Letter: Photo ID suppresses voting

I am alarmed with the dismissive position you take in your “Vote barriers not that high” editorial on Sept. 13 concerning new voter ID laws that have been enacted in 17 states that have Republican governors or Republican-majority legislatures.

In your opinion, if Democrats give “poorer people a program and candidates they believe in, photo ID isn’t going to be an insuperable barrier to getting out the vote.” This opinion, combined with your belief that Rep. John Lewis’ “blistering critique of new voter ID laws was a bit overblown” shows your lack of, or unwillingness to understand, the importance of this issue.

To have 180 restrictive voter registration bills introduced in 41 states since 2011, 25 laws and two executive actions passed since 2011 in 19 states, and 17 states that account for 218 electoral votes who passed restrictive laws that could impact the 2012 election. Of these, restrictions from 19 laws and executive actions are currently in effect in 14 states.

Prior to the 2011 legislative session, only two states had ever imposed strict photo ID requirements, but the number of states requiring voters to show government-issued photo ID quadrupled in 2011.

These new photo ID laws,voter ID laws, and proof of citizenship laws, combined with making voter registration harder by restricting voter registration drives, limiting voter mobilization efforts, eliminating voter registration days, same-day registration, and reducing early and absentee voting days, all in the name of reducing voter fraud when little or none has been proven.

These acts give Rep. Lewis the right to have given such an emotion-filled speech and say that “he has seen and lived this before” when these laws have been proven to suppress the votes of African and Hispanic Americans, and the poor.

Though you acknowledge these changes are aimed at defeating President Barack Obama, they also raise the question that 47 years after the 1965 Civil and Voting Rights Acts were passed that the right for all Americans to vote is still not accepted by some, and they will use any means to suppress it.

When you consider the statements that have been made by the Republican officials in the states where these laws have been passed and the silence on this issue from the elected Republican officials in this state, the barrier is higher than just Democrats having a program and candidates they believe in to get out the vote.

Randy Perkins

pastor

Zachary

Comments

1) Comment by InPVille - 09/10/2012

@Tea_Slayer: "voter fraud? try again, liar... what you posted were cases of voter registration fraud (people falsifying voter registration forms). Voter fraud is ACTUALLY casting a ballot." -[**]- Yeah! people register to vote fraudulently all the time with no actual intention of actually doing it. It is all in the spirit of good fun. GOOD GRIEF! -[**]- SCOTUS Decision in CRAWFORD et al. v. MARION COUNTY ELECTION BOARD et al. http://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/07-21/#ZO-11 -[**]- "flagrant examples of such fraud in other parts of the country have been documented throughout this Nation’s history by respected historians and journalists, 11 that occasional examples have surfaced in recent years, 12 and that Indiana’s own experience with fraudulent voting in the 2003 Democratic primary for East Chicago Mayor 13 —though perpetrated using absentee ballots and not in-person fraud—demonstrate that not only is the risk of voter fraud real but that it could affect the outcome of a close election." -[**]- SCOTUS has already determined that the burden of obtaining a "free photo ID" does not put in place an unreasonable burden on any voter. I don't know whether Louisiana offers a free photo ID to those who don't have one for the purposes of voting. However, I very much doubt that it would remove your objections to same. Why? Because once again you have proved you are but a puppet of the LW.

2) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 08/10/2012

and before you yahoos come on here whining about making sure YOUR vote counts by ensuring that 100% of the votes cast are legitimate, all I can say is that I know MY vote for president won't count due to the flawed electoral college system (since Mitt will carry LA)

3) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 08/10/2012

voter fraud? try again, liar... what you posted were cases of voter registration fraud (people falsifying voter registration forms). Voter fraud is ACTUALLY casting a ballot. Voter fraud is extremely rare and has never swayed an election. Voter ID laws would have NO effect on what you and your anti-acorn site posted. Thanks for proving yet again that you are a puppet of the RW.

4) Comment by Mygulfbleedsforu - 05/10/2012

Let's not conflate registering to vote with going to the polls to cast a vote.

5) Comment by LSUinVail - 05/10/2012

This is shear hypocrisy at it's finest. We have a government that requires every citizen to prove that they are insured...but not everyone should prove they are a citizen. Any of those who refuse, or are unable, to prove they are citizens will receive free insurance paid for by those who are forced to buy insurance because they are citizens.

6) Comment by phil - 05/10/2012

Suzanne, to answer your question my problem is voter fraud. You try to change and twist the real subject by making it appear like I do not like the poor, elderly or the disabled. For one thing, how do you know for sure I do not fit into some of those categories? But thanks for the info. Now I know I can collect welfare and medicaid and other government benefits without ever showing ID or leaving my home or proving that I am poor. Think I will give that one a try. Maybe we should just all vote from home too. I guess then taxpayers will have to buy everyone a computer and Internet access so they will have equal rights and ability to vote over the Internet? By the way, I do not own a cell phone. How do I get one of those free ones (another subject).

7) Comment by Whatnow - 05/10/2012

No voter fraud? Try again.... http://www.rottenacorn.com/activityMap.html

8) Comment by nimby? - 05/10/2012

question ; if these individuals are unable to get where they can obtain a photo ID , how are they getting to the polls ?

9) Comment by ScotB - 04/10/2012

The right to vote may be the most sacred right of a citizen in a republic. Asking for proof that you are entitled to that right is not unreasonable. I agree that some persons have had despicable reasons for wanting such laws passed, but they are good laws. In fact, they do not go far enough because we have not instituted good systems for validating absentee ballots, which certainly needs to be done. You do not need proof of a problem to justify instituting good systems to insure there will be no problem. The Advocate is correct: this is not a hardship.

10) Comment by nimby? - 04/10/2012

SuzanneMS , this is 2012 . why would a person not have a photo ID ? I've had one since 1964 , no problem here .

11) Comment by SuzanneMS - 04/10/2012

Phil, what part of "A Social Security card is not valid identification at the polls" can't you understand? It does not have a picture on it. It does not have an expiration date. Oh, and there is no charge for a Social Security number and no requirement that you obtain one in person. It's all done through the mail. Of course, you're only looking for an excuse to drag out your tired old rant against the poor, elderly and disabled, so don't let any facts stand in your way. nimby, the laws were passed this summer, not four years ago. What's your problem?

12) Comment by nimby? - 04/10/2012

the election is tuesday , November 6 . there's been almost four years notice to prepare yourself , what's the problem ?

13) Comment by civitasiveritas - 04/10/2012

@Springer98: Do you honestly believe that the glee and open comments by a number of the legislators who pushed this legislation across the country, when it was pointed out that these laws would disproportionately impact African-Americans and other voters of color is not evidence of racism? I note that you only picked up on the "middle-class" comment, and that it stroked your ire. I suspect that you are in fact, middle class, and that your comments disclose very little knowledge if living in poverty today. I do not, of course know your background, and of course I could be mistaken. In fact, it seems that everyone claims they were from poverty. And they pulled themselves up only by their personal bootstraps. My apologies.

14) Comment by phil - 04/10/2012

Gee all of this talk about IDs. However what I do not understand is how do poor people get on welfare, collect Medicaid and then Medicare and Social Security etc without a Social Security number? I suppose it is a lot of trouble to get a valid ID to vote, but not so hard to get proper identification when it is time to collect government benefits? Think I will go down to the Medicaid office and apply for some benefits. I suppose the government doesn't care who I am or if I have any money - right? This entire issue is stupid I think. Just tell the government you refuse to get a social security number, pay taxes etc and see where you get with that. Then also go tell those folks thanks but no thanks when they tell you you have to have a driver's license to drive.

15) Comment by Springer98 - 04/10/2012

The same tired old racism claims are as old as the hills & twice as dusty! You apparently know nothing of my background, as you claim I am from a middle class background. You might want to get your money back for your crystal ball, because it is defective! If you have read many of my past posts, you would know of my struggle, working my way out of poverty. I have plenty of first hand experience with poverty, so please don't try to lecture me on that.

16) Comment by phil - 04/10/2012

DMJ- Yes I can only vote in one precinct, but what if I show no ID and pretend to be someone else in another precinct. I admit I am not an expert on voter fraud since I do not do that, but you seem to take the extra step of calling me a liar. I personally do not like that. There is a big difference between calling someone incorrect and calling them a liar.. Now possibly the REAL problem will be that the computer-based voting system will be hacked and all of the results will be changed. Now that is a good possibility, it has happened elsewhere, and that is certainly not a lie.

17) Comment by civitasiveritas - 04/10/2012

@Springer98: Of course, you would have to admit two things. First, that the case you mention of Lessadolla Sowers has NOTHING to do with voter ID laws. If you know anything about the case, you know that she did not go and vote at the polls, so her case has nothing to do with the rants on here. The facts about the difficulty of obtaining ID cards for millions of people is something you, from a middle class background, and the editors at the Advocate know little to nothing about. Suzanne and the Pastor who wrote the letter do seem to know something about the difficulties for those in poverty. Now, we also have clear evidence that those pushing these laws KNOW they will impact disproportionately those minorities who are most likely to vote for Democrats over Republicans... in part due to the same kind of racism shown in the remarks on this article.

18) Comment by Springer98 - 04/10/2012

@SuzanneMS, Perhaps you might want to google Lessadolla Sowers, if you want to find evidence of fraud! It's really not too difficult.

19) Comment by DMJ - 04/10/2012

In Tennessee, you can't use a college ID to vote, but you CAN use your handgun carry permit. True story.

20) Comment by SuzanneMS - 04/10/2012

Fraud? What fraud? Even the Republicans can't find evidence of fraud. You do not need a government-issued photo ID to obtain a library card. Any picture ID will do. You have to be willing to gather information from sources other than the Advocate to understand this issue. First, this is not about registering to vote. The procedure to register has not changed. You can still do it through the mail. No ID is required. Second, the requirements are not for ID or even for photo ID. The requirements are for a government-issued photo ID with an expiration date. Veteran's IDs are not valid because they do not have an expiration date. SS cards are not valid because they do not include a photo or an expiration date. These laws require a birth certificate with a raised seal in order to obtain this government-issued photo ID with an expiration date. Those can cost upwards of $25 and require 6-8 weeks to obtain, assuming that a birth certificate was ever issued. Many elderly African-Americans do not have birth certificates. They were born at home, because hospitals would not admit blacks, and no birth certificate was issued to blacks. Many elderly of every ethnicity have the same problem -- they were born at home and a birth certificate was not issued or the court house burned down and their birth certificate along with it. They do have SS cards and other forms of identification, some with photos, but they are not valid according to this law because they were not issued by the government and/or do not have an expiration date. Even if they can gather the required identification, the IDs are issued only at select DMV offices during select hours. Besides having to get transportation to the site, they have to wait for hours because the restricted hours result in long lines -- longer than usual at the DMV. Yet these laws were only passed this summer, leaving 6 months or less to do all of this before the election.

21) Comment by civitasiveritas - 04/10/2012

Does anyone on here really believe rgeraldwallace and his fanciful story? Sounds a lot like urban legend to me. Many of the comments on here remind me why we should criticize until we have walked a mile in someone else's shoes. Driver's License? Not many in poverty have one. Checks? Not many have a checking account, or even a bank in their local area. So many of the comments are just put-downs to those in poverty. You know who was in poverty, and needed help from the government? Governor Romney's parents. It's true, and they sure were appreciative of it. And most of you writing on here (myself included) had parents who benefited from government programs such as Rural Electrification, the roadways, and food programs in the 30's. Check your family histories. Most of your families benefited. Major killers of children and infants, wiped out through government programs to eliminate or reduce their effects. Be thankful.

22) Comment by DMJ - 04/10/2012

phil, you know good and well you can only vote in one precinct. Don't lie. And writing a check (as well as driving a car, getting a library card or buying alcohol) is not a constitutionally protected right. Voting, on the other hand, is. It's a good thing that most of the new restrictions were deemed unconstitutional or won't be allowed to take affect until after November. We're not going to have Republicans steal the election again, like in 2000. Just look at how that turned out...

23) Comment by phil - 04/10/2012

I think everyone should not have to show their drivers license or other ID to vote, That way I can get my uncle to go to several different voting places and vote numerous times for the person I want to get elected. Sometimes I have to show my ID at the grocery store just to write a check. I do not have anything to hide. If you can't figure out how to get an ID, maybe you are not intelligent enough to vote anyway.

24) Comment by mcarter - 04/10/2012

So it's too hard for "poor" people to get an ID? Is it really that hard? Really? I bet if you had to get an ID to get a free phone or tennis shoes they would be lined up a mile. I have always had to show my id to vote. If you don't drive, state Id's are available. Many states have offered these for free. Many have offered them rides to get them. Continue with a "helpless can't do" attitude and you never will be able to do anything.

25) Comment by [e-mail] - 04/10/2012

I voted early in the last election; at the time that I was in the office showing my ID etc there was another younger man in there ahead of me and he was having a little trouble. It seems that he didn't have a driver's license and he couldn't remember his birthday, his middle name, or anything else. His picture ID didn't match his voter records and he was unsure where he usually voted. My immediate conclusion was that the poor man was disadvantaged, poor, probably hungry and so he was so obviously perplexed, but outside the place afterwards I saw him standing by his new model car poring through several papers that seemed to have ID's atached to them. You might imagine my astonishment!

26) Comment by 8point6 - 04/10/2012

Let's try this test. When a cop stops you for ANYTHING, and asks for your driver's license, auto registration and proof of insurance, just tell him/her "no". The previous comments cover everything I was going to say about this.

27) Comment by jdk944 - 04/10/2012

Pastor Perkins - you apparently have choosen to ignore the possibility of this action being NOW necessary because of the increase in "illegals"!! And your decision to try and combine your argument with ANYTHING that Rep. John Lewis says, shows your disconnect with reality!!

28) Comment by Bouncer - 04/10/2012

I cannot think of anything worthwhile that an adult can do that does not involve the showing of a photo ID. On the other hand, think of all the relatively insignificant things you cannot do without a photo ID, like get a library card. If you need an ID to get a library card, then it seems to me that something as weighty as having a voice in the election of our governing officials should require positive photo ID.

29) Comment by Bighug - 04/10/2012

If some people are interested enough to collect votes for their favorite candidate by picking up people who otherwise would stay home, and driving them to the polls, why can't they also drive them to a place where free ID cards are provided? A simple solution to the problem would be to provide someone at each voting place with a cheap camera and affidavits explaining the penalty for fraudulent voting to be signed by the voters. Has anyone done a study to find how many legal voters don't have an ID? Probably very few.

30) Comment by speakthetruth - 03/10/2012

I don't understand why anyone would be opposed to making someone show I.D. when voting in order to avoid voter fraud. You have to show I.D. when applying for food stamps and that doesn't seem to effect the poor. You have to show I.D. to attend the NAACP convention and that doesn't seem to affect attendance. You have to have I. D. to file for Social Security and to get a drivers license, and it doesn't seem to stop the poor from doing either. Mr. Perkins, do you really want illegals voting on who runs our country? I know my personal opinion would be very unpopular, but I feel voting should not be a right but a privilege that should be earned by getting just the basic education; GED, high school diploma. No education, no vote. Politicians cater to the ignorant by promising a chicken in every pot, but the ignorant don't know to ask how its going to be paid for.