Photo IDs Required to Vote

[DCnPhilly]

Maybe I made some assumptions that aren't true but I don't see the problem with this. I thought adults were already required to carry valid ID in public. I'm always surprised when I vote that I'm NOT asked for ID.

[Gladys]

actually i was too. you are asked for id to buy cough syrup but not to vote.

[BarryG]

You are not required to have ID just for being in public.

I wonder how this law will affect philadelphia elections... I've heard a lot of stories about dead people voting and such. The irregularities probably don't affect state- and nationwide elections but could affect the outcome of local council and row office elections.

[Litter Box]

You are not required to have ID just for being in public.

I wonder how this law will affect philadelphia elections... I've heard a lot of stories about dead people voting and such. The irregularities probably don't affect state- and nationwide elections but could affect the outcome of local council and row office elections.

..... and AFAIK you only have to have a voter registration card to vote. I have never been asked for anything more. This is going to be a burden on senior citizens. How will they handle absentee ballots ?

[Gladys]

..... and AFAIK you only have to have a voter registration card to vote. I have never been asked for anything more. This is going to be a burden on senior citizens. How will they handle absentee ballots ?

how will it be a burden to seniors? everyone has to have some sort of photo id. a passport, or one of those non-driving id's if you don't drive.

[BarryG]

how will it be a burden to seniors? everyone has to have some sort of photo id. a passport, or one of those non-driving id's if you don't drive.

No, everyone does not need an ID. And since IDs are not free, they will need to be given out to those who can't afford them or can't get over to the DMV. The problem with this law is that voter fraud is a non-issue and this will cost the state between $5-10 million, maybe more, plus lawyer costs when they are inevitably sued over it and lose (which is what happened in every other state that passed a similar law). I have mixed feelings about the law in principle but practically, it is a waste of time and money to solve a nonexistent problem at a time when the budget is very tight.

[Litter Box]

how will it be a burden to seniors? everyone has to have some sort of photo id. a passport, or one of those non-driving id's if you don't drive.

A lot of older people do not have DLs and have not bothered to get state IDs because there was no need. Because of 9/11 a few extra roadblocks have been put in place to get a state ID which may involve a senior going between to numerous government agencies.

[Gladys]

No, everyone does not need an ID. And since IDs are not free, they will need to be given out to those who can't afford them or can't get over to the DMV. The problem with this law is that voter fraud is a non-issue and this will cost the state between $5-10 million, maybe more, plus lawyer costs when they are inevitably sued over it and lose (which is what happened in every other state that passed a similar law). I have mixed feelings about the law in principle but practically, it is a waste of time and money to solve a nonexistent problem at a time when the budget is very tight.

yes you do , everyone needs an id for so many things. Entrance to some buildings, buying cough syrup, sudafed, cashing a check, the list goes on and on... if there is a financial issue to it eliminate that barrier for those in need, but the idea you must present a photo id is a good one. it's not easy and in some cases impossible, to function in society without one.

[BarryG]

yes you do , everyone needs an id for so many things. Entrance to some buildings, buying cough syrup, sudafed, cashing a check, the list goes on and on... if there is a financial issue to it eliminate that barrier for those in need, but the idea you must present a photo id is a good one. it's not easy and in some cases impossible, to function in society without one.

Read this:
How Voter ID Laws Are Being Used to Disenfranchise Minorities and the Poor - Andrew Cohen - Politics - The Atlantic

Millions of people nationwide have no photo ID.

On top of that, there are all kinds of complications. College students might have photo ID for their home--good enough to buy sudafed and beer--but not the district they are registered to vote in, for example (EDIT: I have learned that school IDs are a valid form of identification under the law). I actually agree that its too easy to vote without proving your identity, but voter fraud is simply not an issue worth "solving." Why is the legislature and governor rushing through this law, which costs millions of dollars and is probably not going to hold up in court, instead of figuring out how to pay to fix Pennsylvia's crumbling roads and bridges? Corbett is a joke, I am embarrassed I voted for him.

[DCnPhilly]

No, everyone does not need an ID. And since IDs are not free, they will need to be given out to those who can't afford them or can't get over to the DMV. The problem with this law is that voter fraud is a non-issue and this will cost the state between $5-10 million, maybe more, plus lawyer costs when they are inevitably sued over it and lose (which is what happened in every other state that passed a similar law). I have mixed feelings about the law in principle but practically, it is a waste of time and money to solve a nonexistent problem at a time when the budget is very tight.

I have mixed feelings too. On one hand I'm surprised that it isn't already law to possess some form of identification, on the other hand I wonder how the numbers of voter fraud compares to the numbers of those this will adversely affect.

It's definitely a pain in the a** to get an ID if you don't have one. I had to go through this when i lost mine. Although I didnt catch any roadblocks that weren't there 20 years ago, just the nonsense that comes with dealing with numerous state agencies and the PA DMV.

Personally I think the bottom line is that everyone SHOULD have one and it shouldn't be a perceived marginalization to be asked to present it when you're voting, getting on a plane, or a concert. But how do you tackle that at the voting booth when we are where we are, and is it even worth the effort? I mean we're talking about a paper system that's changed very little since it was invented by the Ancient Greeks operating in the modern world.

[loveisnoise]

In PA you do. If you don't have one, you can be detained for up to 72 hours. Law went into effect for the Philadelphia Republican Convention.

Anyone can get an ID for $9-and I'm sure some organization will even cover that fee if someone is that hard up. I have a hard time feeling sympathy when every single person in the ghetto has brand new sneakers and a cellphone, yet whines about civil rights over a $9 ID.

You are not required to have ID just for being in public.

I wonder how this law will affect philadelphia elections... I've heard a lot of stories about dead people voting and such. The irregularities probably don't affect state- and nationwide elections but could affect the outcome of local council and row office elections.

[BarryG]

In PA you do. If you don't have one, you can be detained for up to 72 hours. Law went into effect for the Philadelphia Republican Convention.

I'm pretty sure this isn't true. Can you dig up the law?

Anyone can get an ID for $9-and I'm sure some organization will even cover that fee if someone is that hard up. I have a hard time feeling sympathy when every single person in the ghetto has brand new sneakers and a cellphone, yet whines about civil rights over a $9 ID.

Apparently photo IDs are now free under the new law. But anyway, I have a hard time having sympathy too but not for those reasons... don't be dense, there are lots of people who would have a very hard time getting a photo ID because they would need to dig up a Soc Sec card and a birth certificate, get to the DMV, and spend the time there. You also have to have proof of residency. If you live with your parents or grandma or whatever, you won't have any. So you need to bring a parent with you to the DMV... good luck with that... and then you need a second proof of residency... don't have a bank account or W-2 paystub? You're SOL.

[Litter Box]

I'm pretty sure this isn't true. Can you dig up the law?



It's $13.50. But anyway, I have a hard time having sympathy too but not for those reasons... don't be dense, there are lots of people who would have a very hard time getting a photo ID because they would need to dig up a Soc Sec card and a birth certificate, get to the DMV, and spend the time there.

Not to be redundant but my concern is the elderly not the hood rats. The time and effort to navigate the state and federal systems is beyond a lot of seniors. The cost may not be a problem for the kid with $200 sneakers but it is a big deal for a senior who lives on Ramen noodles and already has to choose between food and prescription drugs. In the last week I spent about 45 minutes each in the offices of Brady and Farnese talking about these problems. I spoke with an older guy on Friday and he has his DD214 from the army and a birth certificate but even though he is collecting SS he does not have the needed SS card.

Seniors vote and a lot of them do not have picture IDs and without help they may be disenfranchised.

[Gladys]

then i stand corrected and everyone needs help to get photo ids.

[walnuthill]

I work with seniors/disabled folks who have few resources and live on a fixed income from SSI ($671 per month is standard, but sometimes it's less). Many of them have no reason to get a driver's license. If you could use, say, a Medicare or other insurance card plus a SS card, or even a lease, to vote, I wouldn't have any problem with this.

[mixiboi]

Yeah, its the older generations that get hurt more by this law(Which is also why they are also targets when it comes to voter fraud).

Which hurts both parties....So I don't know why they enen bother with these pandering laws.

[FKD19124]

Funny how short memories are. People seemed to have forgotten about ACORN and the voter fraud they are responsible for and WHO backed that group. Of course the DEMS are scared of photo IDs required to vote and are going to throw everything they can at it.

Maybe I made some assumptions that aren't true but I don't see the problem with this. I thought adults were already required to carry valid ID in public. I'm always surprised when I vote that I'm NOT asked for ID.

[BarryG]

Funny how short memories are. People seemed to have forgotten about ACORN and the voter fraud they are responsible for and WHO backed that group. Of course the DEMS are scared of photo IDs required to vote and are going to throw everything they can at it.

ACORN has been caught doing voter registration fraud, not actual voter fraud.

[mixiboi]

Yeah, if your looking for real voter fraud:

Indiana Secretary of State Convicted of Voter Fraud | ThinkProgress

And no stupid photo id would have stop this.

[FKD19124]

one leads to the other.
And Eric Holder still needs to investigate the voter intimidation that went on in philly back in 2008

ACORN has been caught doing voter registration fraud, not actual voter fraud.