Legalizing Voter Disenfranchisement or Much Needed Vote Reform?

[Back]

Black Lawmakers Vow to Repeal Ga. Voter Law (http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc=ne-main-9-l3&flok=FF-APO-1135&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20051229%2F1521907785.htm&sc=1135)


ATLANTA (AP) - At the end of a losing battle during the past legislative session, Georgia state Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan burst into the civil rights anthem ``Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around'' to protest the passage of a law requiring voters to show a photo ID at the polls.

In the next session starting Jan. 9, the 27-year-old black Democrat says she will not be moved in her fight to get the law repealed.

``It's whatever it takes,'' Morgan said. ``I'm putting on the armor. Nothing they can do will fix the bill. It's a bad law and it needs to be repealed. We're not going backwards.''

Thomas and other black lawmakers know they are in for a battle as Republicans stand determined to defend the law, which requires voters who do not have a driver's license to buy a state-issued ID card for as much as $35 - a fee critics say hurts the poor, the elderly and minorities.

The law eliminates the use of some other forms of identification to vote, including Social Security cards, birth certificates and utility bills. Supporters, including Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue, argued that the measure would help prevent fraud.

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Ok, I think we all agree our voting system is in need of an overhaul, but I seriously do not agree with this answer. As it stands in most states you just show up, state your name and address, and vote. That simple.

So I get the idea. Nobody wants someone to go to ten polling stations across town under different names and addresses casting ten votes. Possible? Sure.

This specific law however, to me, sounds like more republican fixing. Thats my opinion based on stories from past elections.

If we are going to bury this supposed “fraud” issue, then we need to federalize the voting system. Everyone who registers gets a card, shows up to vote, states name and address, and turns in the card. Done.

[Hulkein]

Good law, in my opinion.

You need a photo ID to do a lot of things; voting should be one of them.

[Ravenstorm]

Not a bad idea... Issue the photo ID for free so people don't have to choose whether to be able to vote or feed their children.

Raven

[TheRoseLady]

Well I also agree that you should have to do more than show up and state your name to vote.

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by Ravenstorm
Not a bad idea... Issue the photo ID for free so people don't have to choose whether to be able to vote or feed their children.

Raven

:yeahthat:

Jorddyn

[Gan]

Sounds like a good law.

They need to look at giving assistance for those who can show proof of financial hardship for paying for it. Or as Raven said, issue it for free to those people.

[Back]

Considering we pay state tax on top of sales tax, if the IDs were free, I would agree.

Then again, when you register to vote, you have to give a name and address to get a voter registration card sent to you. You are on record as being that person at that address. The polls mark off who votes by name and address.

It seems unnecessary to me to try and change a system that has actually worked.

If anything we need to look into those electronic voting machines.

[Hulkein]

I'm wondering one thing, Backlash. Why do you think it's a Republican trick? Are you saying only Democrats have poor and uneducated members, and therefor don't have or have access to a photo I.D.?

[Back]

Originally posted by Hulkein
I'm wondering one thing, Backlash. Why do you think it's a Republican trick? Are you saying only Democrats have poor and uneducated members, and therefor don't have or have access to a photo I.D.?

In my original post I told you my opinion and why I had it. To refresh your memory I relate this to redrawing of district lines, telemarketing campaigns of not only dissuasion but outright deceit and what happened in both Florida and Ohio’s elections.

There are many people across party lines that are below poverty level. Which party recognizes that and which party couldn’t care less?

[Gan]

Originally posted by Backlash
Which party recognizes that and which party couldn’t care less?

A shining example of that would be pre-Katrina New Orleans. Where over 60% of the population was on some form of government assistance from partial to complete.

The poor are the mule of all politicans, Democrat and Republican alike. They get rode hard then put up wet.

[Parkbandit]

Originally posted by BacklashThis specific law however, to me, sounds like more republican fixing.

Only Backlash could get some Republican fixing conspiracy from a law saying that everyone should be required to use a photo id when identifying themselves before voting.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[Wezas]

Photo ID is a smart move. What's stopping me from finding out where PB lives, grabbing a bill of his, finding out where his polling place would be, and beating him to the polls?

If they saw a photo ID they'd realize that I'm not an old decrepit antique of a human being.

I'd personally put more resources into all the people that are denied the right to vote because their name is the same as a felon, etc. - some of the issues from the last two elections.

[Gan]

Photo ID's and the process of being finger printed in order to complete the registration promotes accountability.

Anonoimity encourages unaccountability. Unaccountability gives motive for the infringement of rights of others by those who will take advantage of it at the behest of the rights for the criminal. But thats not hard to understand from a Darwinian perspective.

Criminals indulge upon societies understanding.

[Edited on 12-30-2005 by Ganalon]

[Wezas]

I'm not sure how I would feel about getting fingerprinted to get a photo ID.

[Some Rogue]

"Republican Sen. Cecil Staton, the legislation's chief Senate sponsor, is proposing to amend the law during the upcoming session. He said he is willing, among other things, to make the state-issued IDs free for the asking.

``I don't want there to be a hardship any more than necessary for voters, but I don't think it's too much to ask that when you come in to vote, you help us see that you are who you say you are,'' Staton said. He added: ``Most Georgians think this is common sense, including African-Americans.''

However, black legislators are promising to fight any plan that does not repeal the law, and they are getting support from the AARP, the League of Women Voters, the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People."



So even a free card isn't good enough. Like it's been stated before, you need ID for so many other things now, what does needing one for voting hurt? Hell, if they give them free ID's to vote, this helps them out in all the other places they'd need an ID. Seems like a win-win situation to me.

[Edited on 12-30-2005 by Some Rogue]

[Gan]

Originally posted by Wezas
I'm not sure how I would feel about getting fingerprinted to get a photo ID.

Its standard procedure in Texas for a State issued ID or Drivers License. You put your thumb on the scanner, both thumbs actually. They dont run a full panel.

[Latrinsorm]

Making IDs free for the asking should have eliminated any opposition to this law. I still don't understand where the race thing came from (aside from this occurring in the South, where everyone is crazy).

[Warriorbird]

Because literacy tests and things like that have been used to disenfranchise black Southerners in the past.

This is to combat the ease of voter registration going along with driving registration. Seems pretty dubious to me. Even Southern Republicans should want more voters, as the last election proved that extra registration isn't always a Democratic benefit (a lot of poor white people vote Republican.)

Photo IDs are also not free to the public in many states.

The irony here is that in the past it was segregationist Southern Democrats who favored this sort of legislation. Republicans were always against it, echoing back to the civil rights focus of the party under Lincoln.

[Edited on 12-30-2005 by Warriorbird]