# I Pit the ID-demanding GOP vote-suppressors (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 12, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943 "2012-06-12T19:15:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 98
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1941 "2012-07-29T02:40:57Z")
Take it up with them, I got nothing against old folks, hell, another twenty years or so, and I’ll be one. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1942 "2012-07-29T02:47:15Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > I’ve already posted a link that the primary reason people don’t vote is because they don’t like either candidate. IIRC, more Republicans have this an excuse. Imagine if they had a likable candidate. The left would be screwed. > 2nd reason is because they are too busy. > Lack of ID will be way down the list as a valid reason\*. > \*The excuse they’ll give to the pollster rather than admit that they couldn’t be bothered to vote. I also linked to that. To cite that, lo and behold, “my vote will be nullified/voter fraud makes it unimportant” was WAAAAAY down the list. So you might wanna think about that before you bring up that stupid “voter confidence” argument. > [@Uzi](#): > > Well, if I’m included in this missive, then I’ve already admitted that is the case. It isn’t relevant, though. The laws make sense, not the least of which that almost every other country does so and that most people want them. Oh, really? So a law that would discourage (in many cases strongly discourage) 10% of the populace of the USA from voting (in a way that seems to fall quite clearly along party lines) is a sensible solution to a problem that _doesn’t exist_? Every other country doing it is completely irrelevant; this is not “every other country” and there are significant differences. Most people wanting it is _completely irrelevant_; poll taxes were very popular. > [@](#): > > Regardless whether ID laws actually stop fraud, most people think they do. Most people want to know their vote counts. This is why most people want them. Gah, sometimes you have to throw a bone to people if you want them to play your game. [Post 272](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=15170550#post15170550). This argument is completely and utterly bogus; the assumptions it makes are dead wrong. Please stop making it, it’s almost as stupid as Magellan is. Almost. And, obligatorily, I have to point out that it would be both cheaper and more sensible in such a case to _educate the voters_. Spend a little time explaining to them how voter fraud is a non-issue, rather than pandering to their stupidity and crying fire in a crowded voter booth. EDIT: am I the only one who finds it hilarious that Mitt Romney apparently _did_ commit voter fraud back in 2010 by voting in Massachusetts despite him having long since left the state? ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1943 "2012-07-29T03:39:35Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > I also linked to that. To cite that, lo and behold, “my vote will be nullified/voter fraud makes it unimportant” was WAAAAAY down the list. So you might wanna think about that before you bring up that stupid “voter confidence” argument. And yet, the US has the lowest voter participation among western countries. Why? US Exceptionalism again? > [@](#): > > Oh, really? So a law that would discourage (in many cases strongly discourage) 10% of the populace of the USA from voting (in a way that seems to fall quite clearly along party lines) is a sensible solution to a problem that _doesn’t exist_? There is a problem. More than half the people in your country don’t bother to vote! And that includes a huge portion who currently have IDs. And rather than discourage them to vote, it might encourage them to get IDs. > [@](#): > > Every other country doing it is completely irrelevant; this is not “every other country” and there are significant differences. Keep saying it. It might make it true. Next time you bring up any other progressive initiative that you think you should have in the US that other countries have had for years, I’ll remind you of this. > [@](#): > > Most people wanting it is _completely irrelevant_; poll taxes were very popular. Probably with the government collecting the tax. [ > [@](#): > > url=[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=15170550#post15170550](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=15170550#post15170550)]Post 272. This argument is completely and utterly bogus; the assumptions it makes are dead wrong. Please stop making it, it’s almost as stupid as Magellan is. Or the study is dead wrong and ignores the fact that other jurisdictions with voter ID have higher voter turnout than you do. And yes, culture does make a difference, but it isn’t the only one. > [@](#): > > Almost. And, obligatorily, I have to point out that it would be both cheaper and more sensible in such a case to _educate the voters_. Spend a little time explaining to them how voter fraud is a non-issue, rather than pandering to their stupidity and crying fire in a crowded voter booth. Good luck with that. Most of your population thinks that a jewish zombie from 2000 years ago has something to say about how we should live today. > [@](#): > > EDIT: am I the only one who finds it hilarious that Mitt Romney apparently _did_ commit voter fraud back in 2010 by voting in Massachusetts despite him having long since left the state? Did he have a proper ID proving that he was a resident? Was he prosecuted? Think if he was, then we wouldn’t have some crackpot Mormon contending for the Presidency. ---
**Author:** ![AlienVessels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba8739/32.png) [@AlienVessels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlienVessels)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1944 "2012-07-29T06:39:44Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > No, you did not. But maybe I missed it. If so, can you point to the explanation for you bringing up: Ok, one more try. Voter ID laws require people to spend more resources than they have in the past to register to vote. This hits people with few resources disproportionately. People with few resources tend to vote Democrat. Therefore, the Voter ID laws hit voters who tend to vote Democrat disproportionately. Now if this basic proposition can’t make it through your filters, the rest is moot. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1945 "2012-07-29T07:04:56Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > Back to what I said near the beginning. > What opinions of their’s should we be worried that we haven’t collected? I’m not saying that they don’t have a right to vote, what I’m saying is that I don’t give much credence to a fry cook on how to do brain surgery, nor run the government. Someone who is too lazy or can’t figure out how to get an ID is someone’s opinion that isn’t worth much. I want to be totally clear I understand what you’re saying here… your argument, which seems to be very different from that of Bricker and others who are also supporting such laws, is that we’re better off without lazy or dumb people voting, and therefore anything that makes it harder to vote is a GOOD thing, because it filters out people who will do a bad job voting? Is that in fact your position? > [@](#): > > Why? No one is being prevented from getting an ID if they manage to bring the correct documents to the register. Are you suggesting that Republican supporters are better organized than the Democrat’s? Well, I’m discussing things mainly on a theoretical level, I haven’t done, nor do I feel qualified to do, the kind of demographic analysis that would be necessary to give a really convincing demonstration of the actual situation in an actual state. But in a theoretical sense, I’d say it seems not only plausible, but in fact likely. Let’s start out by assuming that, demographically, people are approximately equally lazy across political parties, ethnicities, and so forth. So if all other things were equal, if you made it 10% more difficult to vote for a bunch of democrats and a bunch of republicans, then a similar percentage of each group would in fact fail to vote due to your change. But, and here’s the key, any obstacle that is added to voting isn’t just some theoretical thing that applies to everyone, it’s something that affects different people in different ways. So, consider something like reducing funding for polling places, so that lines will get longer and the wait to vote will be increased. This makes it somewhat harder for everyone (in the sense of less pleasant), but has a vastly different impact on people in different stages in their life. For instance, it’s presumably not a huge impact on the elderly or on the unemployed, is somewhat of an impact on people with salaried jobs who presumably have some flexibility in their work hours, and is a really big deal for someone with an hourly job, or with really rigid time commitments with issues like children’s school hours or what have you. And here (finally) is the point: even if we assume that Democrats and Republicans are, in general, equally lazy, and thus equal worthy of voting in your view, as I understand it, it’s also certainly the case that there are strong correlations between political party and various demographic categories (age, employment/income, English-language proficiency, etc). Therefore it’s certainly possible for a particular obstacle thrown up in the way of voting to affect democrats more strongly than republicans, or vice versa, in a fairly directly predictable fashion. And (and to repeat myself, I don’t claim to have proven that this is the case in the current debate, but I believe it is) that is what I find to be strongly unethical and antidemocratic. So, imagine for a second that I came up with some really convincing charts and graphs and data and proved to you really convincingly that one of these voter ID laws did in fact affect Democratic voters far more strongly than Republicans, and also managed to convince you that the people who proposed the law in fact were totally and clearly aware of this, and it was their prime motivation. Would you find that to be disturbing? Unethical? Unamerican? Antidemocratic? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1946 "2012-07-29T07:22:28Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > And yet, the US has the lowest voter participation among western countries. Why? US Exceptionalism again? I think that’s a huge problem. It makes me sad. I don’t see its relevance to the current discussion. > [@](#): > > Probably with the government collecting the tax. Do you know what a poll tax is? ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1947 "2012-07-29T09:36:39Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Why would someone do that? To demonstrate that opportunity costs are a mere fiction and that there is no burden too hard nor any distance too far for an American individualist. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1948 "2012-07-29T11:59:59Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > It would sure be refreshing to have one of our wingnuts, just one, have the cojones to admit the real reason behind a law of policy that they are championing, not these wishy-washy pseudo-reasons which they don’t actually personally believe for a microsecond. > > [snip] > > Still would be refreshing tho: “YES! I ADMIT IT! All those GOP governors signed these laws to screw over Democrat-leaning voting blocs-and I’m completely glad for it! The quicker we can get that n\*\*\*\*\* out of the White House, the better! Screw due process and for that matter screw any sense of fair play! This is a power play pure and simple!” Dunno if you count me as a wingnut, but I completely agree that they’re doing it because they think it will help them win. I’ll not use your quote, though, because they have followed due process in getting these laws passed. The thing is, what they’ve done is legal. That’s what really matters here, and the fact that no-one is actually being stopped from voting. If people are so unconcerned with voting that they can’t even be bothered to pick up free ID, then we’re all better off without their opinion, frankly. That said, if the left manage to stop whinging long enough to act, they can spin this to their advantage, help these people get ID, and stay in power for as long as they want. Given America’s screwed up politics, that might actually be for the best, as a sensible centre-right party might emerge, that can actually get votes and act for the best of everyone, rather than the insane Republicans, or the trying to please everyone from centre right to hard left and failing to do anything as a result Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1949 "2012-07-29T13:46:00Z")
I am Canadian. I’m only a spectator here, but Canada, amongst others, has been repeatedly held up as an example of “other countries do it too”. Canada does have a voter ID law, and I, whose political views are probably pretty far left by US standards, support it. However, this is not the same as the voter ID laws being implemented by most US states. If I show up to the poll with Mrs. B, she can whip out her government-issued photo ID document and vote. If I have forgotten my wallet, and have absolutely no ID documents, guess what? I can vote, too! Because the Canadian voter ID requirement has been implemented as an _identification_ requirement, not a mandatory _document_ requirement, so Mrs. B can solemnly affirm to the poll clerk that I am, in fact, Bookkeeper. A wide variety of documentation or affirmations by other, already identified, voters or people like shelter/old age home staff, are acceptable as well as photo ID. What is really at issue for most of the opponents of this in the US is not really voter ID as a concept, but the severe restrictions on what will be accepted as ID which are implemented in these laws. To me, and to many others here, this argues that the intent of the laws is clearly voter _restriction_ rather than voter _identification_. ---
**Author:** ![AlienVessels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba8739/32.png) [@AlienVessels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlienVessels)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1950 "2012-07-29T14:11:05Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > The thing is, what they’ve done is legal. That’s what really matters here, and the fact that no-one is actually being stopped from voting. If people are so unconcerned with voting that they can’t even be bothered to pick up free ID, then we’re all better off without their opinion, frankly. The same reasoning was made for the poll tax and the requirement to own land to vote. [http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/30/denying-vote-propertyless-makes-lot-sense-tea-party-nation-pres/](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/30/denying-vote-propertyless-makes-lot-sense-tea-party-nation-pres/) > [@](#): > > Tea Party Nation President Judson Phillips said denying the right to vote to those who do not own property “makes a lot of sense” during a weekly radio program. Raw Story ([http://s.tt/1dacr](http://s.tt/1dacr)) > [@Steophan](#): > > That said, if the left manage to stop whinging long enough to act, they can spin this to their advantage, help these people get ID, and stay in power for as long as they want. Given America’s screwed up politics, that might actually be for the best, as a sensible centre-right party might emerge, that can actually get votes and act for the best of everyone, rather than the insane Republicans, or the trying to please everyone from centre right to hard left and failing to do anything as a result Democrats. And so they have to expend resources they need in other areas of the election to compensate for additional barriers. And by the way, the failing to do anything is a result of Republican expressed goal of getting rid of Obama and their declaration that the only compromise acceptable to their side would be when Democrats agree on Republican agenda. The result is that the GOP is willing to harm the country in the short term so that their longer term political goals can be achieved. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1951 "2012-07-29T14:18:37Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > If people are so unconcerned with voting that they can’t even be bothered to pick up free ID, then we’re all better off without their opinion, frankly. You have had it explained repeatedly and in detail how the ID requirement is not a trivlal matter for a substantial part of the population. You remain free to continue to blithely dismiss fact, of course - but then other posters are free to blithely dismiss _you_. Which, you may note, is already what is happening. Now, do _you_ know what Jim Crow was? Or, rather, _is_? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1952 "2012-07-29T14:36:39Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You have had it explained repeatedly and in detail how the ID requirement is not a trivlal matter for a substantial part of the population. You keep saying this as if it is an established fact rather than your opinion. Not everyone of the 10% without IDs has multiple jobs, or has difficulty getting the necessary supporting documents, or lives 100’s of miles away from registries and would find these conditions a hindrance. What is left is a small number of people who have many months, if not years to resolve these issues. Not the definition of ‘substantial’ by any measure. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1953 "2012-07-29T14:52:10Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > It’s self evident. If you make it harder, some people are just going to throw up their hands and say, “Screw it. It’s not worth the effort.” Apathy. > > Evidence was cited on page one that voter ID does not increase voter confidence. > > You are right though about it will make voting more important. With less voters voting, each vote is worth more. It’s our position that’s the Republican’s whole goal, and not keeping out illegal voters. And it’s my position that you’re wrong. It’s my further position that the evidence cited never asked the right questions, as I carefully showed. Gee, I wonder which of our positions will actually take root as established law and policy? I sure hope it’s mine. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1954 "2012-07-29T15:32:20Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > Not everyone of the 10% without IDs has multiple jobs, or has difficulty getting the necessary supporting documents, or lives 100’s of miles away from registries and would find these conditions a hindrance. Nor did anyone but you use the word “everyone”, or suggest anything that would imply it. IOW, you have just lied, as supporters of your view _must_. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1955 "2012-07-29T15:34:33Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > And it’s my position that you’re wrong. It’s my further position that the evidence cited never asked the right questions, as I carefully showed. > > Gee, I wonder which of our positions will actually take root as established law and policy? I sure hope it’s mine. Allow me to translate for the Bricker impared: _“I won! I won! I won! I know we’re trying to keep poor people from voting! I don’t care, because I’m not poor! I won! I won! I won!”_ It’s difficult to get the nuance sometimes because of the way the spotted-Bricker struts. But that is fairly accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Blkshp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blkshp/32/7135_2.png) [@Blkshp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blkshp)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1956 "2012-07-29T15:40:50Z")
Aren’t the nonprofits and volunteer networks in place that currently help people to register and get to the polls on election day going to be used to make sure as many people as possible who need help getting ID’s do get them where it’s now required? I would certainly be willing to give somebody a ride to get an ID at their convenience. Heck, depending on the week I might even be able to front them the cost. I guess I understand the complaints against the ID requirement, but I’d think now that these laws have been passed somebody would be working on a solution as opposed just bemoaning the law. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1957 "2012-07-29T15:59:35Z")
Look up ACORN sometime. As for working on a solution, \*stopping \*these laws is a pretty effective one, don’tcha think? ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1958 "2012-07-29T16:04:52Z")
> [@AlienVessels](#): > > The same reasoning was made for the poll tax and the requirement to own land to vote. Really? People argued that _no one_ was prevented from voting by those measures? I’m not saying the views of poor people or minorities are irrelevant, but that people who can’t be bothered to take minimal, reasonable steps to get ID would appear to not value their own vote particularly highly, and so there’s no reason I should either. > [@](#): > > And so they have to expend resources they need in other areas of the election to compensate for additional barriers. If the ID is only used for voting, this would be a valid point. However, people need ID in everyday life, and if this gets them to obtain it, it will be a long term benefit - and _not_ for the Republicans. > [@](#): > > And by the way, the failing to do anything is a result of Republican expressed goal of getting rid of Obama and their declaration that the only compromise acceptable to their side would be when Democrats agree on Republican agenda. The result is that the GOP is willing to harm the country in the short term so that their longer term political goals can be achieved. That’s the platform they stood on, and they have a mandate from the voters to do that. It’s obviously counter-productive in the long term, but most politicians don’t look to the long term - and neither do most voters, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1959 "2012-07-29T16:15:08Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You have had it explained repeatedly and in detail how the ID requirement is not a trivlal matter for a substantial part of the population. You remain free to continue to blithely dismiss fact, of course - but then other posters are free to blithely dismiss _you_. Which, you may note, is already what is happening. People have _claimed_ it’s not trivial. No-one’s yet explained how travelling to the nearest city once every few years to pick up something for free is an intolerable burden on anyone. > [@](#): > > Now, do _you_ know what Jim Crow was? Or, rather, _is_? :dubious: I know what it was. If you can show me a single law in the US that allows a white person to do something a black person cannot, I’ll agree they still exist. Of course, they don’t, and even if you dislike these current laws, comparing them to Jim Crow is ridiculous hyperbole, and frankly offensive to all those who suffered under those laws. > [@Blkshp](#): > > Aren’t the nonprofits and volunteer networks in place that currently help people to register and get to the polls on election day going to be used to make sure as many people as possible who need help getting ID’s do get them where it’s now required? I would certainly be willing to give somebody a ride to get an ID at their convenience. Heck, depending on the week I might even be able to front them the cost. I guess I understand the complaints against the ID requirement, but I’d think now that these laws have been passed somebody would be working on a solution as opposed just bemoaning the law. I’ve asked a couple of times why this isn’t happening, and not received much of an answer. > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Look up ACORN sometime. You mean the organisation convicted of multiple counts of voter registration fraud? I’m not sure what they have to do with driving someone across town to get their ID. > [@](#): > > As for working on a solution, \*stopping \*these laws is a pretty effective one, don’tcha think? No. That you think so shows you don’t understand politics. It is, fundamentally, a power game. Ideals may have their place, but if you don’t play the game, and play it to win, you will never be in a position to act on your ideals. The Republicans made their play, and it’s been found that these laws are within the rules of the game - the Constitution - and the Democrats have to work with them. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/1960 "2012-07-29T16:45:57Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > You mean the organisation convicted of multiple counts of voter registration fraud? I’m not sure what they have to do with driving someone across town to get their ID. Would you mind explaining exactly what you think they did? Even Bricker could only point to one thing, the Nevada branch put a bonus for a certain number of sigs. Which was against Nevada law. That was almost surely because of ignorance, since they didn’t try to hide it. That said, how many people do you think voted fraudulently because of Acorn? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943.md?page=97) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943.md?page=99)