Voting question

[detbuch]

Originally Posted by spence

I believe only a few states have passed laws that require this, but it would depend on state law. Regardless the issue presented was if there were legitimate arguments, and there would appear to be.

-spence

Twenty five States require ID. Most of them have some sort of provision for those who forgot to bring the ID, such as provisional ballots, signing affidavits, answering certain questions such as SS#, address and birthdate, etc. that may conform with the official roster. Certainly, if we legitimately require ID for more mundane activities (driving an automobile) wouldn't it be legitimate to require that someone identify that he is the person legally registered to vote?

[spence]

Originally Posted by detbuch

Certainly, if we legitimately require ID for more mundane activities (driving an automobile) wouldn't it be legitimate to require that someone identify that he is the person legally registered to vote?

What you're stating is an argument while ScottW had asked for a legitimate reason.

Personally, I think the argument that federal or state ID is a reasonable measure to help prevent fraud. That being said, I think that disenfranchisement is a legitimate issue...one that's outweighed in many cases by the need to prevent fraud.

-spence

[detbuch]

Originally Posted by spence

What you're stating is an argument while ScottW had asked for a legitimate reason.

Personally, I think the argument that federal or state ID is a reasonable measure to help prevent fraud. That being said, I think that disenfranchisement is a legitimate issue...one that's outweighed in many cases by the need to prevent fraud.

-spence

If we are interpreting Scott's "legitimate" strictly as a legal term meaning in compliance with law rather than meaning"based on logical thinking", then, since by law, everyone, regardless of economic status, must register to vote, and, I believe, must have some form of ID with address to do so. How is requiring someone to show that ID when he is going to practice that for which he registered, disenfranchisement?

[spence]

Originally Posted by detbuch

How is requiring someone to show that ID when he is going to practice that for which he registered, disenfranchisement?

Americans are entitled a vote based on citizenship according to law, but there's no law that required a state or federal ID. Some would argue the requirement of a license, which can require money to acquire, could prove a disincentive or barrier to the poor.

-spence

[buckman]

Originally Posted by spence

Americans are entitled a vote based on citizenship according to law, but there's no law that required a state or federal ID. Some would argue the requirement of a license, which can require money to acquire, could prove a disincentive or barrier to the poor.

-spence

Maybe they could use their Food Stamp Debit Card

[scottw]

Originally Posted by buckman

Maybe they could use their Food Stamp Debit Card

you are soooo mean spirited Buck....don't you know that everyday there are people out there that are having to choose between a valid form of ID and a pack of smokes???

[buckman]

Originally Posted by scottw

you are soooo mean spirited Buck....don't you know that everyday there are people out there that are having to choose between a valid form of ID and a pack of smokes???

I was thinking the same thing, it's just I have too much class to type it

[detbuch]

Originally Posted by spence

Americans are entitled a vote based on citizenship according to law, but there's no law that required a state or federal ID. Some would argue the requirement of a license, which can require money to acquire, could prove a disincentive or barrier to the poor.

-spence

Citizens are entitled by law to vote, but it is not illegal for states to require proof of citizenship. Nor is it illegal to require proof of residence. That "some would argue" that it might require money to acquire some form of proof, is irrelevant. No matter how poor a citizen may be, it requires money for that citizen to do just about anything. Many, if not most of those things, would require more money than to get some form of ID. I'm sure ACORN would be willing to give needy poor folks the money to acquire ID. Certainly, ID would be more useful and important for most supposedly poor U.S. citizens than much, if not most, of what supposedly poor people in this country spend their money on. And if it isn't, "some would argue" that they are not that fervently interested in voting.