Voter I.D.

[dgs49]

I realize this topic has come up here in the past, but it is another election year, so what the heck...

A Voter I.D. law is a legitimate initiative for any State to undertake in order to prevent voter fraud. I will presume for the sake of discussion that for those who do not have a cognizable photo ID, the State will provide one, free of charge, upon presentation of reasonable proof of identity. So cost is not an issue.

The idea that it is an undue intrusion on peoples' right to vote is baloney. The list of public and private services, entrances, and benefits that require a valid photo ID is endless, and it is only in rare cases that anyone claims it is an undue burden.

To those who say, "There is no proof that voter fraud is a problem," I would say the following:

(1) How do you know? Successful voter fraud would not have been detected. It may have been going on and undetected for a long period. I know that my Sainted Mother was a Democrat polling place representative when I was a kid, and they routinely cast votes for dead and infirm people after the polls had closed (they had the list of registered voters, with marks indicating who had voted that day, and the County was notoriously bad about purging dead people from the rolls).

(2) So what? Is the fact that your house has never been burglarized a reason not to put a lock on the door?

I recognize the difference between a "right," which cannot be restrained or impeded, and a license. But to ask a simple proof of identification does not impair the right.

Ironically, the "home" city of our beloved President, Chicago, is one that has long been associated with voter fraud. Indeed, it has been credibly claimed that Mayor Daley was personally responsible for getting the Illinois' electoral votes for JFK, through organization of a massive voter fraud campaign in Chicago.

And how disgustingly patronizing it is to claim that obtaining a voter ID is beyond the capacity of (overwhelmingly Democrat) Black people, Latinos, and other minorities. Why, there are people on this very board who constantly claim - and virtually prove - that it is the Republicans who are the stupid ones, therefore, it should be the Republicans who are whining that their voters would be too stupid or incompetent to obtain a voter ID card. But of course, it's the D's.

There is no legitimate reason to oppose a reasonable Voter ID law, which provides for free ID for people who do not currently have one.

[Joe Guy]

I think we should go beyond that and have a national ID. It should not only include verification of citizenship, but also of the state & county you live and then could be used for several purposes, including voting.

[dales]

We do, SSN (which was NEVER to used for an ID).....it even states that on my original Social Security Card which was issued in 1967.

Later cards do not state this fact.

[dgs49]

It would be funny to make the SS card a photo ID, since most middle-class Americans get a SS number as infants to facilitate gifts of bonds and whatnot. Can you imagine going up to vote with a SS-Photo ID showing yourself as an infant? Priceless.

My real preference would be to have the IRS issue the national Voter Photo ID card, based on proof that you've paid at least $1,000 in Federal Income tax within the past five years. Of course I would grant a lifetime waiver to those who paid taxes for at least 25 years.

If you don't pay your dues, you don't get to vote.

[loCAtek]

The military issues infant ID cards, mainly to show the baby is a dependent of a service person.

[dales]

If you don't pay your dues[taxes], you don't get to vote.

Unconstitutional.

[Mr. Duality]

It would be funny to make the SS card a photo ID, since most middle-class Americans get a SS number as infants to facilitate gifts of bonds and whatnot. Can you imagine going up to vote with a SS-Photo ID showing yourself as an infant? Priceless.

My real preference would be to have the IRS issue the national Voter Photo ID card, based on proof that you've paid at least $1,000 in Federal Income tax within the past five years. Of course I would grant a lifetime waiver to those who paid taxes for at least 25 years.

If you don't pay your dues, you don't get to vote.

I could agree with that, if a college degree is also required. I'm tired of stupid people voting. The minimum-taxes-paid requirement might skew results rightward but an educational standard would counterbalance that.

Exactly why would it not be constitutional? Originally only landowners could vote. I presume a constitutional amendment could make it so again, or institute other requirements.

[Scooter]

It is unconstitutional because the 24th Amendment prohibits barring people from voting (in elections for federal offices) on the basis of non-payment of any tax. It was enacted because poll taxes, etc. were routinely used as a means of preventing blacks from voting in Southern states, while figuring out ways of exempting whites who had not paid the same taxes (by using grandfather clauses, etc.).

[Grim Reaper]

Let's start by showing the voter fraud that currently happens and that would actually be prevented by such a law.

[Liberty1]

My real preference would be to have the IRS issue the national Voter Photo ID card, based on proof that you've paid at least $1,000 in Federal Income tax within the past five years. Of course I would grant a lifetime waiver to those who paid taxes for at least 25 years.

I'd be fine with limiting voting to property owners, like was done originally. As BO likes to say, you need to have skin in the game.

But for starters, just limit voting to people who are not on the government dole would be a great start.

[Scooter]

So millions of people who have lost their jobs due to an economic downturn brought on largely by the actions of those owning property, be they homeowners who wantonly overextended themselves or bankers who lent to them out of greed, should see their voting rights go poof and see the control of who decides what direction the country should go in remain in the hands of those who got us where we are in the first place.