So You Need A Driver's License to Vote?

[JaneyVee]

But in order to get a driver's license you need a birth certificate & Social Security card, and in order to get your Birth Certificate & Social Security card you need a driver's license?

Is that how it works? If so this is a MAJOR pain that will disenfranchise ALOT of people. I live in NYC and have never been asked for a photo ID to vote except for my first time voting back in 2000. Now I just walk into my voting precinct, tell them my name, and sign next to it. Then its off to the voting booth.

Btw, I don't recall seeing anything about showing photo ID to vote in the Constitution, and some courts have already deemed it un-Constitutional.

I wonder what Thomas Jefferson or John Adams drivers license's looked like. Hmmm...

GOP hates Big Govt, unless it oppresses those they disagree with or allows them to probe my vagina.

[femmocrat]

1. Not exactly and it varies from state to state.

The big controversy in PA concerns having to get a state-issued ID from the DMV. You have to go to the drivers' license centers which are inconvenient and have long lines. Many people, especially urban and elderly voters do not have transportation. I'm not sure which forms of ID they require, but I'm pretty sure the official birth certificate with a raised seal is one of them.

Before this law passed this year, we only had to sign our names, no ID required. I agree, it is unconstitutional. Unfortunately, the PA judge ruled otherwise.

On edit: I just found this post on DU that explains the requirements for the ID in PA: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021157697

[BumRushDaShow]

3. The judge didn't rule on the consitutionality of the law, just whether to grant injunction. n/t

[femmocrat]

5. You're right. I stand corrected.

TY

[BumRushDaShow]

10. We need 4 PA SC judges to overturn

and right now, the SC is split 3 - 3 Dem/Rethug (with the 4th rethug reclused because she is under investigation). The SC court next meets on Sept. 5 (I think) here in Philly and that is when the ACLU, et al, want to try to get a date for a hearing with them.

Smerconish had a final piece on Friday saying that he is thinking that since the Chief Justice (Ron Castille) is more moderate, that there's a good possibility that he may go along with the 3 Dems (and do like Roberts did with the ACA). We shall see. ThinkProgress seems to have the same sentiment - http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/08/15/692521/pennsylvania-voter-id-upheld/

There's always the feds too (who have indicated that answers to their inquiries from the state have a deadline of next week).

[JaneyVee]

17. Yes, I've noticed some states ONLY allow driver's license's.

I disagree with this 100%, but it wouldn't have been so bad if this was last year or 2, but 80 DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY?! Ridiculous. This is nothing but the GOP attempting to steal the election.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. There are already 4 Constitutional Amendments that deal with voting

and multiple federal laws, so this should be a hint at what is obviously a very big problem in this country. IMHO, there should be one FINAL Constitutional Amendment dealing with voting that says -

Amendment XXVIII
Section 1.

The right of citizens of the United States, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state.
Section 2.

The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Period.

The PA state constitution actually says just that yet... (I know that the Commonwealth judge here actually didn't actually rule on the constitutionality - only on whether or not to issue an injunction - a typical rethug stalling tactic).

[grilled onions]

4. I Remember How It Was

Back in the 60's the right of passage was getting your social about the same time you got your drivers license. By the time it was almost your voting age you found places at every city summer festival where you could sign up to be a proud voter. They encouraged people to take a stand in America. To take part in your city,state and federal laws and to try and make your vote go where you thought it would point this country in the right direction. Now it seems they are saying Whoa! If you have been a voter for decades,if you seem to be leaning in the wrong direction let's see how we can complicate your vote. Let's make it time consuming for the working poor. Let's make it stand in line painful for the seniors. Let's have lots of paperwork (almost a passports worth) for that urban citizen who has never gotten off their block in thirty years! That should certainly lop off enough of the "bad" votes. How sad that it has come to this.

[Blue Owl]

6. Remember: "D" for forward, "R" for reverse

n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. What happens if you don't drive?

[mnhtnbb]

9. You get an identity card in NC--at the DMV. Same requirement for 'papers'. My son is legally blind

so will never drive, but I had to take him to get an identity card when he was about 16 because he
needed a government photo ID for all kinds of things. He does have a passport--but that's a pain to
carry around all the time.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. it's like a police state

[mnhtnbb]

14. Yep.

[JaneyVee]

18. Also, the DMV is closed on weekends. Who can afford to miss a day of work to wait in line?

[NNN0LHI]

8. Wonder how many old folks in nursing homes have a current drivers licence?

[JaneyVee]

16. Or their birth certificates???

[twins.fan]

12. Which is worse, a million false negatives or 10 false positives?

[reformist2]

13. I'm starting to think this push for Photo IDs is going to blow up in the GOP's face!

There are going to be LOTS of senior citizens who won't be able to get all the required paperwork in time, but who are going to be mad as hell, and will voice that anger on the local and national TV news!

[4lbs]

15. Here in California, I've never needed to show my Driver's License or any photo ID in any election.

I've always been able to just bring my sample ballot that was mailed to my address as "proof".

However, yes, other states vary. Especially red states, or purple states where the repukes want to try to win the state illegally.

[MADem]

19. Where I live, I tell them my ADDRESS, and then I tell them my name, and then I vote! nt

[trouble.smith]

20. all you need is a previous driver's license here in ohio.