The 'Voter Fraud' Fraud

[grizmaster]

Just saw that the House passed the bill, but here's a great article on why it's not necessary.

Best point is the Georgia bit that there has never been a case of this kind of voter fraud. Looks like we'll have to dispel the smokescreen via the Senate instead.

edit to add the story on the House vote


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060920/ap_on_go_co/immigration;_ylt=Al74D5mS.feMGXpnuMN3iTms0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OTB1amhuBHNlYwNtdHM-

WASHINGTON - The House voted Wednesday to require Americans to show proof of citizenship in order to vote,


http://www.tompaine.com/print/the_voter_fraud_fraud.php

The 'Voter Fraud' Fraud
Alexandra Walker
September 20, 2006

The most illuminating portion of an article about Georgia’s voter ID law in today’s New York Times comes, as these things usually do, near the end. In the very last paragraph the reporter notes that two Georgia election officials she interviewed say they have never—in their entire careers—encountered a single case of voter fraud based on a person posing as someone else at the polls. Their experience reflects the national pattern: Individual voter fraud is a very minor problem. Yet to listen to the alarmist rhetoric coming from conservative Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, voter fraud is an epidemic threatening our democracy.

Today the House is expected to pass a bill that would require all voters to show a photo ID proving their citizenship to be allowed to vote in a federal election. In addition to Georgia, six other states have passed similar photo ID bills. Groups ranging from the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights to the National Campaign for Fair Elections are working overtime to block the federal version of this proposal because it unfairly discriminates against voters of color, rural voters, the young, homeless and transient. Click here to learn how to voice your opposition to the H.R. 4844.

At first glance, requiring voters to present photo IDs at their polling station may not sound like an undue hardship, which is precisely what is so deceptive about the legislation. But in fact, “in the vast majority of states, drivers’ licenses do not currently require proof of citizenship and thus would not meet the ID requirements of H.R. 4844,” according to the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. What this means in practice, explains LCCR, is that voters who “do not bring to the polls a photo ID that verifies their citizenship—such as a passport—could not vote .”

[leQ]

1. wouldn't this be kind to requiring us to have passports? (n/t)

[grizmaster]

2. precisely, or to create a national ID

either one will disenfranchise huge numbers of voters

And from the yahoo article

"Rep. Ike Skelton (news, bio, voting record), D-Mo., said he was initially denied a voter ID required under a Missouri state law because he doesn't have a driver's license and couldn't immediately produce a passport or birth certificate. His congressional ID card was not accepted."

[kestrel91316]

3. We don't have a problem with "voter" fraud in the US. We have a

problem with "election" fraud. And the voters aren't the perpetrators - the folks running the elections are.

I sure wish our legislators knew and understood the difference...........

[electropop]

8. Each time Dems use the term "voter fraud" when they mean "election fraud"

(that is, if they admit there's a problem at all), they are feeding in to the Puke version of the story. The false version.

[subterranean]

4. The bill only requires proof of citizenship when you register

When you actually vote, a driver's license would be fine. At least that's my understanding. Still, I fail to see the need for this legislation to prevent voter fraud, when election fraud and voting machine security are much bigger problems.

[sandnsea]

6. They're $56.00 here

Not really a "driver's license would be fine" scenario for minimum wage workers and our minimum wage is $7.50 hr. I know lots of people in their 20's who just don't bother with it anymore, between the price of a car, insurance, gas and the driver's license. In my small town, they just walk, as many in the cities do too.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Poor urban minority people are less likely to have

drivers' licenses, and are less likely to seek out contact with authorities in order to get other forms of ID, particularly if there is some cost associated with doing so. They are also far less likely to have passports, etc. Voter ID is more insidious and probably more effective at discouraging the minority & poor vote than the old, long-outlawed poll taxes.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

11. Not to mention all the elderly who don't drive anymore

At least two of my grandparents didn't have driver's licenses for the last 6-10 years of their lives.

[grizmaster]

13. and the disabled who can't drive (such as our returning vets)

that'll be a fine welcome home for them huh?

[grizmaster]

12. As the article points out, zero cases in Georgia

of the type of 'fraud' this is supposed to prevent. A ficticious crime wave to disenfranchise thousands of voters

[TexasLawyer]

14. Voter registration drives

Boy, that would sure take the wind out of voter registration drives. No one walks around carrying passports, birth certificates, etc... And what happens to mail-in registration applications?

[dkofos]

5. More useless legislation

Is it time to vote ALL INCUMBENTS OUT??

[meganmonkey]

7. Actually, it is very useful

for the people who are trying to further disenfranchise American citizens from the political process :shrug:

[grizmaster]

10. it's VERY "useful" to those trying to disenfranchise

the poor, the elderly, and the inner city voters

[glitch]

15. Smoke and mirrors. What would these people do if they had to deal with

reality? I hope they get a big dose of it, and soon. Good article, K & R.