Texas voter ID law set aside, yet "ID required" signs all around our early voting place

[arely staircase]

Last edited Sun Oct 28, 2012, 03:43 PM - Edit history (1)

I called the Justice Department's number (which was posted) I told them the situation, they said they would have to call me back.

They never did.

That was Monday.

UPDATE: Local attornies called the courthouse and raised hell. The part of the vote here sings that said id required are now coered with tape.

[Honeycombe8]

1. I'll be checking that out when I go to vote Sat. nt

[timlot]

2. I always thought id was required for early voting.

[Celtic_88]

4. Early Voting

ID is required for early voting in Texas. I voted on Monday had my voters registration card .

[arely staircase]

13. voter id law was set aside by the courts until constitutionality can be determined

our courthouse didn't get the message or chose to ignore it

[sammytko]

17. I early voted in tx and didn't have to show ID

There was a couple in the next line with IDs ready and the clerk told them they were not necessary. The ID law did not pass. My small county usually goes republican.

Now I would have to show ID if I didn't have my voter registration card.

[arely staircase]

18. nor was it required where i voted, but

our republican county officials have put signs all around the tax office (the early voting box) saying it is required.

[Brainstormy]

3. Outrageous

Can you call the local media? There must be SOMEONE who cares. Email Maddow's site. Send a picture to Huffington Post. Must be something. That just makes me crazy.

[arely staircase]

7. They did this during the primaries

local dems told me they called the sec. of state(who's perry-appointed-ass i didn't bother with) when they did this during the primaries

Local media?

[elleng]

5. Contact OFA and local Dem party IMMEDIATELY!

AND local U.S. Attorney; don't wait for Justice 'central.'

and media. MAKE NOISE!

[arely staircase]

9. local chairman is aware, has been for months

eom

[elleng]

11. Then contact, State and National Dems,

d Wasserman Schultz, MAKE NOISE!

[beac]

6. Call the Obama campaign headquarters nearest you.

They more than likely have a lawyer on speed dial for this sort of thing.

[arely staircase]

15. i am in texas

the closest, serious, obama campaign is in New Meco, maybe? our party is murribund here. i called the mf'n justice department. tomorrow i will take a picture and post it here.

[efhmc]

22. That is a very uninformed statement. Tell me where you are and I will give you the OFA

location nearest you. There are several.

[arely staircase]

29. well please inform me, expert

i am in deep east texas.

should i contact the Louisiana, Arkansas or Oklahoma party office about my problem? Blue states that they are.

[efhmc]

34. Here is the number for the Austin OFA.

Megin Klein 5122916414.

Also web site: http://www.barackobama.com/tx

[arely staircase]

35. sorry for being snippy

"id required" has been covered up on the signs after complaints to the county by local lawyers.

[efhmc]

37. Happy you were on top of it.

[Gothmog]

28. County voter protection operations can answer

Most of the county parties are running voter protection operations in their county. I am in charge of the Fort Bend County voter protection operation. I have been on the phone with our county election administrator all week. I have poll watchers covering most of the early voting locations and we have poll greeters at most key locations.

The Texas Voter Enhancement Project has some good information and Sondra Haltom has been doing training sessions throughout the state. The online training programs on that site are very good.

[beac]

33. Wow that's great, but I think you meant to reply to the OP

not to me. Might want to re-reply so he/she can see it and call.

Thanks for the great work you are doing to protect the vote!

[MrsBrady]

8. if you don't have your voter card with you, you will need ID.

the yellow signs tell you what kind of ID you can use IF you don't have your card.

You have to have your card with your or your ID.

If you have a brand new registration, and it is your first time to vote they will ask for ID, this is nothing new.


If the signs were not this and for something else...
then you need to call your LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, tell them who you are and where you voted...
they can file a complaint. call them.
they know what to do.

[arely staircase]

16. they are all around the building

VOTE HERE
ID required


they say, with an arrow pointing to the building. they are the county's official signs.

[MrsBrady]

32. ok, then call your local

democratic party and let them know about it.

[WolverineDG]

10. Because if you don't have your registration card

You have to show ID.

[Gothmog]

12. ID is still required

You have always had to provide some id. Right now, any official correspondence with your name and address or any documents with your name and a picture works. You can use a utility bill or other correspondence addressed to you. You can also use both your current voter registration certificate or an expired registration certificate.

The only thing that they can not do is require a picture id. The Texas bill that was ruled invalid was very restrictive and you could only use certain specified ids including a gun license.

[jackbenimble]

19. Thanks.

I was about to post that most states do require some sort of ID, even if it is the election notice that comes in the mail, or a utility bill.

One I went to the polls and I had the election notice postcard but I hadn't signed it. So I signed it right then and there. Then the poll worker insisted on seeing an ID because I hadn't signed the card prior to showing up. I thought that was terribly backward but sinc e I hadn't thought to bring anything else with me I just showed her my drivers license. I have no idea if she was in the right or not but regardless, she didn't stop me from voting.

This year I think when they hand me my little 'I Voted' sticker I'm going to write 'FOR OBAMA' on it.

[arely staircase]

20. then that might aswer my question

but i have never noticed the big "id required' signs.

maybe i wasn't sensitive to them and they were always there

[efhmc]

23. That's is not true. All you need is your voter's registration.

[Gothmog]

25. A voter registration Certificate is an acceptable form of ID

Except for certain first time voters who did not provide their drivers' license number or last four digits of their social security number when registering, a voter registration certificate is an acceptable form of ID. I worked as an election judge during the primary to get an idea as to how the system work and we liked voter registration certificates because you could scan the bar codes on these documents and speed up the sign in process.

An expired voter registration certificate is also an acceptable form of ID. In addition, expired drivers' licenses are acceptable.

I am going to vote early tomorrow and just for fun I am bringing my power bill as my form of id. In the alternative, I may use my Costco card. I just want to check and make sure that the system works.

[Tx4obama]

14. Early voting rules are different than election day rules - due to less places to vote n/t

[Gothmog]

26. The main difference that you do not have to in right precinct

Except for a few counties in Texas, on election day you have to go to your assigned voting location in your precinct. Early voting is different in that you can go to any early voting location anywhere in the county. In Texas, if you have changed counties, then you have to go to your old county during early voting to vote a "limited" ballot. If you moved to a new county, you can not vote at all in either the old or new county on election day.

We had to send a large number of voters to different voting locations during the primary. Luckily in my county, the computer used for check in purposes will tell you where you need to go and the election worker can print out the address of the correct voting location.

[susanr516]

21. Here's the current requirements on ID in Texas

If the voter does not have a voter registration certificate, then the voter must present identification. [Secs. 63.009, 63.0101] Acceptable forms of identification include:
(1)
a driver’s license or personal identification card issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety or similar documents from other states;
(2)
a form of identification containing a photograph that establishes a person’s identity (such as an employee identification card);
(3)
a birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes a person’s identity;
(4)
United States citizenship papers;
(5)
a United States passport;
(6)
official mail addressed to the person by name from a governmental agency;
(7)
a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter; or
(8)
any other form of identification presented by the Secretary of State’s office.

You can read the entire booklet given to election judges in Texas here: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/election_judges_handbook.pdf

There are some situations where a first-time voter may be asked to present ID, even though s/he presents a voter registration card.

I would suggest you call the Texas Democratic Party at 512-478-9800 and ask to speak with someone involved with the Voter Empowerment Project. I know that there are no "ID required" signs at the early voting locations in Nueces County, and I suspect this is a sly way to depress voter turnout of traditionally Democratic voting blocs.

[Gothmog]

27. An expired voter registration certificate is acceptable

An expired drivers' license and an expired voter registration certificate also works and are acceptable forms of ID.

If you call the state party, you will likely be talking to Sondra Haltom who runs the Voter Enhancement Project.

I am running the voter protection operation for my county and have been dealing with these issues all week.

[arely staircase]

31. i am still betting

"id required" is new to the signs

[ladjf]

24. Texas. What have you done to yourself? nt

[lonestarnot]

30. So take them down.

[arely staircase]

36. update

see op