Or, you know, make the things available all year round so as not to interfere with elections.

3. Exactly.

Exactly what? What's your point here?

[Viritica]

1. If someone wants to pay for me to have bodyguards then be my guest.

But you won't pay for them yourself? Why not? What's wrong with having security?

2. Sure. Go to one booth and provide them with a license or some form of identification. Then get your voter ID and go and vote.

Or, you know, make the things available all year round so as not to interfere with elections.

3. Exactly.

Exactly what? What's your point here?

1. Well I don't exactly have money for bodyguards. I mean, if I live in a bad neighborhood then maybe.

2. Sure, maybe in community centers if there are any available.

3. That we're not always the beacon of voter fairness that you make us out to be.

[Ifreann]

But you won't pay for them yourself? Why not? What's wrong with having security?


Or, you know, make the things available all year round so as not to interfere with elections.


Exactly what? What's your point here?

1. Well I don't exactly have money for bodyguards. I mean, if I live in a bad neighborhood then maybe.

So what's wrong with having security is the cost. Given that, just how much might it cost to give voter ID to every American eligible to vote, plus or minus a few lawsuits?

2. Sure, maybe in community centers if there are any available.

And if there aren't, well then people can just go through double the bureaucracy to vote. Perfectly fair.

3. That we're not always the beacon of voter fairness that you make us out to be.

I don't believe I've ever made you out to be anything of the sort. All I'm saying is that lack of Voter ID laws hasn't turned your country into a second North Korea.

[Blakk Metal]

If these IDs were easy for all voters to get I wouldn't have a problem with it. I rather suspect they aren't.

http://www.alabamavotes.gov/VoterID.aspx?m=voters

One should face the same ID requirements for voting as they do for purchasing firearms.*nod*

Why?

Both are rights that can lead to bad things if misused.

There are still no mechanisms whatsoever in order to stop it. With no mechanisms we can't know for sure how much of a problem it truly is. Honestly, what's wrong with having security?

What would be wrong with having bodyguards following you around 24/7 a water pistol with you at all times? You'd never get mugged.

Corrected.

[Farnhamia]

3. Yes, we were but just like you now, we couldn't prove it. And the main accusation in the 2004 election was that the results from Ohio were jiggered electronically. Voter ID couldn't prevent that.

3. And Bush passed a law to prevent it due to the concerns of the people. If people are concerned then the current administration should do like Bush did and pass laws to make voting more secure.

Right, like the Republican-controlled House will pass anything this President proposes. Anyway, all voting in the US is regulated by the states. Congress has set the dates of elections for national office but that's about it.

[Alcase]

There should be no need to have Identification in order to Vote.

[CTALNH]

Wait the USA doesn't have voter ID?

What the fuck is wrong with you!

[Farnhamia]

Wait the USA doesn't have voter ID?

What the fuck is wrong with you!

Why should we?

[CTALNH]

Wait the USA doesn't have voter ID?

What the fuck is wrong with you!

Why should we?

Because voter fraud!

[Ifreann]

If these IDs were easy for all voters to get I wouldn't have a problem with it. I rather suspect they aren't.

http://www.alabamavotes.gov/VoterID.aspx?m=voters

There are 50 states in the USA. I'll wait.

Why?

Both are rights that can lead to bad things if misused.

How does one go about misusing one's right to vote? And even if I accepted that they're both rights that can lead to bad things if misused, so what? Owning guns and voting are two rather different things, that one similarity doesn't mean they should be treated the same.

What would be wrong with having bodyguards following you around 24/7 a water pistol with you at all times? You'd never get mugged.

Corrected.

...what?

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Wait the USA doesn't have voter ID?

What the fuck is wrong with you!

Probably the whole thing where it's a massive country with over 300 million people and 50 different state governments.

[Farnhamia]

Why should we?

Because voter fraud!

Not shown to be a problem in this country. Really, no one has been able to prove that voting by ineligible or non-existent people has changed the results of an any election at the national or even state level.

[New Acardia]

Why should we?

Because voter fraud!

I agree with you on this one .
NS history has been made . LOL

[CTALNH]

Because voter fraud!

Not shown to be a problem in this country. Really, no one has been able to prove that voting by ineligible or non-existent people has changed the results of an any election at the national or even state level.

And?

Discipline and organization above else people.

[Blakk Metal]

Corrected.

...what?

I making fun of voter ID for being a terrible suggestion.