# Are voter ID policies (and their supporters) racist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 15, 2016, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-voter-id-policies-and-their-supporters-racist/772039 "2016-11-15T04:38:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-voter-id-policies-and-their-supporters-racist/772039/401 "2016-12-22T13:51:02Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Again, Democrats by a strong majority think voter ID is right. Therefore, a strong majority of Democrats must think whatever keeps the poor and disadvantaged from voting is OK. Right? > > Regards, > Shodan Oh, wow, we never thought of that. Good job. /thread ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-voter-id-policies-and-their-supporters-racist/772039/402 "2016-12-22T15:01:22Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > This Cracked article seems relevant: > > [http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-2408-how-i-navigated-through-life-without-ever-having-photo-i.d..html](http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-2408-how-i-navigated-through-life-without-ever-having-photo-i.d..html) > > It describes someone whose mother kinda screwed up his birth certificate. As a result, he had a social security card that didn’t actually match his name. When he tried to fix it, he was told he needed ID. When he tried to get ID, he was told he needed a social security number that matched his name. There are things that don’t add up in that article. I received a new SS card with a new middle name for my daughter, and as she was 3 months old at the time, didn’t have a photo ID. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-voter-id-policies-and-their-supporters-racist/772039/403 "2016-12-22T15:35:32Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > There are things that don’t add up in that article. I received a new SS card with a new middle name for my daughter, and as she was 3 months old at the time, didn’t have a photo ID. Do you see any difference between a 3 month old, of whom you are the parent and guardian, and an adult? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-voter-id-policies-and-their-supporters-racist/772039/404 "2016-12-22T15:56:34Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Do you see any difference between a 3 month old, of whom you are the parent and guardian, and an adult? In the requirement to have a photo ID to get a new SS card? Not really. What is the age cut off by the SS Administration between NOT needing an ID and needing an ID? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-voter-id-policies-and-their-supporters-racist/772039/405 "2016-12-22T16:43:20Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > In the requirement to have a photo ID to get a new SS card? Not really. What is the age cut off by the SS Administration between NOT needing an ID and needing an ID? Actually scratch this, I was between meetings and typing in haste. A better question is, if I lost my wallet, I would not have any photo ID left to prove I was me. There MUST be some sort of way to still get a replacement SS card if that happened, isn’t there? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-voter-id-policies-and-their-supporters-racist/772039/406 "2016-12-22T16:59:04Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Oh, wow, we never thought of that. > > Good job. > > /thread This is why it is a good thing to have a conservative gadfly who gently mocks the pretensions and foibles of the American left. We should get one! ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-voter-id-policies-and-their-supporters-racist/772039/407 "2016-12-22T17:35:59Z")
> [@](#): > > In the requirement to have a photo ID to get a new SS card? Not really. What is the age cut off by the SS Administration between NOT needing an ID and needing an ID? 18, I think. Age of emancipation. Age that your parent can no longer really vouch for you in the same way. I couldn’t find a more specific answer, but unless otherwise found, I think I’ll stick with that one. > [@Slash1972](#): > > Actually scratch this, I was between meetings and typing in haste. > > A better question is, if I lost my wallet, I would not have any photo ID left to prove I was me. There MUST be some sort of way to still get a replacement SS card if that happened, isn’t there? It’s a pretty involved annoying process. Click [here](http://uwc.211ct.org/social-security-cards-documents-required-to-obtain-a-social-security-number-and-card-or-a-replacement-card/), if you are actually interested in the answer. If you lost your BC too, then it’s gonna be a very annoying ride. That’s why I keep my BC and SS card in a safety deposit box. If I ever lose (misplace) my license, then I have documentation to get it back. Not everyone is that fortunate. Not everyone has their name spelled right on their BC and SS either. If you are asking what to do if your BC, your SS, and you all have different names, well, that’s a very good question. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-voter-id-policies-and-their-supporters-racist/772039/408 "2016-12-22T18:18:54Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > It’s a pretty involved annoying process. Click [here](http://uwc.211ct.org/social-security-cards-documents-required-to-obtain-a-social-security-number-and-card-or-a-replacement-card/), if you are actually interested in the answer. Thanks for the link, but it doesn’t really say what to do if you only have your birth certificate because all your photo IDs and SS card were in your wallet when it was stolen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-voter-id-policies-and-their-supporters-racist/772039.md?page=20)