Does your state require a photo ID to vote? Don't vote!

[jvalentine98]

Elections coming up in November. Apparently Alabama is requiring a government issued photo ID to vote. Last I checked a state ID or driver's license is not free. Therefore, they are essentially requiring the purchase of something in order to vote.

I understand my constitutional rights to be that if I am a citizen (and not a felon), I can vote. No charge for choosing my leaders. But, that's not the case in my state.

I do plan on going to the polling location, stating my name and letting them check me off the registered voter list, and when asked for my ID I will refuse and let them know I think it is illegal for them to require it. Then simply leave. Money spent should not be a requirement to vote.

[Ack]

Elections coming up in November. Apparently Alabama is requiring a government issued photo ID to vote. Last I checked a state ID or driver's license is not free. Therefore, they are essentially requiring the purchase of something in order to vote.

I understand my constitutional rights to be that if I am a citizen (and not a felon), I can vote. No charge for choosing my leaders. But, that's not the case in my state.

I do plan on going to the polling location, stating my name and letting them check me off the registered voter list, and when asked for my ID I will refuse and let them know I think it is illegal for them to require it. Then simply leave. Money spent should not be a requirement to vote.

I will also go to a different polling station in Alabama and claim to be you. Only I have an old spare Alabama ID to show. Once inside, I will make you vote for Ralph Nader.

[jvalentine98]

Elections coming up in November. Apparently Alabama is requiring a government issued photo ID to vote. Last I checked a state ID or driver's license is not free. Therefore, they are essentially requiring the purchase of something in order to vote.

I understand my constitutional rights to be that if I am a citizen (and not a felon), I can vote. No charge for choosing my leaders. But, that's not the case in my state.

I do plan on going to the polling location, stating my name and letting them check me off the registered voter list, and when asked for my ID I will refuse and let them know I think it is illegal for them to require it. Then simply leave. Money spent should not be a requirement to vote.

I will also go to a different polling station in Alabama and claim to be you. Only I have an old spare Alabama ID to show. Once inside, I will make you vote for Ralph Nader.

Well, there is not a law that requires you to even HAVE an Id. You don't have to prove who you are if haven't done anything wrong, Alabama is not a stop and Id state. You can simply go through life without one if you choose. But this is a step in the wrong direction

[jp1]

Dude, time to lay off the greens. It's getting to be a bit "Deep thoughts with Jack Handey".

[prfsnl_gmr]

On a related note, the incredibly intelligent Judge Richard Posner wrote a dissent regarding voter ID laws. You can read it here, and I recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in this issue.

[Tanooki]

Hah everyone should have to prove citizenship to get a vote so there isn't fraud. Some states don't require anything but a social security number and those can be easily stolen. Perhaps states should make free general ID cards with a name/face/address on it to be fair, but as it is all states should require having an ID or you shouldn't vote because if you can't prove you are who you say you are you shouldn't have the right to vote. Voting isn't a right in the US, it's a privilege and one that's easily revoked for many reasons (many being felonies though.)

[ninjainspandex]

I have to show ID to buy a gun, and that is a constitutional right. Why is voting any different? Liberals are so inconsistent Here in Wisconsin Republicans are trying to pass a voter ID law, we provided free state provided ID's and the libs still had a pissy fit.

[Erik_Twice]

From an European point of view, all this debate makes absolutely no sense.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Voting isn't a right in the US, it's a privilege and one that's easily revoked for many reasons (many being felonies though.)

I have to show ID to buy a gun, and that is a constitutional right. Why is voting any different?

<sigh> It really is just too late in the day for this. Maybe tomorrow...

.....

Also - and if you haven't done so already - you should read Judge Richard Posner's dissent regarding the Wisconsin voter ID law. (I posted a link earlier.) Judge Posner is a brilliant, conservative jurist, and even he recognizes the perniciousness of Wisconsin's law.

[jp1]

On a related note, the incredibly intelligent Judge Richard Posner wrote a dissent regarding voter ID laws. You can read it here, and I recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in this issue.

43 page pdf for someone with a passing interest? Gosh, tl;dr much?

J/K, except I didn't read that shit because it was way too long.