A modest proposal

[2004Donkeys]

Vote fraud is a big problem in America. Felons are trying to vote and organized political machines are getting people to vote twice. So I have an idea. Let's put biometrics, a picture ID, the potential voter's Social Security number, and his or her driver's license number on voter registration cards. If he or she refuses to provide any one of these, then he or she will not be able to vote.

Furthermore, we'll compare the biometrics to the NCIC database (National Crime Information Center) and if the voter is a felon he'll be arrested. We cannot have felons deciding your daughter's school board members.

Biometrics will also prevent voter fraud. By using retinal scans, iris scans, fingerprinting, and facial and hand geometry, we'll know if someone is trying to vote multiple times. The voter registration card is now not only a registration card, but it's also used as an identifier in many places. We must preserve the integrity of voter registrations.

[mobuto]

1. The problem is keeping voter registration cards

A lot of people, especially those with poor English skills or the very poor, who have other more pressing concerns to think about, don't keep their voter registration cards. Republicans like to ask for voter registration cards, or driver's licenses (which these people are unlikely to have as well) at the polls, because they want as few people voting as possible.

Does open voting allow for voter fraud? Sure. But the numbers are much less significant than the numbers of perfectly valid voters who would be turned away were there an ID required.

[stopthegop]

2. "were there an ID required"

then you won't blame the local precinct workers if I vote for you next November?

[T Wolf]

3. the problem is NOT

ineligible people voting. The problem is the repukes preventing eligible people from voting by various means, including purging voter lists, armed thugs in democratic areas, and the use of the police to harass voters.

[proud patriot]

5. Exactly

Thank you T Wolf

[mopinko]

4. legal scholars correct me if i am wrong

but i believe that the voting rights act prohibits the requirement of any id that costs money to procure. therefore, if a state charges for drivers licenses, or state id cards, you cannot require them for voting.
as far as social security numbers, believe it or not, it is illegal for anyone other than the irs to require you to show your social security number.

[Another Bill C.]

6. It's much more cost-effective

to prevent blocs of voters from voting than it is to organize a multiple-vote project.

A CD with voting records can be obtained from the Secretary of State. These will include primary records where the voter declared his party affiliation. These can be sorted by zip code and then road blocks, road projects, bus breakdowns, or any other impediment can be arranged to keep voters away from polls where the opposition is strong.

This was very successful in Florida in the 2000 general election.

[Dogmudgeon]

7. You need to get educated about this

These are GOP/neo-con talking points.

There is very little organized political machine exploitation of convicts for voting. However, there are hundreds of scams involving getting people barred from voting -- and just about all of them have been initiated by the radical wing of the Republican Party.

I never saw what was so onerous about letting convicts vote, anyway. I think the fear is that since we convict so many poor people at a rate so much higher than that of rich people, they'll all vote for Democrats and libbruls.

--bkl

[tom_paine]

9. "These are GOP/neo-con talking points"

You sure that's an innocent coincidence?

Not I.

[Bridget Burke]

8. Please, show us the evidence of massive voter fraud.....

I know Orange County ex-representative Bob Dornan claimed that illegals were registering to vote. That, of course, was the only way that soneone named Loretta SANCHEZ could have beaten him. Investigation proved him wrong. I googled for details of the case & lots of "voter fraud" sites popped up--all extremely right wing. Surely, you have some better information?

You also want "felons" arrested for attempting to vote. Sorry, most states allow ex-felons to regain the right to vote. This is even true in Texas--two years after the end of probation, parole, whatever--voting is allowed.

I'm more concerned about right-wing creationists electing the school boards than felons.