Yahoo/AP: Tough ID laws could block thousands of 2012 votes

[Larry]

Link.

When Edward and Mary Weidenbener went to vote in Indiana's primary in May, they didn't realize that state law required them to bring government photo IDs such as a driver's license or passport.

The husband and wife, both approaching 90 years old, had to use a temporary ballot that would be verified later, even though they knew the people working the polling site that day. Unaware that Indiana law obligated them to follow up with the county election board, the Weidenbeners ultimately had their votes rejected — news to them until informed recently by an Associated Press reporter.

Edward Weidenbener, a World War II veteran who had voted for Mitt Romney in the Republican presidential contest, said he was surprised by the rules and the consequences.

The article is a lot longer, and appears to cover both sides of the debate, but without a whole lot of new facts.

[LadySkinsFan]

Yeah, we have the right to vote, but only if we jump through twenty million hoops. I hope this bites the Republicans in the ass as much as it does the Democrats. The Republicans may regret the dumbing down of the electorate. We can only hope.

[DieselPwr44]

Yeah, we have the right to vote, but only if we jump through twenty million hoops. I hope this bites the Republicans in the ass as much as it does the Democrats. The Republicans may regret the dumbing down of the electorate. We can only hope.

Rubry!!

Gabby Johnson is right!

Let's make sure we don't disenfranchise illegals' right to vote Democrat!!

[LadySkinsFan]

So, recite for me the huge number of voter fraud cases that have been successfully prosecuted in the United States over the last 20 years or so. And I mean the ones who voted illegally.

[Teller]

Nm...........

[twa]

Recite for me how you prove it w/o id required?

I also want to protest the govt requiring personal information thru pre-registration....I'm being discriminated against

[Toe Jam]

Why is this a debate?

No ID=YOU DON'T GET TO VOTE.

It should really be that simple.

Oh what's that? You forgot your ID at home? Then go back and get it.

If you're not capable of understanding this simple concept, you probably shouldn't be voting anyway.

---------- Post added July-8th-2012 at 04:14 PM ----------

Yeah, we have the right to vote, but only if we jump through twenty million hoops. I hope this bites the Republicans in the ass as much as it does the Democrats. The Republicans may regret the dumbing down of the electorate. We can only hope.

Twenty million hoops? Let's not be melodramatic.

It's not that hard to get an ID.

[Larry]

Why is this a debate?

No ID=YOU DON'T GET TO VOTE.

It should really be that simple.

Oh what's that? You forgot your ID at home? Then go back and get it.

If you're not capable of understanding this simple concept, you probably shouldn't be voting anyway.

Ah, the old "I'm in favor of not letting people vote, in they disagree with me".

It's not that hard to get an ID.

Took me a year and a half to get one for Mom.

And she was born in the US, has lived at the same address for 15 years, has a fax machine and Internet access, to facilitate communications with bureaucracy, and has a person who has valid ID, acting on her behalf.

[Bostic Hog]

How does ANYONE of voting age in the US NOT have an ID of some sort?

How do you cash a check? How do you drive? How do you open a bank account? How do you verify your identity for any of a number of reasons?

[HeluCopter29]

The problem I have with this, and correct me if this is wrong, is that it says you can only use a photo ID or passport. My question of course is, why limit?

[Toe Jam]

Ah, the old "I'm in favor of not letting people vote, in they disagree with me".

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about.

[MissU28]

The problem I have with this, and correct me if this is wrong, is that it says you can only use a photo ID or passport. My question of course is, why limit?

I read somewhere that students can use student IDs with expiration dates

How does ANYONE of voting age in the US NOT have an ID of some sort?

How do you cash a check? How do you drive? How do you open a bank account? How do you verify your identity for any of a number of reasons?

Why is this a debate?

No ID=YOU DON'T GET TO VOTE.

It should really be that simple.

Oh what's that? You forgot your ID at home? Then go back and get it.

If you're not capable of understanding this simple concept, you probably shouldn't be voting anyway.

---------- Post added July-8th-2012 at 04:14 PM ----------



Twenty million hoops? Let's not be melodramatic.

It's not that hard to get an ID.

Totally agree with both of you. The DMV gives ID cards to people of any age.


EDIT: seriously, how does a person function over the age of 18 without having an id card????

[DeaconBlue]

The problem I have with this, and correct me if this is wrong, is that it says you can only use a photo ID or passport. My question of course is, why limit?

Therein lies the problem. The real reasons that this is controversial are all political, on both sides. The real valid reasoning for requiring ID is to prove a person has a real right to vote. I mean most rational folks would agree that a countries actual citzens should be able to elect its officals. To put it another way you or I shouldn't really be able to hop a plane to england or india for that matter and expect to participate in the election of their leader at least without proving we had the right. THe real political football is who folks beleive are voting and who folks beleive those folks are voting for. For many it is only important statistically where those votes are going , on both sides. I personally believe that it's more than reasonable to expect an electorate to identify itself when possible. I mean without some kind of accounting how can voter fraud ever even be caught? I wonder if some ever actually want it to be...?

[Thiebear]

Same as always:

ID to get cigs, or beer, or go into a gov't building or get assistance or fly or drive.
but to vote its going through a million hoops.

And its 2$ a year or less to acquire
how hard is it to say you show id or you get a side ballot checked later if its within the margin of error.[COLOR="Gold"]

[hunterx]

Like many in this thread...I don't see why someone wouldn't have a license. You can get a Walkers License with very little verification. Just a few bills, birth certificate, social security or whatever. As "hard" as it is to get a license, isn't it harder to prove who you are if you don't have one?