People should go ahead and get a photo ID or state ID, if they want to vote.

[Honeycombe8]

In view of the voter suppression attempts in various states, I think voters should just go ahead and get photo IDs, if they can, to be prepared for the worst.

Even if the lawsuits against these suppression attempts win this time, these attempts will be back.

There is one sure fire way to combat the photo ID suppression attempts, and that is to help people get photo IDs.

[lunatica]

1. I've always had to show my driver's license when I used to go to the polls

I live in California and I always thought it was to verify the voter and the address at the same time because the poll people always went down a list until they found my name and checked it off. It seemed a simple verification of identity being tied to a known address and a way to know I was in the right precinct.

Now I vote absentee.

disclaimer: I'm not defending the States that used to not require ID suddenly requiring ID or the obvious suppression of votes going on.

edited to add the State I live in and the disclaimer.

[Iggo]

6. I live in California.

And we definitely do not have to show ID to vote.

[lunatica]

7. I always did when I went to the polls to vote

I've been voting absentee for years so maybe it's changed now but I definitely had to show it.

[bluestate10]

54. I show ID, but I don't have to in my state.

My state has good voting controls. A person using my ID information can vote just once. If by chance my information get taken and used, my state has procedures that get activated at the polling place to verify me, and allow me to vote. I don't see any party, including the republican party being organized well enough to steal ID information and send in impersonators to vote. I do see republicans making legitimate voting so hard in states that party controls that some voters may not vote.

[Retrograde]

12. There is a provision that you may be asked the first time you vote

but the California sample ballot, which is mailed to every registered voter, is deemed sufficient. No photo on it. Otherwise, id is not required.

[MineralMan]

25. I lived all my life in California, until I moved to Minnesota

in 2004. A driver's license was NEVER required in CA to vote. Never. You may have pulled one out so the election worker could see your name, but it was never required. Now that I'm in Minnesota, it is still not required here, either. We have a measure on the ballot that will require it, if it passes. It's one of the things all Democrats should be working against.

But, in California, you don't have to show a photo ID at the polling place. You never had to do that.

[lunatica]

37. Yes I did.

I believe you never did, but believe me. I did. Several times. I did vote in the same precinct for decades, so maybe it was only our local pollsters who did that. I've talked to others who have had to show their ID too.

But I believe you when you say you didn't.

[BeeBee]

53. I live in California and have never had to show my ID.

Interesting that you have.

[jody]

2. If one doesn't have an ID, they should also work for "travel suppression" laws already on the books.

[IVoteDFL]

3. I actually just did this week

It's going to be on the ballot this year, and will most likely pass. My ID expired when I turned 21, I'm 24 now. I don't drink alcohol or use tobacco. I rarely need my ID for anything, and when I do, most places will take my expired one. I spent the $17 on Monday to get a new one (even though I could have really used that money elsewhere). Just in case I run into one of those crazy tea party "poll watchers" or whatever, I have it. I will vote, no matter what.

[lunatica]

5. It's a good idea to have a Driver's license

Last edited Sat Sep 22, 2012, 01:00 PM - Edit history (2)

I work in UC Berkeley and one of my duties is to hire Graduate Student Instructors as well as Grad Student Researchers and Readers. Whenever anyone is hired for the first time the one form that's absolutely required is the I-94 which is the one that verifies eligibility to work in the US. This form is used in all hiring in any capacity I believe.

You have to prove your nationality. As an American you can use various forms of identity, but the simplest form is the Driver's license and social security number. It's also the most common because everyone who has one carries it with them so it's easy to access. It proves American citizenship. Expired Driver's licenses are not accepted.

Getting your driver's license current is always a good idea.

[jody]

10. "You have to prove your nationality" to work in the US. nt

[lunatica]

13. Foreigners also have to prove their nationality to work in certain jobs

A student who comes to the US gets an F-1 visa which allows him/her to work in the University, but when filling out the I-94 in order to get the jobs they have to bring their passport, their visa (I-9) and their I-20 documentation which shows how long they're present visit will last before they need to renew their paperwork.

[jody]

14. Thanks nt

[Ms. Toad]

46. It's an I-9, not an I-94.

(I thought it was a typo, until you repeated it below).

[bluestate10]

51. Republican controlled states require a certified birth certificate for voters to get a voter ID.

For those of you that think getting a certified copy of a birth certificate quickly is easy, try doing so. I know from experienced as a highly educated and traveled person that I had to learn the process for requesting a birth certificate and understand the resources that I had to use to get documentation a copy of the certificate. My family lost my birth certificate sometime after registering me into grade school, but I didn't need it to finish K-12, get a driver's license or go to college. I did need it for one of my first jobs. I made the request as required and waited in limbo for two months until the document arrived. I had to supply my mother and father's names, my birth-date and city and a copy of my SS card and sign a notarized document my birth state sent me that I was who I said I was.

Republicans have guessed that many of the elderly that they are targeting don't have copies their birth certificate, either because those copies got lost, or because the elderly never got a birth certificate documented by the state they were born in due to the circumstances of their birth. Neither of my parents had birth certificates, they were birthed at home. I was born in a hospital which kept records of live and stillborn births and filed that information with my birth state's department of vital statistics. A voting record that a person develops over many years is enough in states where leaders have ethics, unfortunately, that is not enough in republican controlled states.

For those of you pissing and moaning about democrats not doing enough to give you your fantasy america, the voter suppression efforts that are ongoing by republicans alone should be enough to give you pause and have you screw your head on right. Republicans are fucking trying to take democracy away from all of us.

[bluestate10]

52. Thank you. nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. The reality is that everyone in this society needs an ID

for many things, not just voting. Try being questioned by a cop and not having one...

My favorite used to be to give the a US passport. Good all over the world, but don't try it for the local cops. They can't really "run it" nearly as effectively. Poll workers do not know how to handle it either.

[sgsmith]

17. Poll workers haven't had a problem accepting my US Passport

Due to a unique personal situation, the Passport is what I provide to vote in Georgia.

Which, of course, is interesting since the Passport doesn't have a printed address of record.

[gateley]

28. Good point about the passport not having an address. I never thought of that.

[Edweird]

8. I'm curious who WOULDN'T have some form of state issued ID and why.

Excepting, of course, lost, stolen, accidentally destroyed, etc. I'm not talking about people that obtained them and are temporarily without them - people that can go to the DMV or whatever and get a replacement. I'm talking about people that have never had one. How do they live? I've lived a very non-conformist unconventional life and I still needed ID. I am 41 and I cannot recall any time in my life where the lack of an ID would not have made my life impossible.

[MineralMan]

9. I'd bet that some 99% or more of DUers have

a government-issued photo ID. We're not even close to the groups that don't. We see them every day, but we don't actually know them.

That's why these voter-ID laws don't have more people opposing them strongly. It's a matter of no importance to most people. We have them. We've always had them, since we became adults. It's just part of being part of the majority class.

Others, however, including people living in poverty, Homeless people, elders who have stopped driving and may be living in assisted living or nursing homes, and a variety of others who have no real reason to need one. People who live in a cash-based world or a world where they never have to identify themselves.

We see these people, but we don't know them, mostly. They're the ones being disenfranchised by these laws, not us.

[YoungDemCA]

21. Well said.

nt

[Scootaloo]

33. +1

Some people just don't have three spare hours and twenty spare bucks to spend at the DMV. Out of those folks, how many lack the double proofs of residence? A homeless person CANNOT get a state ID for instance, since it requires proof of permanent lodgings - shelters don't count.

[bluestate10]

48. How many homeless people vote?

Republicans are dastardly. Republicans know that the people most affected by the laws either don't vote in large numbers or don't vote at all. A few cases in point. Arizona, Texas and New Mexico have enormous full citizen hispanic populations. Yet, only New Mexico is purple and even in that state a republican jackass was elected governor. Hispanics in the three states have low voter registration and low voter turnout, in essence, hispanics in those states have given over their destiny to people that want to restrict their freedoms. A similar dynamic exists in southern states that have large percentages of Blacks, low Black voter turnout has kept those states blood red.

[bluestate10]

47. The fact is.

Regardless of whether we see the people affected, the laws are on the book in several battleground states. There are groups that work with people that are affected that are taking a two pronged approach. The first is to go to court. The second, done simultaneously to the first is to educate affected people on the ID and assist them is getting the ID. The sane path is to do both options. Not only would a court have to overturn voter suppression laws, courts would also have to roll back the ID requirements to what voters already have. Even if courts overturn the laws, I see republican governments that implemented them appealing rulings, tying up the process of getting rid of the laws.

[left is right]

11. I do not have a problem with the voter ID concept EXCEPT

that most people who do not have an ID do not have the transportation and or time to obtain one. Ours are only obtainable through the DMV and they are largely located in suburban areas without bus transportation available. Even if bus transportation is available you can bet it requires multiple transfers with lots of wait time. A person cannot manage that if they are old or have several little ones that they must take along with them. Make obtaining an ID easily accessible even if means setting up rotating locations in neighborhoods or perhaps individuals could host house parties for their neighborhood (sort of like the old-fashioned TupperWare parties but instead of buying plastic ware they obtain voter IDs instead)

[Cleita]

15. I recommend that everyone should get a passport, no

matter what it may cost to get the documentation or what it might cost extra. Scrape the money together and make the sacrifice. Besides it being the best kind of ID to have that no government agency or bartender will reject, you never know when you might want to leave the country in a hurry, especially if we get a Romney/Ryan administration.

[MineralMan]

24. At a minimum, a passport costs about $100.

If you need the paperwork required, it will be more. How many of the disenfranchised poor can put that kind of money together and negotiate all the hoops required to get their passport. They already don't have government-issued ID.

This whole thing is not about people like those on DU. It's about something completely different. It's about poor people having their vote taken from them. That you mention a passport demonstrates that you do not understand who will not be able to vote.

[Cleita]

34. I'm on Social Security and I got the money together from a yard sale.

When Bush was elected I felt it was important. I went to the Post Office and they were very helpful in getting it all together for me. I know the poor and homeless would have a hard time especially the rural poor in getting documentation especially if they are elderly. This is why I mentioned sacrifice and scraping up the cash would sometimes be needed.

What I didn't mention is this is where we need to get together as community for the better off progressives to help out the less fortunate. The better off here at DU often help out DUers who are less fortunate through programs like Wishadoo or other ones. People could do this in communities at large. There is no better ID for an American than a passport and progressives should reach out to all those less fortunate to help them get one.

Please do not wave your elitist finger pointing at me. I'm among the lowest 30% of this nation in income and assets.

[JVS]

50. It's good for ten years though.

[jody]

16. Both parties should just support Jimmy Carter and James A. Baker, III Co-Chairs of the

Commission on Federal Election Reform at http://www1.american.edu/ia/cfer/report/report.html#cochairLTR

[renate]

18. but photo IDs cost money

Not just driver's licences but just plain regular state IDs. How can the requirement for a photo ID that costs money--making people have to pay to vote--be legal in a democracy?

[dkf]

35. They should be free. Government should not charge for something they themselves require.

[sgsmith]

36. In Georgia you can get a free voter ID at the county level

The Georgia strict photo ID law was passed in 2005 and got federal court approval in 2007. There have been two major elections and black and hispanic voters actually increased in 2008. It's probably because of the free voter identification that was added in 2006 that the VRA approval was received.

http://www.dds.ga.gov/drivers/dldata.aspx?con=1749371755&ty=dl

Voter IDs are available free of charge at any county registrar's office.

[Honeycombe8]

44. That's why I said if people COULD, they should do it, & get it taken care of.

Be prepared. This issue isn't going away.

How does a person get a job w/o one, anyway? You have to have a social security card and photo ID...at least I did.

[cali]

19. Nope. Never happen in Vermont.

[DemKittyNC]

20. I am bringing

my birth certificate, DL, student ID, my last year high school yearbook, a baseball bat in case they tell me all of that isn't enough to be able to vote then I will have to beat them within an inch of their life...

[dogday]

22. The poor, elderly, disabled don't

have the 30.00 bucks it cost here to get an ID. Do they wave the fee for them? Is so, great, if not, that is what republicans are hoping for....

[nc4bo]

26. Call me crazy but I think that it should all be free, from obtaining copies of BCs, State ID

or whatever else is needed should be free as long as the person is attempting to become eligible to vote.

Perhaps some a letter of intent letter issued from a State's BOE?

[TardisBlue]

23. What about middle name/maiden name mismatch?

I've been wondering if any other married women have this problem and how to fix it. I live in MS and the new Voter ID law won't be in effect in November but it could be approved next year. When I registered to vote, my name is recorded as First-Middle-Last. My DL is First-Maiden-Last. I don't remember why my DL is that format as my SocSec Card is the same as my Voter Registration. AFTER November, which will be easier to change? I think maybe changing the DL will be easier because it would then match my Social. It has never been a problem in employment, banking, etc. but I fear that the name mismatch could affect my ability to cast my vote. I wonder how many other women in states with new Voter ID laws will be affected by this scenario this November.

[immoderate]

30. PA has about 500,000 unidentified voters. PennDOT will issue 10,000 IDs.

Estimates vary but the least is 100,000. Upper estimates are 700,000 to 1.2M. Their DOT now has 5 hour waiting times. They estimate that 10,000 is the most they can do.

If you're registered, your signature should be enough. Maybe they should do the "purple finger" trick. This voter ID shit is really fucked up.

--imm

On edit: I meant this for the OP. Sorry about that.

[Honeycombe8]

45. I have that issue, sort of. It's my MIDDLE name that doesn't match.

The first and last names of my SS card, voter registration, and driver's license match, but the middle name on my driver's license is my actual middle name, while the middle name on the other two is my MAIDEN name.

I may have to get my driver's license changed, which may be more complicated, actually, in my case.

[RBInMaine]

27. ABSOLUTELY ! Just go get the frigging ID. Don't take chances.

[dkf]

29. It boggles my mind that not everyone has a government ID.

How can you fully participate in society without one? You limit yourself to not opening bank accounts, not being able to take money out from a teller, not being able to travel and on and on.

Anyone without a state ID has relegated themselves to second class status. Why isn't this a civil rights issue to make sure everyone has what they need to access all the conveniences of modern life?

[Silver Swan]

32. From 1971 when my last driver's license expired until 1987

I got along without an official state-issued ID. However, I did work for a Federal agency, and many places accepted my work ID as a "government issued ID card."

I finally got a state ID because I needed it to take the NCLEX after getting a nursing degree in 1987. After that ID expired, I continued to get away with using it until I divorced, and resumed my maiden name.

By then, banks, etc., were getting more fussy about requiring ID, so I got a new state ID, and got another when that one expired. Last year, I became eligible for a free, non-expiring state ID, because I was over age 65. I guess that means I am set for life now.

[dkf]

39. Isn't life much easier with one?

I can't even see my doc without a picture ID.

[Nikia]

43. Every time?

I have heard of that, but it has never been my experience. I don't think that I ever needed it and my doctor knows who I am anyway (She called me by name when she saw me outside of the office.). If they can't identify you with how well you match your medical file, they aren't very good doctors.
I suppose that it has to do with some kind of policy involving abuse of prescription drugs. Personally, I don't think impersonating a regular patient at a practice would be the easiest way to obtain them. Like I said, if they can't identify you by your medical file, they aren't very good doctors and there's a significant chance that any given receptionist, nurse, or doctor can identify a patient.

[Honeycombe8]

55. It's policy and procedure. They're required to make a copy of your photo ID for the file.

I don't know if it's the office or the ins. co., but it's required. The dr knows me, of course. But since I go only once a year, odds are the staff are new or don't remember me.

I also have to show ID to buy anything from the pharmacist, like Nyquil with pseudoephedrine. The govt keeps track of who buys it and when; you're restricted to how much you can buy. I changed jobs and had to have a photo ID and ORIGINAL social security card. I had to have a photo ID to rent a car. I had to have a photo ID, I THINK, to fly on an airplane. I have to show pharmicist proof of ID to get Rx filled...don't know if it has to be a photo ID, since that's what I show, anyway.

I pay with plastic, but if I wanted to write a check, I'd have to have a driver's license for it to be accepted.

To get a security clearance to enter some bldgs (this started after 9/11), you have to show a photo ID. They'll either pass you in, or they'll issue you a security photo ID right then and there, which you must have for after hours.

[Nikia]

38. I have had to use my ID very little in my small town ( approx. 5000 people)

I don't remember if they wanted to see my ID when I opened my account, but they haven't asked to see it ever since. The tellers identify us by name when we come to the bank, before we show them the check that we want cashed or deposited. I don't know if I could identify them though. I have never been asked to show my ID when using my debit card or writing a check in this town either. I don't buy alcohol or cigarettes, but have been to the local bars without ID. My doctor never asked to see my ID nor my pharmacist.
The only time I needed my ID was for getting a job. I think that every legitimate job needs an ID to get hired although I'm not sure how long it has been this way. My husband and I were talking about the number of people working cash or "contract" jobs in the area, like on farms and with small construction companies, and they usually don't need ID.
I haven't even lived here that long. I am sure that even if I needed ID to open my first bank account in town, I wouldn't have to if my relative, pastor, or employer had gone to the bank with me to open one. I sure that this was even more true 30-50 years ago when many older people first got established and became known in town.

[dkf]

40. Yes you need it rarely but for the most important things.

Where would you be if you avoided doing all the things you needed it for? Being without an ID is limiting.

[Nikia]

42. I needed it to get the job that I have and drive

Although I did not drive until I was 23 years of age.
I needed it when I flew although I saw another thread that suggested that there might be ways to fly without having a state issued ID. Most people who don't have IDs are poor and probably don't fly.
If I "informally" baby sat a few people's children or cleaned their houses or "worked with" a roofing company than I wouldn't have needed an ID at all.
For my bank account, it was probably good enough that my husband had an ID since it was a joint account. I am not sure about that bank's particular policy, but in the past in my hometown you could bring someone to vouch for you to confirm that you were who you said that you were. In many states, having someone vouch for you at registration was and is acceptable when someone did not have an ID too.

[HopeHoops]

31. Agreed. The NAACP and ACLU are doing more to get ID's for people in PA than the state.

The state would rather they not.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

41. Virginia has a new voter ID law this year

It doesn't have to be a photo ID, but you have to ID or some type of proof of residence when you go to vote. If you don't have it, you vote a provisional ballot that is held back until you provide ID (I think you have 3 - 5 days, not sure).

Virginia is mailing out new voter IDs to every registered voter in the state starting in early October.

[GreenPartyVoter]

49. Just renewed mine this week. Will have it before the election. :^)