Did anyone check your ID when voting?

[Hampshire]

Did anyone check your ID when voting?
I went in to vote today and all they did was asked me my name, they looked me up alphabetically in a book, I signed by my name, got a ballot and voted.
Are they supposed to check IDs?
What would stop me from going in there every couple hours looking a bit different and giving them my neighbors name and voting in their place?
What would they do if I came in to vote and somebody had already signed by my name?

[Snowboarder Bo]

Did anyone check your ID when voting?
I went in to vote today and all they did was asked me my name, they looked me up alphabetically in a book, I signed by my name, got a ballot and voted.
Are they supposed to check IDs?
What would stop me from going in there every couple hours looking a bit different and giving them my neighbors name and voting in their place?
What would they do if I came in to vote and somebody had already signed by my name?

AFAIK it is illegal to check IDs at polling places. Needing an ID to vote would constitute a de facto poll tax, which would be an infringement on the franchise.

ETA: I see that some states have enacted laws that require a gov't issued ID in order to be able to exercise the franchise. Not sure how they got around the poll tax aspect. I suspect some lawyer-type will be along soon enough to 'splain it to us.

[alphaboi867]

Nope. Nobody even asked what my name was. The poll worker just glanced at me, then looked my name up in the big book of voters & had me sign.

[Airman Doors, USAF]

Yes. they checked my ID when I voted. You can't vote at a booth if you don't have it here, but I believe you can get a poll to be mailed in. For what that's worth, after the fact.

[Jas09]

MO requires a govt-issued ID to vote. It's generally easiest just to provide a DL, which is what I did. You can get a free voter ID card that is also acceptable (which I believe circumvents the poll tax concern). There are also provisional ballots available if you are challenged or aren't on the rolls.

[gonzomax]

Last time I went to polls, I produced my voter registration. they looked it up in the books.
I do absentee ballots now. But have to go for primaries and local votes.

[CyclopticXander]

States decide the rules on this. This might be helpful.

http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16602

I've always been asked for ID, and we asked for IDs when I worked the polls. When I voted today in SC there was a very visible sign right outside saying that you needed some sort of ID, photo or voter's registration card.

In a lot of places they will give you a provisional ballot if you don't have an ID, and you can prove your identity later to have the vote counted, there are lots of little things like that.

Poll workers don't always follow the rules though and it is very possible to not be asked in a state that requires it, and yes in that case you could indeed vote fraudulently. If someone actually reports voter fraud, I imagine both the voter and the poll worker would be on the hook.

If someone goes to vote but their name has already been used, most poll workers would be required to report it and it would be investigated. The voter would still be allowed to cast a ballot in most cases. Once again though, voting practices are state issues except in the federal laws that trump the states (voting rights and such).

So the answer is it's kinda sticky.

[Skammer]

I was asked for ID, and presented my voter registration card.

[JohnT]

Yes. Texas voter here.

[Captain Amazing]

Yep, gave them my drivers license.

[sevenwood]

PA voter checking in. They checked my signature against the one in the book, but that's it.

One of the ladies in front of me was a new voter (or hadn't voted recently) and didn't have an existing signature in the book. They asked her for an ID with a picture and signature on it, she gave them her driver's license (which had both), and they checked her signature against that.

(I should point out that she was already in the registry book - it's just that her existing entry didn't include a signature.)

[Evil Captor]

Yep I was asked for I'D and gave em my drivers license. Georgia has a history of controlling the vote if it can get away with it.

[Pleonast]

I don't think they're allowed to check your ID in California. I showed them my sample ballot which has my name and address, since it speeds the check-in process.

[flickster]

I produced my voter's registration card and no further ID was asked for - Texas

[Sateryn76]

Yup - photo ID is required in Indiana.

And I'm glad it is.

[rocking chair]

no id here in phila pa. of, course i've lived in the same house all my life and 2 of the people working the polls are neighbours that have known me since i was born.

we have the match the signature thingy here.

[Frank]

Missouri requires an ID, but in addition to passport, driver's license and the like, Missouri will accept ID issued by a Missouri institution (public or private) of higher education, including a university, college, vocational and technical school; a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter; and will also accept as ID an out of state driver's license.

This seems to me to be a perfectly reasonable set of options.

Had I been in a mood to play games, I could have showed them the Ontario driver's license that I still possess. :p

[longhair75]

no one asked to see ID. They asked my name, found me on the list and I signed on the line next to my name

[Southern Yankee]

North Carolina. They just asked my name and address and looked me up in the computer. No ID. I was tempted to come back later and vote as my neighbor....

[Kolga]

Yes, I was asked for my ID. I didn't even think about why it would be problematic.

[Chronos]

Here in Montana, the voter's registration card (just a flimsy bit of cardboard with no photo) is sufficient, but a driver's license works as well, and I imagine they would accept almost anything (I've heard that a utility bill is enough). You do need to have something, though.

alphaboi, I take it that the poll worker knows you personally?

[suranyi]

In California I don't think I've ever been asked for ID. I certainly wasn't today.

[Una Persson]

No, and I wish that my State did check IDs too.

[Hal Briston]

no one asked to see ID. They asked my name, found me on the list and I signed on the line next to my nameThe same -- New Jersey.

[Vinyl Turnip]

Yup - photo ID is required in Indiana.

And I'm glad it is.

Why's that? Concerned someone might impersonate you and vote in your place?

[foolsguinea]

Yes. One of the ladies knows me, but she still wanted an ID. I had my card from the county clerk, but often I just use my driver's license.

[Enginerd]

No ID needed in Nevada, as long as your name and signature are on the registration roll and your signature matches.

[asterion]

Same in New York. Just sign the book and go. While I'm not inherently against the idea of IDing to vote, in practice it seems to be used as a fancy attempt at a poll tax.

[Queen Tonya]

They checked ours.

[Ian D. Bergkamp]

ID checked in Virginia. I can't remember how long it's been done that way.

[elfkin477]

Nope. They ask your middle initial and address instead.

[pulykamell]

Illinois. Nope. Not required by law anyway. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about being asked for ID before I vote. I would have to explore the issue a bit more before I come to a conclusion. My gut feeling is that it seems like a good idea, but I can see the "poll tax" side of the argument.

[jsgoddess]

Ohio requires ID. I was a presiding judge today.

[Jorge_Burrito]

No ID in N.M., but was asked for address and birthday to see if matched records, and then asked to sign.

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

Did anyone check your ID when voting?
I went in to vote today and all they did was asked me my name, they looked me up alphabetically in a book, I signed by my name, got a ballot and voted.
Are they supposed to check IDs?
What would stop me from going in there every couple hours looking a bit different and giving them my neighbors name and voting in their place?
What would they do if I came in to vote and somebody had already signed by my name?

Yes. They checked my driver's license and crossed me off a list organized by street.

[badlyburnttoast]

They checked my ID (they even had some sort of scanner thing they scanned it in).

However, there was a sign that said if you didn't have a proper picture ID there was some extra form you could fill out and sign instead.

[Markxxx]

In Illinois they don't require it unless you're challanged. When I first moved back to Chicago, I was always getting flagged. Which meant when I showed up to vote, I had to produce proof was living where I was. I had a state ID and voting card so it was easy. But I admit it bugged me that someone was challanging my right to vote in the district every single election till 2004. Then it stopped.

Today not a SOUL was in my polling place. The workers told me I was the first person they'd seen in over an hour. And I voted at 9am. But Illinois has month long early voting and I live in an area that is mostly immigrants so I can see not a lot of people voting. But I've never seen it that deserted. I live two doors down from the polling area so I can watch it.

[Bricker]

AFAIK it is illegal to check IDs at polling places. Needing an ID to vote would constitute a de facto poll tax, which would be an infringement on the franchise.

ETA: I see that some states have enacted laws that require a gov't issued ID in order to be able to exercise the franchise. Not sure how they got around the poll tax aspect. I suspect some lawyer-type will be along soon enough to 'splain it to us.

The Supreme Court, in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board, 553 U.S. 181 (2008), held that state laws requiring voters to show picture ID was constitutional. It was a 6-3 decision. In the Indiana law they upheld, a person without an ID could cast a provisional ballot, which would be validated within ten days by either presenting their photo ID or a notarized statement saying they can't afford one.

[Freudian Slit]

I just gave my name and wasn't asked for an ID.

[BigT]

I voted absentee, so no. But even in 2008 when I actually went to the polling place, I foudn out that the only time you need I.D. is when you register for the first time.

I'd love to believe they had a photo on file from then on, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

[Chronos]

In the Indiana law they upheld, a person without an ID could cast a provisional ballot, which would be validated within ten days by either presenting their photo ID or a notarized statement saying they can't afford one. Where are the folks who can't afford an ID expected to find a notary public?

[Scarlett67]

No, but the poll worker has known me and Mr. S personally for many years, him since they were in school together, me since we got married. Pretty sure she knew it was really us. ;)

[Una Persson]

Where are the folks who can't afford an ID expected to find a notary public?
Most banks around here will do it for free, although they'll grouse about it a bit.

[joebuck20]

I can understand where concerns might arise about an ID requirement being turned into a kind of poll tax. But honestly how much does it cost to get a state issued ID (not a driver's license, but just an official ID with your picture on it)? In my state I think it's $10 and it's good for eight years. I can't imagine it being that much more elsewhere. If it's really that much of a worry, I'm sure they could institute some sort of policy where they just waive the fee if the person can prove they're on public assistance, unemployed or undergoing some sort of financial hardship.

[Airman Doors, USAF]

Where are the folks who can't afford an ID expected to find a notary public?

Really? That's the argument you want to make?

You know it takes a minimum of one form of photo ID to be legally employed in the United States, don't you (I-9 Form, List A)? Show me the ID-less masses that you're so concerned about and I might reconsider, but otherwise that argument has zero merit. None whatsoever.

[Palo Verde]

Arizona here. I always get asked for a photo ID, and today was no different. I have no problem with that.

[Una Persson]

Really? That's the argument you want to make?

You know it takes a minimum of one form of photo ID to be legally employed in the United States, don't you (I-9 Form, List A)? Show me the ID-less masses that you're so concerned about and I might reconsider, but otherwise that argument has zero merit. None whatsoever.
Oh come on, Airman, you know every time this subject comes up there's a whole clown car of impossible and improbable scenarios where people moan about "but...what if the voter sprang fully-formed from the brow of Zeus and doesn't have a birth certificate, never worked a day in their life, never had a Social Security card, never married, never drove, never had a utility bill in their name, never had a bank account, not only never signed a legal document they're completely illiterate, and they're blind, and deaf, and they have no arms, legs, or head, and can only communicate by playing the kazoo with their asshole. And they have 4 personalities - one of them's a lion, RRRRAWR! What then, Repugnican haytemonkey?"

[EvilTOJ]

No checking of ID in Oregon, since they mail us our ballot and we mail it back in. When I voted in Utah they checked my ID.

[bdgr]

Texas. Yes. last election, I used my sams club card. This time I had my drivers license on me.

[thirdwarning]

I don't remember what happened the one time I voted in Colorado, but I've never been asked for ID in Illinois. I go in, they usually recognize me, look me up in the book, and hand me the page to sign.
Then they give me a ballot and I go use it.
What bothers me a bit is that I mentioned to the lady that there would be several of us (from my family) in there and she said my middle daughter was listed. I told her that Morning is in NM now and she said, "Oh, they don't take them out." Anybody could have used her name and voted, and who would know she doesn't live here anymore?

[WarmNPrickly]

Missouri requires an ID, but in addition to passport, driver's license and the like, Missouri will accept ID issued by a Missouri institution (public or private) of higher education, including a university, college, vocational and technical school; a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter; and will also accept as ID an out of state driver's license.

This seems to me to be a perfectly reasonable set of options.

Had I been in a mood to play games, I could have showed them the Ontario driver's license that I still possess. :p

Huh. I've been voting in Missouri for a few years now and have yet to have my ID checked. I do always hold on to my voter registration card though.

[whiterabbit]

Idaho here, and yes they did. And then they had my address on their list wrong and the very nice woman said, "Oh, you moved!" and I said, "No, you have it down wrong!" One number was off. They wrote it down correctly and off I went.

I don't mind having some sort of ID check as long as there's some way to provide it without having to pay. I drive, so I don't have that problem.

[Bricker]

In the Indiana law they upheld, a person without an ID could cast a provisional ballot, which would be validated within ten days by either presenting their photo ID or a notarized statement saying they can't afford one.

Where are the folks who can't afford an ID expected to find a notary public?

At the office where they've gone to present their statement.

[Sateryn76]

Why's that? Concerned someone might impersonate you and vote in your place?

Sure - maybe not me, but I can certainly see it happening. So, let's say Joe Schmo shows up to vote, and someone has already voted in his place. A dispute is filed immediately with the Poll Judge, he casts a provisional ballot, and it is dealt with "later." Which never comes, or comes too late.

I live in NWI, which likes to play Chicago Machine politics, but with much more stupid players. I have no problem believing that some Dem would cook up a plot and disenfranchise lots of county votes.

[AuntiePam]

Iowa. Photo ID needed only for new voters, or voters new to the precinct. Poll workers have a printed voter register and a computerized register.

Something I've noticed over the years is that deceased voters and voters who've moved from the area stay on the register. We had people in the register who've been gone (one way or the other) for years. We also had one voter who could have voted twice. He had two registrations -- one using his first initial middle name, one with first name middle initial. Same address, DOB, SSN.

We've asked the auditor about the outdated registrations. She said they need documentation to make changes -- death certificate, notarized statement from the person who moved, etc. It's good that they don't just take the word of poll workers (I went to his funeral!) :D , but it does leave things open for some small scale fraud.

[Jack Batty]

I got carded. But to register, not to vote. I moved across the river earlier this year, so I had to re-register in my new town.

[silenus]

Nobody carded me, but then several of the poll workers were students of mine, so it wasn't necessary.

[descamisado]

Same in New York. Just sign the book and go. While I'm not inherently against the idea of IDing to vote, in practice it seems to be used as a fancy attempt at a poll tax.New York City (at least) has a registered voter book with a copy of your signature (from your registration form) by your name -- you sign again before you're allowed to vote and get challenged if the signature is too different.* Otherwise no ID is required, except in special cases where it'll say right there "ID REQUIRED."

I worked the polls yesterday and not one of the people who came to my table required ID, although there were some in the book who would have had to produce it had they come in.

If someone had actually already signed by your name and somehow not been caught, you could have filled out an affidavit ballot, which would be sent to the BoE, researched and either traced back to your voter registration form for signature matching or might possibly require your follow-up to complete the investigation, most likely leading to proof that you're the actual voter.

* As you know, it's hard to duplicate a signature you haven't practiced, unless you've gone through elaborate preparation of getting an example of that person's signature, practiced, and have it down pat.

[JRDelirious]

No midterm for us down here, but just as a data point, for the last 30 years our registered voter card, mandatory to vote, IS a photo ID issued by the State Elections Commissioner free of charge.

It's deliberately NOT Real-ID compliant, so as to limit it to the sole use of voting, and the SEC is seeking to phase it out and move into an application where your pic and signature is inserted digitally into the voting rolls, so the poll worker can just look you up onscreen or in the printed list and they can do away with the expense of printing and issuing the cards.

[Khadaji]

No. No one ever has to my recollection.

[Cadence]

Yes, I was asked for a picture ID and I'm glad. I do not want anyone voting in my place.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

No. I live in a civilized, non-racist state.

[Cheshire Human]

Reduce Speed, NY. Sig matching only, and the only time it ever came close to a problem was one day years ago when I was a bit hung over and my sig was shaky. But since I had come in with my brother, and several of the poll workers (who've known me since I was a kid) had greeted us by name, she just hesitated at the sig a couple of seconds, and left it at that. I had ID, but even if I hadn't it almost certainly would have been enough to tell her "Ask Joan over at district x's table, or Leona at district y. They both know me." I kinda like that aspect of living at the ass end of the world.

[Airman Doors, USAF]

No. I live in a civilized, non-racist state.

1/10. Try not to be too obvious next time.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

1/10. Try not to be too obvious next time.
I have no idea what this means.

[jsgoddess]

No. I live in a civilized, non-racist state.

I live in kind of a backwater, but how did my day spent checking IDs prove that my backwater is uncivilized and racist?

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Because the primary motivating purpose of such laws is to suppress minority turnout,.

[jsgoddess]

Because the primary motivating purpose of such laws is to suppress minority turnout,.

Ohio laws just require a form of address with an address that matches the address in the registration signature book. I'm not sure how a utility bill is oppressing anyone.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Whay about people who don't have addresses?

That's not checking ID, by the way.

[jsgoddess]

Whay about people who don't have addresses?

That's not checking ID, by the way.

Funny, in my little book I got when I had training to be a presiding judge, that's what they called it: "Checking IDs." I guess the state of Ohio is wrong and you are right.

And I guess the paper that was sitting on my table all day that said that the state of Ohio forbids any election official from asking for proof of citizenship was also wrong.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Who said anything about asking for proof of citizenship. My point is that asking for ID (which is most commonly understood to mean asking for drivers' licenses or some kinmd of actual proof of identity which a cable bill does not provide) suppresse minority turnout in that minorities are more likely to be poor and to not have driver's licenses.

[jsgoddess]

Who said anything about asking for proof of citizenship. My point is that asking for ID (which is most commonly understood to mean asking for drivers' licenses or some kinmd of actual proof of identity which a cable bill does not provide) suppresse minority turnout in that minorities are more likely to be poor and to not have driver's licenses.

I figured you were probably going to go after the whole citizenship thing. I'm glad you're not.

Identification for the purposes of voting in Ohio is something that says who you are and where you live. This may, indeed, keep the homeless from voting, though there are definitely procedures for ensuring voting rights for at least some subsets of the homeless.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

In my state, incidentally, we get asked for our naame and address, they look them up in a book and we sign next to our names. We have no voter fraud (even as rancorous as the Franken/Coleman fight became, and the accusations of fraud from the Republicans, no voter fruad was ever discovered), so that system sems to work pretty well, and nobody is denied their rights because they don't drive.

[jsgoddess]

In my state, incidentally, we get asked for our naame and address, they look them up in a book and we sign next to our names.

What about the homeless?

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I have no idea what they do with the homeless. My wife does a lot of work with the homeless, though, so maybe she knows. I'll ask her. I'll be right back.

[samclem]

Ohio here. They ask for my ID(Driver's license) the last 5 years. I have no problem with it.

[Ferret Herder]

PA voter checking in. They checked my signature against the one in the book, but that's it.

One of the ladies in front of me was a new voter (or hadn't voted recently) and didn't have an existing signature in the book. They asked her for an ID with a picture and signature on it, she gave them her driver's license (which had both), and they checked her signature against that.

(I should point out that she was already in the registry book - it's just that her existing entry didn't include a signature.)
This is how it's done in Illinois. One person in line around the time that I was there was asked for an ID. Otherwise you walk up, give your full name, they look you up in the book, you sign by a copy of your signature. To fake voting for someone else, you'd have to suspect they weren't going to turn out to vote, know that someone by that name was registered at that voting station, and be able to kind of fake their signature.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Ok, I guess Minnesota state law allows registered voters to vouch for the residency of homeless people who live in their precincts. Apparently this is mostly done by shelter workers. Effectively they can use shelters as addresses as long as they get someone who works there to vouch that they are frequent residents there.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Incidentally, you do need to show ID in Minnesota when you register or if you've never voted before.

[shiftless]

Virginia, they always ask for ID and check it against their list. It never occured to me that it should be any other way. There are usually at least 10 people with the same name as me in any large group so they end up checking my address against their list too. If they didn't do that I could vote 10 times!

So there are states where they don't even ask for any confirmation that you are who you say you are? Next time I'm in that state on election day can I just drive around to polling places, say I'm John Smith and cast his vote? Seems odd to me.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

You have to have an address listed at the precinct you're trying to vote in. When you give your name, you also have to be able to give the address listed for that person in their book. A name with no address will not get you a ballot.

[descamisado]

This is how it's done in Illinois. One person in line around the time that I was there was asked for an ID. Otherwise you walk up, give your full name, they look you up in the book, you sign by a copy of your signature. To fake voting for someone else, you'd have to suspect they weren't going to turn out to vote, know that someone by that name was registered at that voting station, and be able to kind of fake their signature.I agree (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13099221&postcount=58).

[Normal Phase]

I can understand where concerns might arise about an ID requirement being turned into a kind of poll tax. But honestly how much does it cost to get a state issued ID (not a driver's license, but just an official ID with your picture on it)? In my state I think it's $10 and it's good for eight years. I can't imagine it being that much more elsewhere. If it's really that much of a worry, I'm sure they could institute some sort of policy where they just waive the fee if the person can prove they're on public assistance, unemployed or undergoing some sort of financial hardship.

The poll tax argument doesn't easily fly given how careful the laws are to provide for free alternatives to everything, but I do think there is a case to be made that requiring of IDs puts an extra burden on the voters. That burden is in turn more likely to affect the already-marginalized members of society than it is the comfortable folks. The latter will of course have a driver's license or find it easy to figure out what the alternative ID requirements are and/or how to get them. The former might not. The latter, if they happen to turn up at the polls after work only to realize they left their wallet at home, probably have a car to run on over and pick it up without missing their chance. The former might not be able to get back and forth on time, or not have enough time left before their next job starts. And so on.

Signature-matching, on the other hand, is about the lowest burden possible, and I don't think there's much of a case to be made that it is more prone to fraud than most of the ID requirements are. It's not exactly easy to convincingly forge the signature of a stranger even if you can see it to work from (in New York at least, they cover the printed version while you are signing). And there will always be that record to challenge later if necessary -- there will never be any record of whether the poll worker was actually looking at the 200th ID that got flashed in front of his eyes that day or whether he was daydreaming. Don't even get me started on utility bills being acceptable. (I'm assuming these states that use IDs require signatures also?)

[Normal Phase]

You have to have an address listed at the precinct you're trying to vote in. When you give your name, you also have to be able to give the address listed for that person in their book. A name with no address will not get you a ballot.

That varies state to state too. In New York you just walk up, give your name, twiddle your thumbs for two minutes while the poll worker tries to figure out if V comes before or after W, then sign on the line opposite the printed signature (which the poll worker is covering). They glance at the signatures to make sure they look alike, and assuming they do, you get your ballot.

[Suse]

I live in Ohio, and even though every poll worker at the table has known me my whole life, they still check my ID.

[jackdavinci]

I think so. But I've gotten into the habit of just handing it over when they ask my name so I won't have to enunciate or spell. They have a little book with names of all the voters registered for that polling place, and signatures. Then you have to sign next to your name.

Interestingly, even though my housemate moved to another city in the same state many years ago, and is registered and has voted there, we still get registration cards for her every year at our house.

[MeanOldLady]

Identification for the purposes of voting in Ohio is something that says who you are and where you live. This may, indeed, keep the homeless from voting, though there are definitely procedures for ensuring voting rights for at least some subsets of the homeless.Such as?

In my state, incidentally, we get asked for our naame and address, they look them up in a book and we sign next to our names.We live in the same state, and nobody asked for my address. They asked for my name, which is long and hard to spell, and after spelling it for them (because had I simply said it, they'd never have found me), they flipped to my name and asked, "Is that you?" I said yes, and then I voted.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Such as?

We live in the same state, and nobody asked for my address. They asked for my name, which is long and hard to spell, and after spelling it for them (because had I simply said it, they'd never have found me), they flipped to my name and asked, "Is that you?" I said yes, and then I voted.
They were supposed to ask for your address.

[Lumpy]

I gave my name (last name is an uncommon spelling so it's distinctive) and gave my address when asked and they confirmed that I was on the roll for that voting station. No ID. My wife and I own a home and have voted there several times before so maybe they were confident that a complete imposter wouldn't show up claiming to be me. (ETA: Minnesota).

[AuntiePam]

In states where signatures are compared, where do the signatures come from? Is it from a voter registration card or something else? How are the signatures transferred to the register?

[Elendil's Heir]

Yes, both my wife and I showed our Ohio drivers licenses when we voted, after being asked by the poll worker. They always ask.

[Duke]

1/10. Try not to be too obvious next time.

I have no idea what this means.

It means Airman Doors thinks you're trolling. On Fark.com and other less reputable corners of the internet quoting someone's post and then giving them "marks out of ten" is a way of rating the effectiveness of someone's troll.

I think Airman was out of line to do that in this forum. IMHO that's fine in the Pit, but not here.

[MeanOldLady]

It means Airman Doors thinks you're trolling. On Fark.com and other less reputable corners of the internet quoting someone's post and then giving them "marks out of ten" is a way of rating the effectiveness of someone's troll.

I think Airman was out of line to do that in this forum. IMHO that's fine in the Pit, but not here.Now before we go accusing people of accusing people of being trolls, I thought he scored the post poorly because it was a cheap attempt to snipe at everyone in favor of requiring ID while voting as an uncivilized racist.

They were supposed to ask for your address.Maybe I have an honest face.

[Clothahump]

Texas here. We show a voter registration card or a driver's license unless we are personally known to one of the election officials who can vouch for us.

[River Hippie]

Indiana. Yes, I showed my driver's license.

[tumbleddown]

Most banks around here will do it for free, although they'll grouse about it a bit.
Most banks where I live will no longer allow their employed notaries to notarize anything that isn't bank business, even though the notary process is not legally meant to be controlled by anyone other than the notary his/herself, being a notary public, not a notary First National Bank. That said, there is also a schedule of fees for notarizing a statement (usually around $2) and to notarize a signature for a stranger, a notary generally needs proof that the person is who they claim to be which requires... ID. So I'm not sure how someone who doesn't have ID to vote can procure a notarized statement saying that they're too poor to get ID in the first place. It's a circular problem.
I can understand where concerns might arise about an ID requirement being turned into a kind of poll tax. But honestly how much does it cost to get a state issued ID (not a driver's license, but just an official ID with your picture on it)?
It's not just cost that's at issue, it's the process. In Pennsylvania, you have to get to a DMV center during their limited hours, and you have to have your birth certificate (and if you don't have one, it is not free to get a certified copy, not from any state in the nation) and a Social Security card, and two documents from a very short list -- mortgage, lease, W-2, utility bills or gun permit -- that prove residency. If you do not work and your home/utilities are not in your name, you have to bring the person whose name they are all in, plus some piece of mail sent to you in your name. If your name has changed, you have to bring supporting documents (marriage certificate, divorce decree) for that, as well.

All of that can present a substantial barrier to someone who is indigent and/or transient, and they can end up being disenfranchised because their cousin who lets them sleep on his basement couch couldn't take off from work to go with them to get a photo ID. Or if they "live" at a homeless shelter, where they cannot receive mail. (In which case they are not eligible for an ID card at all.)

And that ought not be acceptable to anyone who truly believes that voting is a right extended to all citizens of this country, not just citizens who have tidy lives.
You know it takes a minimum of one form of photo ID to be legally employed in the United States, don't you (I-9 Form, List A)?
You know that being employed or even being employable aren't requirements for voting, don't you?

It's a remarkable display of class privilege to glibly hand wave the real barriers that are put in place for the already marginalized in our society as being inconsequential when in fact, they are anything but, if they are causing people to be unable to vote and be a part of the process. And it's not like people are going to cause a furor about this, they just go about their lives, resigned to the fact that they can't vote over what amounts to nothing more than systematic nonsense.

[wei ji]

Utah. You bet your bippy they did. You have to show your voter registration card and a photo ID, or if you have a Utah "real ID" drivers license (as hard to get as a U.S. passport), you show that. You sign the book next to your name on the voter rolls, THEN you get a ballot. Two poll workers work this process, with a roving "watcher."

[puddin]

With one server every ATM machine in the world can be linked to your home precinct to cast your vote . Every state ID & driver lic has a bar code with your info, so you can swipe it (just like you do for E tickets at the airport). That way we can eliminate absentee mailings (sorry ACORN). One ID...one vote. Too difficult? still vote in person, only with a picture ID, and leave a fingerprint on the ballot, like you do when cashing a check . Enough voter fraud, you can't get a COSTCO card without your photo on it. Oh, this will let every serviceman, stationed where- ever, vote . An officer in iraq was tried, but found innocent , for not forwarding his men's ballots (thousands) because he knew most all were for Mc Cain. Court Decided it was an "oversight".

[Diogenes the Cynic]

"Sorry, ACORN?"

[Khadaji]

I don't think so...

My memory isn't what it once was, but I'm pretty sure that no one did.

[Chronos]

So, you're suggesting we take vote fraud out of the hands of the people, and put it in the hands of corporations where it belongs?

[puddin]

I mis- typed, not "ACORN" anymore. Since 30 emloyees have been convicted of voter fraud and 14 states have fraud cases pending, ACORN has changed it's tarnished name to "community organizations international".

[Chronos]

And what has Diebold changed its tarnished name to, after the CEO promised that he'd rig the election?

[puddin]

All I want is honest elections. Both sides would be stymied . Even the Iraq voters were smarter than us, using indelible ink that took 2 weeks to wear off. One inked finger...one vote. Hanging chads...c'mon, 2011...we can find a better way. Aren't you angry when you see these 40 year politicians ? Really ? Some never punched a time-clock, owned a business, no life experience.. Harry Reid spent two years as a lawyer after college then went into politics.. . coming from a poor family, how did he become a multi- millionaire ? All crooks.

[Chronos]

All I want is honest elections.Then why did you propose replacing systems which enforced a degree of honesty with something that could be cheated effortlessly by a small handful of people in the right place? OK, if you want to do the ink-on-the-thumb thing, I can see the argument for that, but that's exactly the opposite direction from what you were proposing.

[puddin]

Then why did you propose replacing systems which enforced a degree of honesty with something that could be cheated effortlessly by a small handful of people in the right place? OK, if you want to do the ink-on-the-thumb thing, I can see the argument for that, but that's exactly the opposite direction from what you were proposing.

Agreement on that, Chronos. True we can't and shouldn't trust elected officials, because their main job is to keep that job. I'll take heat suggesting only income earners who actually paid taxes should be our only voters. Anyone who works for the government or is on the dole should not have a vote because their personal interest may not be the country's best. Just a thought. As for my ATM idea, I've used them for years and they've never erred with my withdrawals..dammit.

[Lord Feldon]

Anyone who works for the government or is on the dole should not have a vote because their personal interest may not be the country's best.

Then nobody should be allowed to vote. Anybody's personal interest may not be the country's best.

[Chronos]

I'll take heat suggesting only income earners who actually paid taxes should be our only voters.So you're suggesting we expand the franchise to include illegal immigrants? Right now, all the people who vote also pay taxes, but not all the people who pay taxes can vote.

[JRDelirious]

Then nobody should be allowed to vote. Anybody's personal interest may not be the country's best.

Really. I don't know, this whole notion of narrowing the franchise is a strange throwback to the Framers' time. Heck, let's go even further back and limit it only to landowners while we're at it!

AFAIK we do not have a problem of too many people voting, but some people feeling that the "wrong" sort of folks are voting and since the turnout is so low they may be decisive. I'm still unconvinced that noncitizen/multiple voting is a major problem nevermind throwing elections. I'd be more concerned about fraud in the form of votes getting cast in the name of those who don't show up, old fashioned box stuffing/postmortem vote.

[puddin]

great discussion all, We sure are far apart in our political leanings, but it's great to talk it out. I'm a '65 nam draftee, the country was goofy then and is still nuts now. I wanted to camp out in Colorado instead , but they wouldn't listen to Me. Personally, I think it's all about oil, but thats my opinion and my feet are still wet. I'd like to discuss "polls" today. I've never met anyone who has answered a "poll" . A good way to test the wind would be to ask people getting off trains on the way to actual JOBS . You know, the productive ones who are paying taxes, and would like a say in how the money is spent. As of today, for some vague reason, the U.S.A. is giving China 1.3 billion (b) in aid every year. I can't believe even our welfare queens would think that is a good plan. Lets have a "poll" on that . Have at Me guys.

[twickster]

great discussion all, We sure are far apart in our political leanings, but it's great to talk it out. I'm a '65 nam draftee, the country was goofy then and is still nuts now. I wanted to camp out in Colorado instead , but they wouldn't listen to Me. Personally, I think it's all about oil, but thats my opinion and my feet are still wet. I'd like to discuss "polls" today. I've never met anyone who has answered a "poll" . A good way to test the wind would be to ask people getting off trains on the way to actual JOBS . You know, the productive ones who are paying taxes, and would like a say in how the money is spent. As of today, for some vague reason, the U.S.A. is giving China 1.3 billion (b) in aid every year. I can't believe even our welfare queens would think that is a good plan. Lets have a "poll" on that . Have at Me guys.

You're off topic here, puddin. If you'd like to start a new thread, Great Debates would seem to be a better place for it.

twickster, moderator

[puddin]

right, sorry, got carried away.