Amnesty question my wingnut sister asked me

[B2G]

That I don't have an answer for.

If these folks are issued drivers licenses and social security numbers/cards, what will prevent them from voting? According to her, a lot of states only make you sign a form saying you're a citizen and provide a SSN.

I'm not sure how to answer...any takers to help me out?

[Duer 157099]

1. Apathy. Same thing that keeps most everyone else from voting.

Or, human nature. What a weird thing to be concerned about.

[B2G]

2. She's conservative

If you've been listening to the pukes, that's their main talking point...that Obama is doing this to increase the Democratic voter rolls.

I'd like something a little more concrete to counter her other than 'nothing will stop them, but they won't vote'.

Thanks anyway.

[xxqqqzme]

6. I thought the President

is expected to suggest 'green cards' or something along those lines. Those are not the same as social security cards.

[B2G]

7. That's what I thought, but she keeps saying SS cards

I told her why not wait until a damn announcement is made, but she's being relentless. I thought maybe I missed something...

[ctaylors6]

16. The recordkeeping

of the states should prevent it. But it may not be a completely invalid concern according to this local news story:
http://www.nbc-2.com/story/16662854/2012/02/02/nbc2-investigates-voter-fraud

Edited to add: I'm in Texas, and live among many Republicans. They seem to be unanimously in favor of the voter ID laws here. Without exception they've said it's because of the concern of non citizens voting here. I've never heard one of them talk about minority voters and the voter ID law. Just illegal immigrants managing to be able to vote.

[Historic NY]

3. Ask her if she had to identify herself or prove she was a citizen

with her birth certificate. I think most of the drivers licenses state not vaild for federal id purposes.

http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. Not sure I understand the "not vaild for federal id purposes" part.

What does that matter, given that we don't have "federal elections"? Elections are state affairs.

[Fred Sanders]

4. The same thing that prevents you from wringing her neck, against the law.

[B2G]

5. Lol, now that's funny. nt

[DawgHouse]

18. LOL!

[Politicalboi]

9. Tell her the GOP suppresses the vote

So we're even. Tell her they'll be Black Panthers there to control who votes at polling places. Tell her the GOP should run Cruz because they might be confused and go with the name only.

[B2G]

10. You're not helping

Lol.

[Politicalboi]

13. Sorry

LOL! There's no convincing these fools of any facts. Tell her Saint Ronnie and Bush 1 did the SAME thing. I doubt there will be SSI numbers given that don't have some kind of way of telling they're not citizens. Same with D/L and letter or number that ID's non citizen.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. fear of getting kicked out of the country that they just found a safe space in?

its what prevents all other legal immigrants from voting

[hunter]

21. This is the reality. Undocumented people don't go looking for trouble.

Hell, they'll even tolerate abusive employers, landlords, and cops who steal their cars.

[Shrike47]

12. Tell her you'll bet her $100 this has nothing to do with offering Social Security numbers.

It's going to be mostly a lack of deportation promise for some people.

[El Supremo]

14. Well, the driver's license says so.

[madinmaryland]

31. Wait, what?? I thought you were much older??

[El Supremo]

33. Did you ever pass the driving test?

Or did you forget again and drive on the left side of the road?

[madinmaryland]

34. You are mistaking me for Ed Fitzgerald, the jackwagon the Democrats chose to

run for Governour (hehe) in Ohio this year against Kasick.

[Lex]

15. Right on the driver's license in NC

it says it doesn't mean the person is a citizen for people who don't have citizenship but want a DL.

Maybe the wingnut sister should do her own research.

[TBF]

23. "Maybe the wingnut sister should do her own research"

They can barely speak coherently and you want her to do a research project?

[jeff47]

17. You could point her to the Social Security Administration PDF that says they can't get SSNs.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10096.pdf

Not being deported is not the same as being lawfully admitted.

They will still be "illegal immigrants", the government just won't be trying to deport them. As a result, they can not get SSNs.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

19. Motor voter requires states offer voter registration

whenever someone applies for a first time license (assuming they are old enough) or when renewing a driver's license.

Unless the state in question requires proof of citizenship in order to get a license, in theory someone could submit a voter registration form even if they aren't eligible to vote.

The federal voter registration application can be mailed in, and the applicant has to sign affirming the following:

I have reviewed my state's instructions and I swear/affirm that:
I am a United States citizen
I meet the eligibility requirements of my state and
subscribe to any oath required.
The information I have provided is true to the best of my
knowledge under penalty of perjury. If I have provided false
information, I may be fined, imprisoned, or (if not a U.S.
citizen) deported from or refused entry to the United States.

[hunter]

24. Horrors!

Undocumented workers and legal immigrants are not going to risk "I may be fined, imprisoned, or (if not a U.S. citizen) deported from or refused entry to the United States" for one lousy vote.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

27. I never said they would

Just providing info.

[Vinca]

20. Maybe it would be a good thing if they voted since Americans can't be bothered.

[dilby]

22. Ask her why she is not convincing them to vote Republican?

Republicans have just as much access to their vote as Democrats do and who gives a shit if it's illegal, it's illegal for dead people to vote but they show up every year on both sides of the isle, at least this is a live person making a conscience decision to make the country they call home a better place.

[jwirr]

25. Not an expert here but anyone who holds a job, including those with a work visa, gets a social

security number. And have for many years. I seriously doubt that any states accept a social security card as valid id for a drivers license for that reason. The states that do ask for id for a drivers license would be more likely to ask for a birth certificate.

[treestar]

26. Yes, they still can't vote

They are still not qualified to vote. Legal aliens can get those documents and they still can't vote.

[JoePhilly]

29. They won't vote because that would risk getting deported.

Folks who are here illegally, and at risk of being deported, won't risk deportation to vote.

If however, they have a path, away to declare themselves as here, in a work program, or other ... then again, they have no reason to risk that status to vote.

The current situation is a defacto Amnesty. They stay hidden. And pay little to no taxes.

If she wants them to pay taxes, then she wants them on the books.

[nichomachus]

30. Not another

"Can you answer this question my wingnut sister/friend.co-worker/neighbor asked me." post

No, I'm not going to get sucked into a phony question like this.

[Alittleliberal]

32. They aren't getting amnesty

They won't be issues social security cards. End of conversation.

[truebluegreen]

35. Because it is against the law...

Overstaying your visa / being here illegally is a misdemeanor, voting is a federal offense with nasty penalties. Most immigrants want to do everything they can to avoid legal attention; immigrant communities are more law-abiding than others for just that reason.