Wisconsin official told DMV not to push free voter ID cards

[hue]

Source: Reuters

"In the memo, a top aide in the state transportation department told staffers in the motor vehicle department, which is responsible for issuing the free IDs, to "refrain from offering" them to customers who do not specifically ask for them.

"Questions on what kind of ID is needed for voting," the aide, Steven Krieser, wrote in the July 1 memo, "should be directed to the Government Accountability Board."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/08/us-wisconsin-voter-id-idUSTRE78713P20110908

---

...and the WI GAB will file those questions in the same warehouse that Harrison Ford filed the Arc of the Covenant in the movie "Raiders of the Lost Arc".

[No Elephants]

1. Republicans hate democracy in America.

[Auntie Bush]

21. " REPUBLICANS HATE DEMOCRACY" Would make a great bumper sticker.

[Guilded Lilly]

34. Republicans hate Americans who are not stuffing money into their pockets.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

52. THE REPUBS SEE GOVERNMENT AS A BUSINESS AND WILL DO ANYTHING TO PROFIT

[HereSince1628]

2. That's because the DMV wants to SELL you a state ID.

The fee for THAT id is posted as $28 as of August 24th.

This obviously sets up the confusing circumstance. A person asking friends and neighbors about getting an ID will undoubtedly run into a person who paid the fee. The mistaken belief that the State Voter ID costs money will discourage some people from obtaining it.

The State Voter ID is FREE, you can't get one if you have a WI driver's license or a WI State Photo ID unless either is expiring.

[Incitatus]

56. Or he could be a repug asshole who knows lower income voters tend to vote DEM. nt

[Enthusiast]

3. Something must be done about this immediately.

This is fucking sickening.

[AlbertCat]

23. Something must be done about this immediately.

Does any group have enough $$$$ to buy a couple of well placed bill boards

Some easy to read attractive type...

VOTER ID CARDS ARE FREE!!!!
Ask about it at your local DMV

I know that sounds lame... But a lot of people will see them if placed carefully.

Then there's mailers.... another cheaper than TV way to reach a lot of people.

[texshelters]

28. It's not lame

it's a great idea.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[Enthusiast]

29. That is an excellent suggestion.

Doesn't sound lame to me.

However, some bagger would probably vandalize the bill boards.

[rasputin1952]

39. Anything that enhances awareness is not lame by any call...

good ideas. Citizens need to know they are getting tossed into the pile. $28 for an ID when someone has to add it to a bill or feed a kid...that $28 isn't going for an ID card.

Another attempt at voter suppression and attacking our most vulnerable citizens...the GOP disgusts me to no end...x(

[AlbertCat]

41. Thanks guys... posts 28 29 & 39

In this high tech, splashy vids world, a bill board just sounded lame to me.

But this also makes me wonder about e-social networks, like Face Book (none of which I do or know anything about)

Posting a free ID message with a suggestion to ask about it at the DMV on Twitter might help get the word out fast.

[bjobotts]

43. Republicans trying to make sure government is not helpful & keep it from working

[truedelphi]

44. Big problem in Wisconsin is that the Governor is

Shutting down the DMV's in traditional Democratic voter districts!

Rolling Stone article (Friday's issue) states that at least 16 DMV's in Wisconsin were shut down, simply for being in Dem areas!

[xxqqqzme]

53. Just as soon as Holder shuts down the marijuana

clinics, he'll get right on those violations of the Voting Rights Act.

[raccoon]

4. K&R. nt

[formercia]

5. Blatant Voter Supression

against the most vulnerable. Republicon Family Values.

[SoapBox]

31. Ditto.

Outrageous.

[liberal N proud]

6. In a campaign supported by the Koch brothers,

Republicans are working to prevent millions of Democrats from voting next year

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-gop-war-on-voting-20110830?link=mostpopular1

[Volaris]

17. well YEAH....

That's 'cause they KNOW how well-and-truly fucked they will be if we all show up to the polls, to say nothing of the fact that not everyone goes to vote in the first place anyway..if by some miracle all 200 million or so of us all would all take it upon ourselves to do what should be our Civic Duty, the GOP would more than likely NEVER win another election in this nation. Apathy, low information voters and suppression are really the only electoral strategy they have had at least as far back as Nixon, and that should tell you something about where we are in our nations cultural history...

Just my 2 cents,

Peace,

[edhopper]

7. Nothing will be done

the Repugs will steal another election and the Dems will walk away with their tails between their legs.
There is no accountability in this Country anymore.

[elocs]

8. So do we shake our fists & complain about it or act?

This is not likely to change at all before next year's elections, so why don't we act rather than endlessly complain about voter suppression in this specific situation.

Being proactive about the voter ID situation here means getting the word out that they can be had for nothing, it means helping any who need or want the IDs to get them if that means driving them there to do it.

Yes, we can go on and on about Walker and his minions and their attempts to suppress voting, but that is no substitution for doing something that will address and help a situation we cannot change.

[BanzaiBonnie]

9. I was thinking the exact same thing

Good call elocs.


What if people were organized to be at DMV stations to notify people going in to renew their licenses, about the FREE voter ID that they need to ask for at that time? I'm not in Wisconsin, so I don't know if my idea is posssible. This is where some of the progressive groups could really make a difference.

The GOP wants poor voters out of the pool. $28 could be a make or break for some. This is definitely voter suppression.

[Gin]

11. I agree....beat them at their own game.....get the word out..

social network sites....churches...it can be overcome.

Why do they need a voter ID if they have a WI drivers license?

[Jackpine Radical]

25. I agree.

This calls for direct voter-contact action. We need to start mobilizing the underrepresented poor, homeless & minorities for starters. College Dems need to get their fellow students out to get IDs as well.

[Yon_Yonson]

10. Start protesting the DMV Offices IN FORCE ... RIGHT NOW ... TODAY

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

47. HERE IS HIS OFFICE PHONE # [phone] PHONE NOW !

Phone often.
Phoning works better than email.
It ties up workers.
It ties up phone lines.
GO FOR IT !

[elocs]

12. Yes, this is voter suppression, but most importantly we must convince low income people

to vote and to vote in their own self interest. The majority of lower income people who would be the most negatively impacted by this voter ID law do not and did not vote when no ID was required.

Yes it is good if we can help them with the ID situation, but it is imperative that we convince them of the importance of voting. It does no good for them to have the ID if they choose not to vote.

[Yon_Yonson]

16. Where the hell is the Fed Justice Department .... JUSTICE DENIED IS CORRUPTION PERSONIFIED

Complaints have been filed but they are nowhere in sites which make me believe they are part of the problem maybe even accomplices

[33Greeper]

13. Billboards advertising free voter IDs

near each DMV should be purchased by activists.

[midnight]

15. Yes... with the directions on how to ask for one...

[MrScorpio]

22. Not just near DMVs

But in all low income communities as well.

[Sedona]

40. Billboards advertising free voter IDs

near each DMV should be purchased by the DMV

[midnight]

14. Another tactic to block voting turn out for the Dem.'s

[wial]

18. it would be simple enough

to reverse the DMV's blinkered policy, but that does nothing to alleviate the lasting harm done to democracy by raising the threshold for voting this much. A lot of what the GOP is doing these days is simply unforgivable. One begins to understand how civil wars start.

[catrose]

19. Sounds familiar

Here in Texas, I was told not to offer provisional ballots, and if people asked for one, the head clerk would try to talk people out of it. "It would take at least an hour to fill out." I've escorted people back into the voting place after they hadn't been allowed to vote to help them ask for a provisional ballot.

If the Voter ID stuff sticks, I'm thinking GOTV will expand to offering transportation to the DMV from nursing homes and other transportation-deprived areas.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jackpine Radical]

26. Get volunteers from the congregation to drive people to the DMV offices en masse.

[Hepburn]

24. Here's a thought:

Why not get some people to stand where permitted with posters that say: "Ask for your Voter Picture ID"

They want to fuck with the system? Fuck them back!

[IDeClaire]

27. WI state Dem. chair sent out an email today

Here it is:

"Fellow Democrat, we need your help:

The new Republican voter suppression bill is off to a disturbing start, with news reports that Scott Walker's administration has instructed DMV employees to deliberately conceal the fact that IDs now necessary to vote should be free, lest they constitute a flatly unconstitutional "poll tax."

In full damage-control mode, his administration has since said that they've put up some signs to comply with the spirit of the law.

Do you take him at his word?

I didn't think so.

That's why we're asking you to go to your local DMV and take pictures or videos of the signs the Walker administration claims it has displayed.

Is it displayed? Where is it displayed? Is your DMV even open?

We're collecting evidence that we assure you will be used down the road to return Wisconsin to a place where the franchise is valued-not suppressed.

Send your pictures, videos and accounts to our research director, Melissa Baldauff, at (hidden).

Thanks for your help on such short notice.

Democratically yours,

Mike Tate
Chair
Democratic Party of Wisconsin"

[tcaudilllg]

30. Why not stage a rally?

Do dems not support such things anymore?

[Yon_Yonson]

33. Nope the Dems do not want to engage in protest and rallies

The Wisconsin protests/rallies/demonstrations have pretty much been grass roots and unions with scatterings of DEMS!

[truedelphi]

48. Key sentence in light of recent Rolling Stone

Article - Is your DMV even open?
According to RS article from last Friday - Governor Walker has shut down some sixteen DMV branches and all were located in areas with High Democratic Turnouts.

Rolling S article is here:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-gop-war-on-voting-20110830

[Cigar11]

32. Are you suprised?

There is absolutely nothing to low for the Republicans; their one and only goal is to defeat the President at all or any cost. Therefore, if that can’t count on the majority for support, they’ll eliminate the majority. If the only way you can compete is to limit who plays the game, then you’ve conceded that your opponent is superior. The Republicans and Conservatives have clearly identified where they stand; the question is, will the Progressives, Independents, Liberals and Lifelong Democrats do the same.

The Republicans made is clear two years ago that they will not support ANYTHING the President offers.

It's time for the President to snap out of this idea of being an Adult to degenerates.

[Odin2005]

35. These IDs violate the constitutional amendment banning poll taxes.

[hue]

36. more info..."The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin...

"The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is trying to raise $200,000 to sue over the law, arguing it violates a provision of the state constitution that limits what restrictions can be put on voting." Here is their web site if You are interested. There is more info re the intended law suit on their front page at this time. Contributions are welcome. From the Milwaukee JournalSentinel:

"DMV employees told not to volunteer information on free IDs"

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/129400013.html

[Badsam]

37. Why would I need a voter ID card when my passport says I'm an

AMERICAN!

[Sabriel]

38. UPDATE to this story

A Department of Safety and Professional Services LTE was fired this morning for emailing DMV workers that the voter IDs are, in fact, free:

http://slysoffice.blogspot.com/2011/09/state-employee-terminated-over-free.html

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

49. PHONE # [phone] DEPT. OF SAFETY &

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
Fight back !
Let them know what you think.
Tie up the phones.

[Yon_Yonson]

54. Sham Firing Of Chris Larsen Underscores Stench In Governor Walker’s Administration

Sham Firing Of Chris Larsen Underscores Stench In Governor Walker’s Administration
September 8, 2011
by dekerivers i1 Votes

There are scenarios one could never make up to match the real world that plays out everyday in Madison.

That is more and more the case when looking at the antics that is taking place in Governor Walker’s version of state government that seems to be running amok.

The latest example is what has happened to Chris Larsen.

A low-level state employee was fired Thursday after he sent an email to his fellow employees telling them about the state Department of Transportation’s policy on giving out free photo identification cards for voting.

Chris Larsen, who had worked in the mail room at the state Department of Safety and Professional Services, sent an email Thursday morning to all employees at the agency’s headquarters explaining that the DOT would provide photo IDs to people only if they specifically asked to have the fee waived.

A couple of hours later, Larsen was fired.

Larsen, 38, sent his email to fellow employees at his workplace after learning of the policy. He said he sent it so others would know they could get free IDs if they needed them to vote.

Larsen said a supervisor told him his use of email was inappropriate. He said he’d held the job since December as a limited-term employee.

As I wrote late last night the voter ID bill passed by the Republican-controlled legislature was nothing more than an effort to disenfranchise voters. When one looks at the text of the email that Larsen sent it becomes clear that the noose it tightening around those who are attempting to use election laws to undermine voter turnout. Larsen was merely underscoring the letter of the law that passed, and alerting all to how the measure was designed to function. There should no problem promoting a Republican idea, is there?

Unless the real intent of the law in the first place was to undermine voters having full and unfettered access to the ballot box by placing hoops in the way.

Republicans would never do that, would they?

Here’s the full text of Larsen’s email:

“Do you know someone who votes that does not have a State ID that meets requirements to vote? Tell them they can go to the DMV/DOT and get a free ID card. However they must ask for the free ID. a memo was sent out by the 3rd in command of the DMV/DOT. The memo specifically told the employees at the DMV/DOT not to inform individuals that the ID’s are free. So if the individuals seeking to get the free ID does not ask for a free ID, they will have to pay for it!!

“Just wanted everyone to be informed!! REMEMBER TO TELL ANYONE YOU KNOW!! ANYONE!! EVEN IF THEY DON’T NEED THE FREE ID, THEY MAY KNOW SOMEONE THAT DOES!! SO TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!”

http://dekerivers.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/sham-firing-of-chris-larson-underscores-stench-in-governor-walkers-administration/

[Initech]

42. So is it voter fraud yet???

[Phaedrus76]

45. I am (yawn) shocked

And surprised. It is almost like the Tea baggers are trying suppress voter turnout.

[Hubert Flottz]

46. Whoever fired that person belongs in jail.

The feds need to look into what's been going on in that state, because in national elections it could hurt EVERY American.

[wial]

50. is you aren't outraged enough already

read this

http://slysoffice.blogspot.com/2011/09/state-employee-terminated-over-free.html

They fired someone for trying to get the word out about the ID scam! There's already been at least one rally about it.

[humblebum]

51. Poll tax. nt

[999998th word]

55. Will the notices STAY up-how long B4 the claim 'vandals are removing them?'

Paid shills, no doubt- from inside, or outside the DMV can be counted on to 'relocate' these signs with regularity.

The Koch bastards & ALEC paid a lot of good money to see to it-this law will remain effective, after all we still

have Kathy Nicklaus @ her job w/no consequences whatsoever. If they can't steal an election, they will subvert the

registration process.

They are on a mission. Hitler and Stalin would be proud. Divide and conquer --destroy and corrupt.:evilfrown: :nuke: