# Hillary makes bogus claim of racism in Alabama. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 18, 2015, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983 "2015-10-18T05:35:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/261 "2015-10-19T16:34:03Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Puerto Ricans cannot vote for President, don’t have any Senators, and only have a non-voting delegate in the House. So relevance? People born in Puerto Rico often move to the mainland and vote there. You may be surprised to learn that they are born as US citizens. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/262 "2015-10-19T16:34:35Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > 82 fatalities per year out of a population of 319,000,000 is non-existent, for all intensive purposes. [From here.](https://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/intensive.html) > [@](#): > > Another example of the oral transformation of language by people who don’t read much. “For all intents and purposes” is an old cliché which won’t thrill anyone, but using the mistaken alternative is likely to elicit guffaws. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/263 "2015-10-19T16:37:05Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Your definition. Got a cite that that rate is universally considered exceedingly rare? 1/335 is less than .003. That’s exceedingly rare by any definition. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/264 "2015-10-19T16:39:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [From here.](https://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/intensive.html) It was a joke, pal. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/265 "2015-10-19T16:40:36Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > 1/335 is less than .003. That’s exceedingly rare by any definition. So provide a legitimate one. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/266 "2015-10-19T16:41:59Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Puerto Ricans cannot become US Citizens? I wasn’t aware of that immigration barrier. > > You do realize that a person born in Puerto Rico who later becomes a US citizen will still have to get their birth certificate from Puerto Rico due to it being invalidated right? They will still have been born there. People born in Puerto Rico already are US citizens. If they move to a state, they can vote for President. Edit: Ninja’d. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/267 "2015-10-19T16:44:21Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > People born in Puerto Rico often move to the mainland and vote there. You may be surprised to learn that they are born as US citizens. One doesn’t need a birth certificate to register to vote in Alabama. [Cite](http://www.alabamavotes.gov/downloads/election/vr/nvra-2.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/268 "2015-10-19T16:49:30Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > One doesn’t need a birth certificate to register to vote in Alabama. > > [Cite](http://www.alabamavotes.gov/downloads/election/vr/nvra-2.pdf) Can’t open pdfs at work-what is required? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/269 "2015-10-19T16:50:04Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > One doesn’t need a birth certificate to register to vote in Alabama. > > [Cite](http://www.alabamavotes.gov/downloads/election/vr/nvra-2.pdf) But to actually vote: > [@](#): > > ID requested: > You may send with this application a copy of valid photo identification. You will be required to present valid photo identification when you vote at your polling place or by absentee ballot, unless exempted by… Which is the whole point of the thread. Also, getting a photocopy can be a problem depending on how far you live from the nearest machine. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/270 "2015-10-19T16:53:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Can’t open pdfs at work-what is required? Just that you certify, via a checkbox, that you are a U.S. citizen, and will be at least 18 years old on election day. Those are the only exclusions. There’s even a box to check if one doesn’t have a driver’s license, state ID, or a Social Security number. You still get registered. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/271 "2015-10-19T16:59:12Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Just that you certify, via a checkbox, that you are a U.S. citizen, and will be at least 18 years old on election day. Those are the only exclusions. > > There’s even a box to check if one doesn’t have a driver’s license, state ID, or a Social Security number. You still get registered. But as **Running Coach** point out, that’s not the problem, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/272 "2015-10-19T17:03:26Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Puerto Ricans cannot become US Citizens? I wasn’t aware of that immigration barrier. > > You do realize that a person born in Puerto Rico who later becomes a US citizen will still have to get their birth certificate from Puerto Rico due to it being invalidated right? They will still have been born there. Puerto Ricans are US citizens. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/273 "2015-10-19T17:08:19Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Just that you certify, via a checkbox, that you are a U.S. citizen, and will be at least 18 years old on election day. Those are the only exclusions. > > There’s even a box to check if one doesn’t have a driver’s license, state ID, or a Social Security number. You still get registered. But you do have to show a Picture ID when you show up to vote. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/274 "2015-10-19T17:12:22Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Part of living in a civil society is civic responsibility. Maintaining the barest minimum of documentation that you are given at birth, or shortly thereafter, is included, IMO. So voting is a privilege that you earn, via civic responsibility, rather than a right which you are granted by virtue of the Constitution. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/275 "2015-10-19T17:15:46Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > One doesn’t need a birth certificate to register to vote in Alabama. It’s more complicated than that with the voter ID law, but you’re missing the point anyway. You seemed to believe that no responsible person could lack a valid birth certificate, and I was disabusing you of that notion. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/276 "2015-10-19T17:24:32Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > So voting is a privilege that you earn, via civic responsibility, rather than a right which you are granted by virtue of the Constitution. Got it. There are still restrictions. You have to be a U.S. citizen, age at least 18, a resident in your district for X (usually 30) days before the election. You also cannot be mentally incompetent, or in some places, a felon. A birth certificate proves citizenship and age, at least. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/277 "2015-10-19T17:29:24Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > That sounds like life. People lose stuff. You may still have it, but you forgot where it is. To say “tough cookies, we know you got that birth certificate 50 years ago, if you can’t produce it or go through the effort to get a copy made, you can’t vote! Neener neener neener!” is pretty much ignoring how life really works. Or willfully looking past that in order to make people that you consider to be undesirable from voting. As I said I grew up poorer than most. We had to get charity food. We had no electricity for months at a time. We had to gather wood to cook the charity food. And yet when I needed to get copies of the documents I needed for legal work such as a valid SS card and to cash checks like a birth certificate for a state issued ID I managed as a teen to do so. If something is a priority in your life you tend to get off your butt and get it done. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/278 "2015-10-19T17:29:31Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > There are still restrictions. You have to be a U.S. citizen, age at least 18, a resident in your district for X (usually 30) days before the election. You also cannot be mentally incompetent, or in some places, a felon. > > A birth certificate proves citizenship and age, at least. No right is unrestricted. You might think some SHOULD be, but in the US none is. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/279 "2015-10-19T17:32:02Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > But to actually vote: > > Which is the whole point of the thread. > Also, getting a photocopy can be a problem depending on how far you live from the nearest machine. At some point living in the middle of nowhere is that persons responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983/280 "2015-10-19T17:33:16Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > No right is unrestricted. You might think some SHOULD be, but in the US none is. I never said otherwise. 😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-makes-bogus-claim-of-racism-in-alabama/734983.md?page=15)