Voter ID bills around the nation, Would a National ID solve that problem?

[Bandit]

Republicans are hell bent on making it as difficult as possible for many to vote. I was wondering if a National ID program were to be instated and IDs issued to every single American at no charge to them would that aid or deter the Republicans in their efforts?

[rfranklin]

1. We could tattoo an ID number on everyone...

Tattoos are popular now.

[sharp_stick]

2. Could you imagine the screaming from

the right if that was brought up?

It would be kind of funny if someone suggested it after any one of those tools took to the house floor to rail against the imaginary onslaught of voter fraud.

[William769]

3. We already have a National ID.

Try doing business without a Social Security number.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Yes and look south for an example

the IFE issues a new card to voters every ten years, with the census... these days it is essentially a national ID. But that reduced voter fraud (which is not an issue for the most part here)...

We should consider issuing these IDs, at the DMV... or just make your Driver's licence be marked as an ID.

Yes, people who are poor, the elderly, et al, will have issues getting them... that is why the IFE has outlets everywhere for six months when the ten year comes in. So yes, they make it as convenient as possible for people to get their new Voter ID and update the voter rolls.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. what problem?

There is no problem. Voter ID is just another scam to suppress Democratic party voter turnout.

[Bandit]

8. Why would it be just Democratic voter turnout?

I think there are many poor and possibly illegal Republicans as well. Unless you are just referring to Minorities and they do seem to trend more Democratic, but not sutre why getting ID would be a problem for them.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I'll explain why, and why I mentioned the IFE in Mexico

since they had to deal with those issues... and make that card as convenient as possible... (Hell they have outlets, as in permanent, at the metro stations and shopping malls)

A driver's licence is a luxury for many poor people. The elderly, who no longer drive, again that is a problem... and students.

These are groups that trend democratic.

A national Voter ID is not a bad idea... but you have to be VERY CAREFUL in how you implement it to make it so damn easy to get it, that you'd have to be lazy NOT TO.

Of course there is the issue with national security state, but that is another discussion. A national ID card, IF WELL IMPLEMENTED, would actually hurt republicans

[Warren Stupidity]

19. Again, WHAT PROBLEM?

[Bandit]

20. Apparently Democrats are perceiving Republican efforts to restrict voting as a problem

Don't know whether you see it as such, but they aren't creating these restrictions for budget purposes..:shrug:

[Warren Stupidity]

26. You proposed a national ID in your OP as a solution to some "problem"

that you seem to think needs a solution. I want to know what problem a national ID required to vote would solve.

Since you know exactly what I am asking and are refusing to respond, I'll spell it out. Once again we are letting the rightwing frame the debate and are discussing what mechanisms of new id requirements should be imposed on the people as a new barrier to voting, rather than demanding to know what problem this new imposition on people is intended to solve. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Absent an actual real world problem, imposition of new government regulations is something the rightwing ought to be against, and we should be demanding that they stand with us against the imposition of new and unwarranted government regulations.

[SoCalDem]

6. Yes.. It's called a passport

Our country should provide ALL citizens with one.. Even if you never leave the country on a trip, it would be wonderful to know that all citizens have proof-positive that they are eligible to vote.

They could be provided free to people who cannot afford them.

Actual day to day address could easily be verified by providing an bill addressed to the person.

People should also have the option of getting a ballot for president/senator/governor, no matter where in the state they live...if their local address ID is unacceptable

[WinkyDink]

9. Passports can't be "provided" without somehow the person getting a PHOTO.

[SoCalDem]

16. There is a marvelous invention... maybe you've heard of it

It's called a camera.. MILLIONS of people have them.

Costco manages to make an immediate photo ID.. even elementary schools manage to use the technology..

If our country really wanted us to have a passport, we could surely manage it.. We get people into outer space... I am pretty confident that we could manage to get a passport to our citizens, and then they could decide whether it would free them up for a trip abroad, or to vote or to have the thing reside forever in a sock drawer:)

[WinkyDink]

22. Here's something you might NOT have heard of: Homelessness.

[SoCalDem]

24. People who receive any sort of benefit, are 'find-able"

and even homeless people "know" people who could certainly help them get their ID.

The whole issue of micro v macro sinks us every time..

There will ALWAYS be "some people" for whom any suggestion/policy will be inconvenient/difficult/impossible, but a means to accommodate them should be built into any solution that suits the majority and could certainly be found.. unless the kvetching about why something cannot be done, is more important than working toward something that CAN be done:)

[tabbycat31]

13. I wonder how many people actually have passports

I did and it expired when I was 15. I never renewed it because I have not left the country since and don't feel a need to. If I was traveling internationally, then I would.

My sister goes off on how I should always have a valid passport, but I don't know anyone abroad and have no reason to leave the country. THe $100 (?) fee is cost-prohibitive to me anyways. If I need an ID, I use my drivers license.

[SoCalDem]

17. The US could waive the cost if they wanted to

Our government managed to get draft cards to all young men (and still keep tabs on them).. the government knows who we are, and should at least provide us proof-positive so we could all vote without having to jump through flaming hoops:)

[WinkyDink]

7. Anti-American concept. Smacks of Nazi Germany's "Papers, bitte."

[truebrit71]

11. Sure, and we can put yellow stars on the jewish ones, and crescent moons on the muslim ones...

...:eyes:

[damntexdem]

12. No, it would make problems worse.

The "problem" with voter-ID laws is: the existence of voter-ID laws that make voting, and sometimes registering to vote, more difficult for those who are legally entitled to vote.

[LiberalFighter]

14. The key is to create a voter id law that is intended for federal elections

and results in states utilizing the same law for their state and local elections.

The federal government has control over federal elections. Qualifications, financing, campaigning, etc.

The states would not want to have two different voter id requirements as it would also upset Republicans too.

[Bandit]

18. I didn't think there was any such thing as a Federal election

It is true that you vote for Federal Positions such as Representative and Senator and President but you do it in a State election following State election laws. I do not believe there is a Federal election Law..You may have hit on something though in that maybe there should be a Federal Law.

[LiberalFighter]

25. They didn't have General elections as they do now on the 2nd Tuesday in Nov

When Congress mandated federal elections for the primary in Presidential elections the states followed for other elections.

[MasonJar]

15. I think that the Social Security card could be shown. It could be a national

policy. That way the GOPers would not be able to eliminate Dems so easily.

[Bandit]

21. They are DEMANDING picture ID

:shrug:

[WinkyDink]

23. SS number ought not be used that way. Poll-workers are just volunteers who have no

right to that info.