# I Pit the ID-demanding GOP vote-suppressors (Part 1)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943>\
**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:** 1\
**Showing post:** 455

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**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-id-demanding-gop-vote-suppressors-part-1/624943/455 "2012-06-18T19:33:45Z")

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> [@elucidator](#):
>
> Like so many of your arguments, its a rational argument, but not a reasonable one. Notice how deftly you phrase it: no one could _possibly_, etc. Of course its possible, the realm of possibility is vast and encompassing. That is rational, we cannot say it is impossible. But is it likely? That’s where a reasonable argument differs from a strictly rational one. When you claim that our position is that voter fraud is _impossible_, and it follows that you only have to prove that it is _possible_, you win. Nope.
> 
> _…rebut the claim that no illegal alien would possibly…_.
> 
> And no, not perzackly, again your skirt the facts. You were saying that illegal aliens are, to your certain knowledge, demonstrating in favor of the DREAM act, that was your proof that illegal aliens would not fear detection and deportation, not when the chance to affect American policy with their one vote was in the offing. How do you know? Well, this guy on TV said so!

That’s not how my argument went. Here are the two posts which began it:

> [@Voter ID Laws: Necessary to combat rampant fraud or subtle subjugation of the Democratic demographic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/175):
>
> How about this one, **Jenaroph** :
> 
> Several thousand illegal aliens register to vote, and then vote.
> 
> Please share the reasons this scheme would be impossible or detected.

> [@Voter ID Laws: Necessary to combat rampant fraud or subtle subjugation of the Democratic demographic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/176):
>
> It wouldn’t be impossible, but I think it’s pretty unlikely.
> 
> Illegals want to stay under the radar. They want to deal with the government as little as possible. They’re risking deportation, or worse, for little or no personal gain.

And my response is: they’re risking very little, since with no voter ID scheme, there is no real way to prosecute a person who claims to be a citizen, registers, and votes, **if that person is not listed with INS as a non-citizen**.

So I disagree with your view that it’s unlikely, and not a reasonable possibility.

> [@](#):
>
> You claim that voter fraud exists, and is important enough that urgent, emergency action is required. The crisis is such that minor side effects, like adding additional burdens to a certain unreliable class of voters, can be shrugged off, darn shame, oh well. As you well know, huge efforts to detect voter fraud of gone unrewarded, the snipe is hunted, the snipe is not found.

Again, no. I’ve made this point repeatedly, but I don’t mind doing it again: I claim that because very close elections are possible, we should act now to cut off possible avenues of voter fraud.

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