# Voter registration card... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 7, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-registration-card/379478 "2006-11-07T22:42:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-registration-card/379478/1 "2006-11-07T22:42:56Z")
I see on CNN that Gov. Sanford (South Carolina) didn’t have his voter registration card, and was not allowed to vote. Well, I don’t have a registration card and I was able to vote with no problems. I just gave them my name and verified my address, and I recieved a ballot. What’s the deal? Do some states require that you bring an actual registration card? Or was it the case that he was just not on file? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-registration-card/379478/2 "2006-11-07T23:25:27Z")
It varies from state to state. In New York, I don’t think they even use voter registration cards any more. The people at the polling place have a book with the signatures of all votors in that district. You sign next to you signature and, unless it doesn’t match, you get to vote. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-registration-card/379478/3 "2006-11-07T23:44:14Z")
They issue voter registration cards in NM, but they are optional in practice. Don’t understand how anyone can be expected to keep track of an item used only once every even numbered year. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-registration-card/379478/4 "2006-11-08T00:06:24Z")
In Illinois, having a voter registration card with you can be helpful (short cut) but isn’t necessary to vote. In fact, no ID is required in general, you just have to be able to match the signature on the card. (Exceptions include changed address, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-registration-card/379478/5 "2006-11-08T00:12:33Z")
[QUOTE=Kevbo] They issue voter registration cards in NM, but they are optional in practice. Don’t understand how anyone can be expected to keep track of an item used only once every even numbered year. [/QUOTE] Uh . . . once **every** year (and usually twice). They do have elections in odd-numbered years, you know. ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-registration-card/379478/6 "2006-11-08T02:09:08Z")
I haven’t seen my voter registration card since about a year after I registered. It wasn’t even a problem today, when I’d forgotten to tell the election comission I’d moved. I just had to go sit in the corner with the other kids who’d been bad while the poll worker held on the phone for fifteen minutes to verify we were in the right place. I’m unemployed; I didn’t have anything better to do. -Lil ---
**Author:** ![ChiMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a3d4f5/32.png) [@ChiMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiMagnet)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-registration-card/379478/7 "2006-11-08T02:12:23Z")
I had a good laugh today. I live in Illinois where they compare signatures. The guy checking me in to vote was so confused he signed where I was supposed to. Then he said “Oh just sign over it, it’s fine.” It was just a mess of scribbles they didn’t even check it. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-registration-card/379478/8 "2006-11-08T02:18:41Z")
[QUOTE=Kevbo] They issue voter registration cards in NM, but they are optional in practice. Don’t understand how anyone can be expected to keep track of an item used only once every even numbered year. [/QUOTE] Yeah. They went to all this trouble to issue plastic voter cards with a magnetic stripe and everything and you don’t even need it. I’ll admit, though, it’ll probably hold up better than my old paper one did. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-registration-card/379478/9 "2006-11-08T03:42:53Z")
States are being required under the new federal laws to implement more strict accounting for who it is actually votes. Ohio, by example, now has a law that requires you present identification when you vote. Included are obvious things like driver’s licenses, as well as less obvious things like utility bills. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-registration-card/379478/10 "2006-11-08T03:54:56Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] It varies from state to state. In New York, I don’t think they even use voter registration cards any more. The people at the polling place have a book with the signatures of all votors in that district. You sign next to you signature and, unless it doesn’t match, you get to vote. [/QUOTE] PA does it the same way. I have a voter registration card, but have never actually needed it. Oddly the first card I got (when I 1st registered to vote) included my race. I’m 21.