Back in late 2004 and early 2005, I sent emails, faxes, and letters to every member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. In it, I asked them for their answer to a set of twenty questions which the readers of Polipundit wanted asked. The text of the letter was posted here.
52 Readers in 38 states joined the effort, asking their district Representatives and Senators to answer the questions. Response from our elected Representatives and Senators was poor, predictably so. Most Congressmen and Senators simply ignored the letters, emails and faxes. In the end, only seventeen answered with any degree of substance, and not one answered more than two questions.
I was looking at the set of questions this week, and you know, they still look like good questions to me, so I am going to ask you for your opinion on them. This will take a while, since I am putting up one question for each post, but please give this your serious consideration. And folks, this is not about politics or smacking down the other side; this is an opportunity to explore the issues of substance for our country. Sad that Congress was not up to it, but maybe we can get the conversation going. Thanks in advance.
1. Should photo ID cards be required in order to vote?
Permalink | Linking Blogs | Sphere: Related Content | Digg this! | FARK It!
Filed under:
Politics
Comments (26)
absolutly yes. one body,one... (Below threshold)1. Posted by tj | October 26, 2007 10:56 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
absolutly yes. one body,one vote.
1. Posted by tj | October 26, 2007 10:56 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 10:56
2. Posted by Mike | October 26, 2007 11:01 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Yes. You need a photo ID to pick up a package from the post office, cash a check, or use your credit card. Why should voting be less secure than any of these activities?
2. Posted by Mike | October 26, 2007 11:01 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 11:01
3. Posted by outsider | October 26, 2007 11:02 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
YES! There is absolutely no reason NOT to use photo IDs.
3. Posted by outsider | October 26, 2007 11:02 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 11:02
4. Posted by Mikey60 | October 26, 2007 11:09 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Photo ID's should be required to REGISTER to vote, thus doing away with the requirement to have a photo ID to actually vote, and voter rolls would then consist of only identified people. In my mind, there would then be no actual restrictions on casting the ballot, and voter rolls would consist of people actually identified at least one time as real and eligible. Getting an ID is not that difficult or onerous in any state.
4. Posted by Mikey60 | October 26, 2007 11:09 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 11:09
5. Posted by Piso Mojado | October 26, 2007 11:16 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Yes, plus proof of citizenship. And you must dip your thumb in the inkwell that lasts from the time early voting begins to the day after the polls close.
5. Posted by Piso Mojado | October 26, 2007 11:16 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 11:16
6. Posted by Gmac | October 26, 2007 11:21 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Yes, a valid photo ID should be required to vote.
Preferably one issued by FEDCO or a state agency where you would need to present a birth certificate or naturalization papers.
6. Posted by Gmac | October 26, 2007 11:21 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 11:21
7. Posted by Scrapiron | October 26, 2007 11:25 AM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
A photo ID, or a voter registration card checked against voter rolls, that was obtained with a photo ID. It won't eleminate all criminal votes (democrat controlled areas will still find a way to crook the system) but will help. The dead not only vote in democrat areas they also obtain millions of dollars worth of government funded medical care that go to Soros controlled org's., aka, the Clinton crime syndicate.
7. Posted by Scrapiron | October 26, 2007 11:25 AM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 11:25
8. Posted by mantis | October 26, 2007 11:39 AM | Score: -5 (7 votes cast)
Heh, not unless they are free and provided at the time of registration (and even then there are other issues). Otherwise it's a poll tax.
A lot of people, especially the poor in large cities, do not have state-issued IDs because they don't drive. Efforts to require such IDs, in light of the fact that there is no documented problem of people impersonating registered voters (which is the only thing an ID law would prevent), are simply efforts to discourage those people from voting. I would like to see more people vote, not less.
We'll see what the SCOTUS says about the constitutionality of such laws when the review the 7th circuit decision on the Indiana law.
8. Posted by mantis | October 26, 2007 11:39 AM |
Score: -5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 11:39
9. Posted by ODA315 | October 26, 2007 11:44 AM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
OK Mantis, but how do they cash their welfare checks with no ID?
9. Posted by ODA315 | October 26, 2007 11:44 AM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 11:44
10. Posted by Gringo | October 26, 2007 12:01 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Good old Mantis, protecting the right of people with the same brain activity as Terri Schiavo to vote.
If a person can't scrape together $25 to get a driver's license, then I assume one of two thing about them:
1) They don't really WANT to vote, so any push to get them to vote is merely adding noise to the pattern.
2) They are too stupid to vote, and the noise they add to the pattern will be destructive.
10. Posted by Gringo | October 26, 2007 12:01 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 12:01
11. Posted by mantis | October 26, 2007 12:06 PM | Score: -4 (6 votes cast)
Good old Mantis, protecting the right of people with the same brain activity as Terri Schiavo to vote.
All citizens friend, all citizens.
11. Posted by mantis | October 26, 2007 12:06 PM |
Score: -4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 12:06
12. Posted by jennifer | October 26, 2007 12:20 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Yes ID's should be required. I moved to New Mexico in 2006 and was so surprised to be told that the clerk could not ask for my ID. How crazy is that?
12. Posted by jennifer | October 26, 2007 12:20 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 12:20
13. Posted by Sid | October 26, 2007 12:36 PM | Score: -8 (8 votes cast)
I think those frankly are the questions of a traiter to his country DJ. A man who should be tried and hung for treason against the united states of america.
13. Posted by Sid | October 26, 2007 12:36 PM |
Score: -8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 12:36
14. Posted by epador | October 26, 2007 12:47 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Moot Point: Here in the NW most of us vote by mail. Ya need an ID to register, but once you have an address, you get mailed a ballot and vote that way.
14. Posted by epador | October 26, 2007 12:47 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 12:47
15. Posted by DJ Drummond | October 26, 2007 12:55 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Poor, dismal sid. He still can't grasp the topic, and he still can't spell words properly, either.
15. Posted by DJ Drummond | October 26, 2007 12:55 PM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 12:55
16. Posted by Master Shake | October 26, 2007 12:56 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Sid's just mad that he has a PhD in Womyn's Studies and they still won't give him a brush when he cleans toilets at the asylum for the criminally stupid. That and his shame at not being able to spell.
16. Posted by Master Shake | October 26, 2007 12:56 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 12:56
17. Posted by Mycroft | October 26, 2007 1:02 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Only 1? Seriously, many times you need 2 to cash a check. Isn't our election system more important than cashing a check?
17. Posted by Mycroft | October 26, 2007 1:02 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 13:02
18. Posted by marc | October 26, 2007 1:37 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Photo isn't enough, they shold also include some type of bio-metrics.
And to answer mantis' little "anti-screed," the program should follow what the state of Georgia's (I believe Georgia, but could be wrong) plan was that failed to pass because of all it's "mantis'".
The ID's would not only be free but a system would be set-up in each State where a fleet of "ID vehicles" would canvas the entire state offering to provide the free ID's.
18. Posted by marc | October 26, 2007 1:37 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 13:37
19. Posted by Synonymous2Anonymous | October 26, 2007 2:19 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Of course. But I wouldn't mind repealing the right for women to vote too based on the fact that might eliminate Code Pink. But what do I know?
19. Posted by Synonymous2Anonymous | October 26, 2007 2:19 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 14:19
20. Posted by Jeff Medcalf | October 26, 2007 3:32 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Yes.
20. Posted by Jeff Medcalf | October 26, 2007 3:32 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 15:32
21. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | October 26, 2007 5:33 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Mantis,
What if the legislation required that the govt. provided the IDs gratis to those that could prove they were on government assistance?
Provide your birth certificate (or equivalent), current welfare papers and get your ID.
Personally, I'd vote for that, even if it meant that my fee to register went up a little. I still pay for rural phone service on my phone bill, despite the ubiquitous cell phone towers... ;)
21. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | October 26, 2007 5:33 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 17:33
22. Posted by Diane C. Russell | October 26, 2007 7:46 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
I'd say that you should have to prove citizenship in order to register to vote, and be prepared to prove you are the registered voter in order to vote.
I don't really understand the Democrats in my state--they have complete control of the legislature; oppose photo-ids for voting, but require photo-ids from people entering the capitol to visit or observe them. Seems like a hypocritical double standard, but what else would you expect from sleazy politicians?
22. Posted by Diane C. Russell | October 26, 2007 7:46 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on October 26, 2007 19:46
23. Posted by Morris | October 27, 2007 1:18 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Frankly, I'd like to see the "popular" vote for President done away with altogether. The electoral college was created for a reason. Look it up.
However, given that Hell will freeze over looong before that ever happens then yes, I'm in favor of requiring photo ID -- both at the time of voter registration and at the actual voting booth.
And while we're at it, let's also -86 the "popular" vote for Senators -- 17th Amendment, IIRC. Again, I won't hold my breath...
23. Posted by Morris | October 27, 2007 1:18 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 27, 2007 01:18
24. Posted by E. T. | October 27, 2007 1:32 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Most definitely require photo ID to register and vote. It's criminally irresponsible to not require this at present, and a no-brainer that confirms illicit activity is taking place on a grand scale throughout the country at this time. Way too often.
24. Posted by E. T. | October 27, 2007 1:32 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on October 27, 2007 01:32
25. Posted by Denise | October 27, 2007 5:39 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Yes, photo IDs are an excellent idea, providing the use of them in the polling places is enforced. In the rural areas, where everybody knows everybody else, this can sometimes be overlooked.
25. Posted by Denise | October 27, 2007 5:39 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on October 27, 2007 05:39
26. Posted by Bill Woessner | November 3, 2007 9:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The controversy about photo IDs and voting is very short-sighted. It's a micro issue and I'd much rather focus the macro issue: How do we ensure that only eligible voters are allowed to vote? Furthermore, how do we ensure that eligible voters vote at most once? These are the core issues. Plain old photo IDs, like a drivers licenses, do not accomplish these goals because they're too easy to tamper.
Yes, there are more tamper-proof IDs, like passports. But to really address the problem, we need to turn to more advanced technology like fingerprints and/or DNA. Of course, that leads to a whole other can of worms with the big brother issue. I guess it depends on what's important to you.
26. Posted by Bill Woessner | November 3, 2007 9:14 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on November 3, 2007 21:14