# Voter ID Laws: Necessary to combat rampant fraud or subtle subjugation of the Democratic demographic **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 24, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971 "2012-05-24T17:25:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 36
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/701 "2012-06-10T18:01:31Z")
Oh, good, the conversation has at last come round to the really important issues. Finally we are away from the trivial matters like the bald cynicism of using the legislature to ensure a political party’s electoral prospects. What a relief! ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/702 "2012-06-10T18:12:39Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Oh, good, the conversation has at last come round to the really important issues. Finally we are away from the trivial matters like the bald cynicism of using the legislature to ensure a political party’s electoral prospects. What a relief! I know! I remember how heartsick it made you when the Massachusetts legislature thought their Republican governor might appoint a Republican replacement if they lost Senator Kerry … so they changed the law to take away that power. Then, when Senator Kennedy died, and they safely had a Democratic governor and were afraid of losing control of the US Senate, they changed the law again to allow it. I remember how you protested! Nasty dentist’s bill, that was, from your gnashing of teeth, neighbors kept awake by your wailing. Or maybe you didn’t care one bit. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/703 "2012-06-10T18:29:26Z")
I challenge that contention, in classic\*\* Bricker\*\* fashion! Cite all my posts on that subject, go ahead, go dig them out! Failing that, you must admit crushing defeat and slink away like a whipped dog! Oh, and liberal hypocrisy! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/704 "2012-06-10T18:47:56Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Where do students establish residency? A student ID does not imply residency. As a college student, I never voted in my college town; I always voted in my home town. > > Does a student ID show address? As has already been established, residency is required to register to vote. Identification at the polling place is only to verify the voter is the same as the name on the registration rolls. Any credible ID, even those with no residency information, can verify that you are who you say you are. A student ID from a state university certainly fulfills that requirement. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/705 "2012-06-10T19:26:12Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > So if they check citizenship when you register, why do voters need a driver’s license or passport when they vote? Any credible identification that establishes identity as that of a registered voter will satisfy that. A photo student ID issued by a state university certainly meets that requirement, yet they are specifically omitted from many voter ID laws. Why, if not for voter suppression? So to sum up. You just made up the previous post and don’t have a cite to back it up. I suggest that other people familiarize themselves with floaters that float from precinct to precinct and vote a dozen times of more in a single election. I’m also curious about the universe you inhabit, where people can’t afford to order a birth certificate but can afford a university education. Apparently your idea of a credible ID is something that anyone with access to an embossing machine can reproduce. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/706 "2012-06-10T19:36:51Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > As has already been established, residency is required to register to vote. Identification at the polling place is only to verify the voter is the same as the name on the registration rolls. Any credible ID, even those with no residency information, can verify that you are who you say you are. A student ID from a state university certainly fulfills that requirement. Next time you get pulled over by a cop. I suggest you pull out your university ID and tell them that is all the ID you need. After all it has your name and picture on it. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/707 "2012-06-10T20:21:02Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > Next time you get pulled over by a cop. I suggest you pull out your university ID and tell them that is all the ID you need. After all it has your name and picture on it. What a silly argument. If you are driving, a license is required. If the cop makes a Terry stop when you are on foot, a student ID is more than adequate. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/708 "2012-06-10T20:22:03Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > I suggest that other people familiarize themselves with floaters that float from precinct to precinct and vote a dozen times of more in a single election. If you don’t provide a cite, it never happend. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/709 "2012-06-10T21:15:59Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > I suggest that other people familiarize themselves with floaters that float from precinct to precinct and vote a dozen times of more in a single election. I suggest you prove their existence. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/710 "2012-06-11T02:05:27Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What a silly argument. If you are driving, a license is required. If the cop makes a Terry stop when you are on foot, a student ID is more than adequate. So not showing up with proper ID is stupid. Thank you for proving my point ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/711 "2012-06-11T02:17:26Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > Thank you for proving my point You sound relieved. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/712 "2012-06-11T02:39:49Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > If you don’t provide a cite, it never happend. So you need a cite for dictionary terms? [http://www.thefreedictionary.com/floater](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/floater) > [@](#): > > 1. One who votes illegally in different polling places. Let me also provide a definition for graveyard vote to save some time. [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graveyard%20vote](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graveyard%20vote) > [@](#): > > : a vote improperly cast in the name of a person who has died or who is ineligible (as by having moved away) to vote You really should familiarize yourself with the history of Chicago politics. [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-02-20/news/ct-perspec-0220-things-20110220\_1\_chicago-elections-general-election-polling-place](http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-02-20/news/ct-perspec-0220-things-20110220_1_chicago-elections-general-election-polling-place) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/713 "2012-06-11T02:47:27Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > You really should familiarize yourself with the history of Chicago politics. Perhaps we should also keep an eye on Mrs. O’Leary’s cow. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/714 "2012-06-11T02:49:46Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > You sound relieved. No those are just the voices in your head. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/715 "2012-06-11T02:54:00Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I challenge that contention, in classic\*\* Bricker\*\* fashion! Cite all my posts on that subject, go ahead, go dig them out! Failing that, you must admit crushing defeat and slink away like a whipped dog! Oh, and liberal hypocrisy! No, no. I concede, you never complained, wailed, or gnashed. I made that up. you never said a damn negative thing about Massachusetts’ changing their law with regards to appointment of senators. Which was really my point. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/716 "2012-06-11T02:56:31Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > As has already been established, residency is required to register to vote. Identification at the polling place is only to verify the voter is the same as the name on the registration rolls. Any credible ID, even those with no residency information, can verify that you are who you say you are. A student ID from a state university certainly fulfills that requirement. With what kinds of controls are they issued? How does the university verify identity before issuing the ID? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/717 "2012-06-11T03:07:00Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > With what kinds of controls are they issued? How does the university verify identity before issuing the ID? Are you suggesting a state university doesn’t have the ability to accurately identify their students? I don’t know when you last went to college, but it’s little different these days, post Virginia Tech. On-campus security is held in much higher importance today. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/718 "2012-06-11T03:57:12Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Are you suggesting a state university doesn’t have the ability to accurately identify their students? I don’t know when you last went to college, but it’s little different these days, post Virginia Tech. On-campus security is held in much higher importance today. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real\_id\_act](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_id_act) Do you actually live in the United States? You don’t seem to know much about it. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/719 "2012-06-11T03:59:59Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Perhaps we should also keep an eye on Mrs. O’Leary’s cow. An interesting story, since the rumors are that the cow was framed, but no relevant to this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971/720 "2012-06-11T04:14:13Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > So you need a cite for dictionary terms? We know what it **means.** Prove it **exists.** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-laws-necessary-to-combat-rampant-fraud-or-subtle-subjugation-of-the-democratic-demographic/622971.md?page=37)