May 20, 201412 yr You need and ID to get a Cell Phone rent a movie buy beer or cigarettes rent a car get a hotel room rent a carpet cleaner buy some video games cash a check get government benefits drive a car buy a gun buy ammunition post bond/bail for someone get a legal job pick up photo's check out a Library book and many many more daily activities, I just find it hard to believe that anyone in this country legally has an issue getting an ID. The numbers suggest otherwise.
May 20, 201412 yr From the first link: Do Voter ID laws reduce fraud in elections as proponents suggest, or do they do more harm than good by wrongfully denying the right to vote, especially to people of color, the young, the old, and the disabled? Voter fraud is any election-related activity that corrupts the process of “obtaining and marking of ballots, the counting and certification of election results, or the registration of voters,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2002, the Justice Department instituted the “Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative” and promised to aggressively prosecute accusations of voter fraud. Yet, between 2002 and 2005, there were only 26 substantiated cases of voter fraud in the entire nation. Indeed, voter fraud is an extraordinarily rare occurrence. What are the consequences of Voter ID laws for access to voting? Research suggests that 11 percent of U.S. citizens—more than 21 million Americans—do not have government-issued photo identifications. But among particular groups, the percentage lacking acceptable documentation is even higher. For example, among African Americans, 25 percent of voting-age citizens lack government-issued documents. This compares with 8 percent of voting-age whites. More generally, such Voter ID laws disproportionately screen out voters who are low-income and minority and who are significantly less likely to have the necessary identification documents. In lieu of drivers’ licenses, some states find documents such as birth certificates and passports acceptable, but providing such documentation provides a special hardship to some subgroups. It also opens up the possibility that a disproportionate number of voters from certain backgrounds will be asked to provide identification. Not surprisingly, Voter ID laws are associated with lower voter turnout in those states that have recently enacted them. It is estimated that, net of other factors, such laws reduce overall turnout by more than 2 percent. It also is not surprising that attitudes about Voter ID laws are partisan. According to a recent Fox News poll, 47 percent of Democrats believe “the supporters of voter identification laws are really trying to steal elections by decreasing legal votes from minorities.” In contrast, seven in 10 Republicans believe that “opponents of voter identification laws are really trying to steal elections by increasing illegal votes by non-citizens and other ineligible voters.” Moreover, every state that has passed stricter Voter ID laws has done so under a Republican-controlled legislature. How do those without ID's function in today's world when you need an ID to do just about every thing else? As far as not preventing voter fraud don't look at national elections look at local elections where people that are known not to be able to vote or even be dead actually vote yearly. A guy I was talking to recently said that in a county he used to live in the process was as easy as calling voters to see if they were going to vote and if they said no...someone was brought in to go to the polls and vote for them.
May 20, 201412 yr You need and ID to get a Cell Phone rent a movie buy beer or cigarettes rent a car get a hotel room rent a carpet cleaner buy some video games cash a check get government benefits drive a car buy a gun buy ammunition post bond/bail for someone get a legal job pick up photo's check out a Library book and many many more daily activities, I just find it hard to believe that anyone in this country legally has an issue getting an ID. I did not present an ID when getting a cell phone I don't need an ID to rent a movie Beer and cigarrettes, yes Rent a car-valid drivers license Hotel room-not required to reserve, and it's not a law to check in without one, it's hotel policy Rent a carpet cleaner-not a law, a rental policy Buy video games-to prove age if there are parental warnings. Cash a check-again policy, not law Governemnt benefits-yes Drive a car-a law based upon ensuring public safety Buy a gun-see Drive a car Buy Ammunitionp-see drive a car, buy a gun Post bond/bail for someone-I know nothing about that Get a legal job-yes Pick up photos-not sure what kind of photos you pick up, but mine are apparently innocuous enough that I can pick them up without ID Check out a library card-libraries require ID to get a library card, but do not require a valid government issued ID from that point forward.
May 20, 201412 yr The numbers suggest otherwise.The rhetoric may suggest otherwise, but I've not seen good reasoning why they can't get one. What makes it so hard to get one? Are these disenfranchised getting any kind of assistance? Do they have a legal job?
May 20, 201412 yr How do those without ID's function in today's world when you need an ID to do just about every thing else? As far as not preventing voter fraud don't look at national elections look at local elections where people that are known not to be able to vote or even be dead actually vote yearly. A guy I was talking to recently said that in a county he used to live in the process was as easy as calling voters to see if they were going to vote and if they said no...someone was brought in to go to the polls and vote for them. I can't remember the last time I had to show my ID for anything except going through airport security.
May 20, 201412 yr I did not present an ID when getting a cell phone I don't need an ID to rent a movie Beer and cigarrettes, yes Rent a car-valid drivers license Hotel room-not required to reserve, and it's not a law to check in without one, it's hotel policy Rent a carpet cleaner-not a law, a rental policy Buy video games-to prove age if there are parental warnings. Cash a check-again policy, not law Governemnt benefits-yes Drive a car-a law based upon ensuring public safety Buy a gun-see Drive a car Buy Ammunitionp-see drive a car, buy a gun Post bond/bail for someone-I know nothing about that Get a legal job-yes Pick up photos-not sure what kind of photos you pick up, but mine are apparently innocuous enough that I can pick them up without ID Check out a library card-libraries require ID to get a library card, but do not require a valid government issued ID from that point forward. You didn't get a contract phone or an "Obama phone" those required an ID...you must have went pay as you go. Every Cell Company requires an ID for a contract phone, if yours was a renewal they may have used existing info. Not at Redbox, but you need a Credit card, and I'd have to think that if you can get a credit card you could get an ID. Blockbuster and others took an ID the frist time you rented from them and then gave out a card. Hotels, yep every hotel pretty much has that policy, I didn't say it was a law, but it's hard to check into a hotel without one...so yes an ID is needed...Law or Not. Library card as you said, you need an ID the first time...then card from then on...point being you needed an ID. There are many things that it's not a LAW that you need and ID for that we actually NEED an ID for...my point is people need ID's everyday but somehow it's inconvenient to go get one to vote. I honestly don't see how anyone get's by day in and day out without one if they are living legally as a citizen.
May 20, 201412 yr I can't remember the last time I had to show my ID for anything except going through airport security. No but you had to show one when you first went and got car insurance, when you got your home, when you opened a bank account, when you got your job, depending on where you got Buddy or take him to the Vet you may have had to show an ID then also...we don't show them every day, but at some point an ID was needed to ensure what we do every day is possible.
May 20, 201412 yr You need and ID to get a Cell Phone rent a movie buy beer or cigarettes rent a car get a hotel room rent a carpet cleaner buy some video games cash a check get government benefits drive a car buy a gun buy ammunition post bond/bail for someone get a legal job pick up photo's check out a Library book and many many more daily activities, I just find it hard to believe that anyone in this country legally has an issue getting an ID. None of those are constitutionally protected rights. I have no problem with voter ID laws if they provide methods to obtain those ID's that are free, easy to obtain and available to all to obtain. Kentucky does not require a photo ID and poll workers can accept a SSN card. Which are free.
May 20, 201412 yr You need and ID to get a Cell Phone rent a movie buy beer or cigarettes rent a car get a hotel room rent a carpet cleaner buy some video games cash a check get government benefits drive a car buy a gun buy ammunition post bond/bail for someone get a legal job pick up photo's check out a Library book and many many more daily activities, I just find it hard to believe that anyone in this country legally has an issue getting an ID. Add: Get a mortgage Have a background check to work at a school Get a passport Conduct any financial transaction over $10,000 (Patriot Act) Have anything notarized I know Kentucky got dinged on some voting ranking recently. Supposed because we do not have fraudu....rather early voting. And now 'internet' voting is coming. But Kentucky has a common sense scheme. The old Chicago saying of 'voter early....and often.' is taking on a whole new meaning. There will lots more Cuyahoga Counties in the future.
May 20, 201412 yr None of those are constitutionally protected rights. I have no problem with voter ID laws if they provide methods to obtain those ID's that are free, easy to obtain and available to all to obtain. Kentucky does not require a photo ID and poll workers can accept a SSN card. Which are free. My point wasn't that those are Constitutional Rights or even law, just that we need ID's to do pretty much anything and I can't believe it is a hardship on anyone to actually get one.
May 20, 201412 yr No but you had to show one when you first went and got car insurance, when you got your home, when you opened a bank account, when you got your job, depending on where you got Buddy or take him to the Vet you may have had to show an ID then also...we don't show them every day, but at some point an ID was needed to ensure what we do every day is possible. I've never had to show an ID to get my pets, but I take in strays from others. I also have never had to show my ID when taking my pet to the vet, even to get him licensed. Yes, when I opened a bank account. Car insurance, no...I just had to provide my information online or over the phone. A mortgage, yes.
May 20, 201412 yr My point wasn't that those are Constitutional Rights or even law, just that we need ID's to do pretty much anything and I can't believe it is a hardship on anyone to actually get one. But many, if not most, of the things you listed do not require BY LAW that you produce a government issued ID. Institutions or entities may have POLCIES that say so, but most are not required by law.
May 20, 201412 yr I have never understood the argument of, "there is not rampant fraud now so we do not need it." Let's quit skirting around the issue. Democrats: Do not want it because their constituency is more apt to having folks without an id. Republicans: Want it because it may prohibit those same people from voting. Both sides know some kind of identification should be shown and I think most people agree with that. People always tout how it is the most sacred right we have in this country so let us do our best to be proactive and protect that right.
May 20, 201412 yr My point wasn't that those are Constitutional Rights or even law, just that we need ID's to do pretty much anything and I can't believe it is a hardship on anyone to actually get one. You can be denied a bank account, carpet cleaner, cell phone, etc without a photo ID. You can't be denied a fundamental constitutional right without it being free and obtainable by everyone. Otherwise it becomes a de facto poll tax.
May 20, 201412 yr You can be denied a bank account, carpet cleaner, cell phone, etc without a photo ID. You can't be denied a fundamental constitutional right without it being free and obtainable by everyone. Otherwise it becomes a de facto poll tax. And it can easily be done so that those without id (an incredibly small fraction of people) can obtain a free one.
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