The BEST Photo ID you can have is a US Passport

[HockeyMom]

Believe me, with all the troubles I have had with my VERY short form BC (Original lost by the State Bureau of Vital Records as a child), I have had many problems over the years. School ID? Forget it. Work ID? No, thanks. I have had problems getting just a driver's license with my BC. Whenever they want proof, I always bring my Passport. I am so happy that decades ago, I went through all the problems and paperchase of my records to get that Passport. Keep it up to date just for that purpose. A state agency doesn't like my BC? Here's my passport. Take it up with the Feds if you don't like my ID.

Yes, I know it is expensive, but it is the best photo ID you can possibly have. Get it if you possibly can.

[LiberalLoner]

1. k&r

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. I need to renew mine AFTER the November election.

[A HERETIC I AM]

3. If you are ever asked for ID, That is the perfect one to give...because it has no address

because it has no address. Of course, if you're driving you have to have your drivers license, but if you are on foot, the cop can just go fuck himself if he doesn't like it. And if he asks for your address, say "Various".

[MineralMan]

4. Because it shows no address, it can't really be used in

states that require ID for voting. You vote in a precinct based on where you live. But, with it, you can get your photo ID from the state.

[dballance]

8. True. But with it and any utility bill or a notorized rental contract you are better off

It will make it easier to get that local ID along with the utility bill. It's hard for the locals to refute the Feds.

[SoCalDem]

30. Most banks have a notary and will not even charge you

A notarized address verification and a passport..EVEN EXPIRED should do it.

why expired too? To GET it, your "documentation" had to be okay.. As long as you have not had an extra nose grafted onto your face, had fish-lips implanted or tattooed your entire face, you should be recognizable

[Lone_Star_Dem]

12. Not so in the now defunct Texas Voter ID Law.

The law required a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, Texas issued ID, military ID card, United States passport. So long as you had that, and your name and address was on the voters roll in the precinct you were attempting to vote at, you were good to go. However, if you were one of those scary brown people who didn't drive and had either let expire or did not have the other forms of ID, the fact that you'd possessed such an item at one time and registered to vote using it, was moot.

[dballance]

14. Leave it to Texas

to find the best way to disenfranchise people.

One of the poorest states and the state that has lost the most jobs in the last couple of years.

Chase that non-existent voter fraud as reason to keep those brown people from voting.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

17. Texas Republicans are famous for overreaching when it comes to disenfranchising minority voters.

If not for the the Justice Department's regular smack-downs, it would be deemed illegal for minorities to vote in Texas at all by now. Needless to say the Republicans are up in arms in the state over the Justice Dept taking away their latest tool to disenfranchise minority voters.

[Coyote_Bandit]

21. My state requires a government issued photo ID to vote

My passport has always been accepted as an appropriate ID.

I usually take a utility bill with me in case I am asked to show some proof of residence but I have nevrer been asked to do so.

[sgsmith]

24. Unmitigated nonsense

In Georgia, a US passport is perfectly acceptable as photo identification. It even says so right here.

http://www.sos.georgia.gov/gaphotoid/default.htm

States with strict photo id laws
Georgia - see above
Tennessee - allows US passport
Indiana - not stated by law, but terms allow a passport
Kansas - allows US passport
Pennsylvania - not stated by law, but terms allow a passport

http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/elections/voter-id-state-requirements.aspx

[cyglet]

5. I just always have one anyway

Otherwise I feel confined.

[provis99]

6. I don't think that will work where they are changing voter id laws.

You will need to have a picture id with your current address, which a passport does not have.

[dballance]

13. I think You are so right - But a Passport makes that f****d up process easier

Yes, it is a pain that you have to go to some DMV to get a license or state ID for those assholes.

But showing up with a passport and a utility bill will make things go easier than showing up with a birth certificate and utility bill. It is harder for them to contest the passport with a picture than a BC with nothing but your birth date.

I don't like those laws at all but I will do whatever I can to work within them and make sure I can help people understand how they can preserve their right to vote. I'll perform taxi service to people to get them to where they can get IDs if that's what it takes.

[Turbineguy]

7. It comes in handy

when you are traveling in foreign countries. Like Alabama.

[freshwest]

10. You better watch yourself there, LOL.

[dballance]

9. I always keep my passport up to date

Even if I'm not planning out of country travel it is an almost unassailable ID. It's hard for people to say the Feds are lying.

Besides, I live so close to Canada and have friends up there so now I have to have it to go see them.

[Casandia]

11. And have your children get a passport too nt

[Warpy]

15. That's the reason I'm keeping mine

despite the fact that a sick kitty is keeping me caged at home for the time being.

When she kicks off, it'll be used for its intended purpose.

[Cleita]

16. Not only that. It doesn't hurt to have a valid passport

in case you might want to leave the country quickly.

[PotatoChip]

18. Just out of curiosity, (since we are on the subject)

Do you know if a renewal involves and/or is as expensive as getting a brand new one?

Mine expired in June 2010. Thanks in advance for anyone who may know.

[Major Nikon]

23. I think it's $120 for the renewal

My wife just sent off to have hers renewed and I was shocked the price had gone up so much. And that's not even for expedited processing. You can go to the Dept. of State website and find out all the details.

[unkachuck]

19. "The BEST Photo ID you can have..."

....absolutely....having a troubled BC or not, everyone today needs a Reichpass....you can never have too many ID's or be too careful with your identification if you want to stay out of gitmo....I'll be getting mine in a few weeks....Heil Hitler!

[onehandle]

20. But my real name is Osoma Ben Ladden.

They won't give me a passport.

[Major Nikon]

22. Everyone in my family has one

My wife just went through the renewal process since hers expires later this summer and we are going to China in the fall. I think it was $120 bucks for the renewal. The price has just gotten ridiculous.

[libinnyandia]

25. I guess they don't want minorities to get one.

[Major Nikon]

28. It's just another example of the Looneytarian mentality of the government should be fee for service

The next thing you know there will be a coin slot at every stoplight.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

29. Mines about to need renewed as well

I had no idea they'd gotten that expensive. I don't recall it being that much 10-years ago, or has it just been so long I've forgotten?

[Major Nikon]

31. The last time I renewed I think it was $60

That was just a few years ago. I looked online and it's $110 for a renewal for just the book. You'll also need to have photos. You can make them yourself, but most people probably have it done at the pharmacy or Wal-Mart. That adds a few bucks.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_837.html

[Lone_Star_Dem]

37. I didn't think it was that expensive when I got mine last.

Geeze, I guess now that we need them to get back in the country when we travel anyplace they've went up.

[hlthe2b]

26. I used to try to use one to write checks as I traveled the US

or to cash traveler's checks. While I haven't tried recently, I used to get absolutely perplexed looks about 40% of the time. Usually with the person asking me if I have a driver's license, instead.

Not sure if things have changed....

[Alcibiades]

32. That's absolutely true

For quite some time I had a passport but no drivers license. It absolutely is not treated as "the best ID" by anyone but immigration.

[Poll_Blind]

27. It is my favored form of ID as well. IMO, it's the "trump card" of ID, esp when I'm out of town.nt

PB

[kestrel91316]

33. Last time I flew on a US airline within the US (last Dec), DHS @

airport security refused to accept my US passport card as photo ID, instead insisting on my CA driver's license. When I pointed out to them that the CA DL was EXPIRED, they said that didn't matter, that the current US passport card was unacceptable.

I knew for a fact that this was completely false because I check these little factoids online before traveling (on the DHS website). He lied and violated formal US and DHS policy, but I didn't argue because I didn't want to be arrested and put on the No-Fly list for the rest of my life.

[BeHereNow]

34. It is my impression that a percentage of the TSA/DHS employees are high school drop outs

and make up the "rules" as they go.

Not all mind you, but a certain percentage.

I TRY to book all of my flights out of Burbank, because they
seem to have a fairly professional TSA staff.

LAX? O'Hare and Dallas?
Forget it.

BHN

[kestrel91316]

35. This was LAX. They are morons.

[BeHereNow]

36. Agreed, avoid it like the plague if possible.

I am willing to pay MORE for a ticket just to fly out of
Burbank if possible.

Insider view of TSA or the "Thousands Standing Around"

My sister dated a TSA agent for a while.
Not sure what their employee vetting process is,
but know from first hand experience, this guy was stark raving insane.

I'd hate to see some of the TSA agents I've encountered armed with guns- it would not be a good thing.
NOT at ALL.

BHN