Photo I.D. to vote in Minnesota

[mindem]

Considering what is going on in Ohio and considering the fact that the GOP in Minnesota is also pushing for photo I.D. to vote I feel we need to hit back hard and fast. This is nothing more than an attempt to dis-enfranchise voters. I contacted my Rep. today and encourage everyone else to contact their Representatives too. Let's stay ahead of the game on this one and "nip it in the bud".

[MercutioATC]

1. I'm in favor of this.

As long as it follows the Georgia plan and IDs are issued free of charge, I think having to provide ID to vote is a good thing.

[whododayis]

4. photo id

I'll take photo i.d. when we get paper receipts confirming our votes.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi whododayis!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[trotsky]

5. Minnesota already does require a sort of ID.

You have to bring proof that you live in the district. This can be something as simple as a power bill in your name, with your current address.

The very, very few voter fraud cases this might stop is just not worth the obstacles that many lower-income and elderly people will face to get even free IDs.

[MercutioATC]

6. If they're willing to make the effort to vote, they can get an ID.

I've never understood this line of reasoning. If the elderly and poor can't possibly travel to get a free Voter ID, how do they travel to vote?

[trotsky]

7. I can walk to my polling place.

Most people can.

Where do you have to go to get a Voter ID? Do they give them out at the polling places? Or do you have to go to a state agency building, which maybe not as many people can walk to?

[MercutioATC]

9. People in urban environments have access to public transportation.

People in rural environments have to drive to their polling places anyway.


I don't see it as a valid problem.

[trotsky]

11. It's all about obstacles.

Are they insurmountable? No. But if you're a member of the working poor, IF you get a day off, you'll have to take one just to shuffle off to whatever agency will give you this "free" ID. A senior who doesn't drive? Well, hopefully a buddy will come help you figure out the bus schedules.

Plain and simple, this is about making things a little harder for traditional Democratic constituencies to vote.

If you don't see that as a valid problem, so be it.

[MercutioATC]

12. I just think the system should be above reproach.

It's an "obstacle" to travel to a polling place to vote. I don't see that necessitating that voters prove who they are is a prohibitive obstacle. Just my opinion.

[ISUGRADIA]

8. Only if you are registering to vote on election day or have moved

otherwise no ID is required under MN law.

[dflprincess]

14. That's only if you're registering to vote on election day.

Currently, if you're already registered in the precinct you don't have to provide id.

Two years ago I took my mom to get a state id card because Kiffmeyer was making noise about requiring id for the 2004 election. (Those of you who have heard this story before can stop reading now). Mom had let her driver's license laspe years before this so we had to bring copies of her birth certificate and marriage license. Mother actually had a certified copy of her birth certificate that she had gotton from Renville County in 1941. The clerk helping us was very young (nice, but young and obviously not used to old documents). The first thing that threw him was that the birth certificate was typed - and there was some confusion on it because Mother's middle name was changed at some point. Then he noticed the certificate was filed several weeks after she was born (Dude, it was 1924, she was born at home in Feburary, it took a while to get to Olivia to file it. Trust me she didn't file a phoney document back then because she knew she'd be applying for this id.) Fortunately, there was an official Renville County stamp on the certificate so he decided it was okay. Then he looks at the marriage license which she needed to show why her name was changed. "MMMMM, he says, there's nothing on here that says what last name she's going to use." (Dude, it was 1946, there was no question but what she'd change her name...Look right there - my dad's name - same last name she's applying under.) Again, there was an official Hennepin County stamp so, after checking with an older clerk who gave him the funniest look, he decided that was okay too. So they take mom's picture and she's going to right a check for the id. Oh, they can't take her check without a photo id (umm, didn't you just okay her photo id?) Fortunately, she had cash with her. But, suppose she'd been there alone with no cash in her purse she would have had to come back another day.

Several years ago (it was still a pre 9/11 world), my friend's dad needed to get a passport. He had an awful time because the courthouse where his birth certificate was stored had burned down. He had his army discharge papers, but they weren't good enough. Finally he had to get affidavits from people who had known him forever that he was indeed who he said he was.

So, the point is, it can be difficult for an older person to get an id. Back before microfiche and computers, documents got lost or destroyed or maybe not filed at all - or you could get a clerk that can't figure out that the formats have changed and decides the documents aren't real.

[trotsky]

2. Yeah, I remember the first news report I saw on it.

Talking head says, "The bill has two sponsors", and I think to myself, "I bet they're Repukes." Sho 'nuff, they are.

Then the talking head adds that the bill has the support of Kiffmeyer. Oh the shock and alarm. Our dear Repuke Sec'y of State SUPPORTS something that will make it harder for poor people or the elderly to vote? Say it ain't so!

Disgusting, this blatant attempt to depress Democratic turnout. Two students voted twice in the last election. That's the extent of voter fraud in this state. Yet we're to believe we need this bill? Baloney.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I'm not quite sure of the issue

but would it not be incumbent for a state agency to have to provide a photo id upon voter registration if this was going to be a mandate? I have at least two photo id's in my wallet and I have no problem proving my identity. I don't understand why proving who you are is disenfranchisement unless a state actively prevents a person from doing so.

[Oreo]

10. You can sign an affadavit attesting you're who you say you are

Before I read further into it I was against the photo ID thing. Of course the Repubs want the poor to stay away from the polls and what better way to do it? Voter ID or a form of State ID is really just a poll tax when it comes down to it. They're saying that if no ID is on hand, you can sign an affadavit saying you are who you say you are.

[mindem]

13. I'm an officer of our county DFL unit,

after speaking with the chairman we feel it is of enough importance that we are adding it to the agenda of our next meeting along with the voting machine issue. Districts in out state Minnesota are spread out enough without adding additional obstacles to voting.

[electron_blue]

15. From what I've heard - fraudulent voting is not a big problem in the US

By fraudulent voting, I mean someone voting under someone else's name. If this were a rampant problem, then sure, we would need to address it.

But it isn't. It's a non-problem. I see it as disenfranchisement of voters, with the edge toward non-Republican voters.

Btw - in no state have I ever been asked to show any ID or proof of where I live. I just walk up, give my name and sign on the line. Fwiw.

[preciousdove]

16. After the 2000 selection a VoterMN participant polled Hennepin Co

about suspected vote fraud. There were tens of thousands of votes cast and some judges had been super vigilant because the GOP was claiming without proof that there was DFL voter fraud. They had 20 cases reported. All but one was deemed unfounded and only one went on for investigation for possible charges. ONE.

Every year the GOP introduces the same legislation trying to require photo ID to vote. They are now using the issue of election fraud = voter fraud to drive their agenda which is to keep traditional DFL voters, poor, disabled or elderly from being able to vote under the guise of protecting elections.

When we asked about if there was any way to find out if more affluent Snobirds from Hennepin County were voting twice in Presidential they had no way of checking and you are not going to see any legislation coming from the GOP to check on that.

[USA_1]

17. A Question on a related topic ...

How reliable is online absentee ballot voting?

Is there a likelihood that your vote may not be counted properly?

I would like to use the system but do not know if it is reliable.

What do you say?

[ISUGRADIA]

18. There's not online absentee voting in Minnesota

It has to be done by mail .

[USA_1]

19. ? Perhaps I was misinformed

Hopefully, if I mail one in, it will be counted properly. So far, I have not heard if there has been any conflict over whether votes have not been properly counted or improperly attributed to the Pukes.