Respectfully submitted by Lawrence Rafferty (rafflaw)- Guest Blogger
It seems that almost everywhere you look, some State is trying to reduce the number of early voting days, purging the voting rolls and making it harder for citizens to cast their votes. The State of Florida has recently attempted to remove legitimate voters off its voter rolls and the State of Georgia recently attempted to restrict the time when a military absentee ballot can be counted as I wrote about earlier on this blog. Georgia Now, we have some hard evidence of just who is getting removed or impacted by the various State’s attempts to cure the imagined Voter fraud problem!
“Their data suggests that beyond the wide variation in purge rates across states, there is significant variation within states:
In many states, certain parts of the state electorate, both geographically and demographically, are much more likely to be dropped off of the voter rolls than others. More specifically, some general trends that we see are focused on:
a. Urbanity – cities are getting disproportionately purged
b. Race – minorities are getting disproportionately purged
c. Marital Status – unmarried people are getting disproportionately purged
d. Age – younger (< 40 years old) and older (> 65 years old) voters are purged more frequently than middle-aged voters
e. County effects – there are big differences across county lines, pointing to sharp discontinuities based on arbitrary political boundaries that do not correspond with inherent behavioral differences
Catalist notes that more than 2.7 million living people who voted in 2008 have since been purged from the voter rolls. Among those, African American voters are “1.5 times more likely to be purged than Caucasian voters, nationally.” ‘ Think Progress
It appears from the data above that Minorities are the big “winners” when it comes to the voter purge gambit. The young and the old seem to be the runners-up in the race to see which demographic gets the worst of the attempts to prevent legal voters from being able to vote. What could be behind this attempt to prevent minorities and the young and those older than 65 from voting? It couldn’t be politics, could it??!
What are these States afraid of? It cannot be voter fraud since the actual number of voter fraud incidents is infinitesimal. “In fact there were only nine instances of possible in-person voter fraud between 2000 and 2007, and it is more likely that an individual will get struck by lightning than they will commit voter fraud. In the lawsuit brought by the ACLU against Pennsylvania’s voter ID law, the state formally acknowledged that no in-person voter fraud has occurred in Pennsylvania and they don’t expect any to occur in November.” Think Progress
Let see if I understand this. One side is claiming that voter purges and stricter voter ID laws are needed to prevent or stop a problem that at least in the case of the State of Pennsylvania, was not a problem in the past or likely in the future.
If there is no legitimate voter fraud problem now or in the near past, should these voter purges and voter ID laws be considered Voter Fraud? If so, why and if not, why not?
Additional sources: The Brennan Center
I have had 7 surgeries in the past two years and each time, I have had to show my ID at the hospital where I was getting the procedure done at.
And here in Indiana, the BMV will give you a FREE State ID around voting time so folks can vote. Also, both the Democrat and Republican committees will give you are ride to the BMV for FREE. And to voting polls as well. And the Citilink bus will take you there for FREE as well.
Bron,
it seems obvious from your claims of not understanding the problem of these voter ID laws that you are in favor of making people who are currently legally able to vote drive hours, in the case of Texas, just to get the card. Some states try to charge for the ID and in some cases the ID process is purposely burdensome to anyone who goes through it. It is no longer just a process of going to your neighborhood Sec. of State office in many cases. Why “fix” something that isn’t broken. The right is not even hiding the fact that these voter purges and Voter ID laws are designed to curtail legal voters from being able to cast votes against Republican candidates. Tell your friends on the Right in Pennslyvania, Texas and many others to open up more offices and do not restrict the hours of early voting.
Bron, You need to keep up. Acorn was put out of business by faked videos and an attack by Republicans in congress. You’re an excellent example of privilege doesn’t recognize privilege.
rafflaw:
since I have multiple ID’s and a voter ID card, I do not understand the problem.
What I keep seeing posted here is that the republicans are preventing people from voting by requiring a voter id card, I dont think it is a big deal to get a voter id card.
I just looked for DMV’s in Baltimore, MD, there are not very many but they are within walking distance of the bus line run by the Maryland Transit Administration. It takes 35 minutes to get to the MVA from N. Monroe St. about 20 minutes of it are walking. Which would preclude some elderly and some handicapped people. The cost is minimal. So OK you do have a point. But the solution is to provide a couple of locations within the city which dispenses voter ID’s. If the republicans are against that then you are correct, they are trying to suppress the vote.
Or have community groups like Acorn provide transportation to area DMV’s on certain days for the next 3 months to get everyone an ID. I am sure there would be private money available to pay for that.
Another option is to open the polling places on 4-6 consecutive weekends and provide people with voter id’s, have republicans and democrats watching so that there are no shenanigans. It seems like this is a simple thing to address.
In my opinion if you dont want to spend a few hours getting an id so you can vote, maybe you really dont care enough so why should I bother helping you?
I find it a ludicrous concept that somebody intent upon committing voter fraud could not figure out how to fake a passable photo ID card. Teenagers do it with scanners, color printers, and laminate available at any office supply store. When they get caught, the usual reason is because they look or act too young to be the age they are trying to fake. A vote fraud wouldn’t have to fake an age.
I think it is silly to think a photo-ID would stop any fraud; thus the more plausible explanation is that the intent is to stop people that do not have photo-IDs, and that demographic is disproportionately composed of those that benefit from a robust social safety net, and the young and city dwellers that have concluded a robust social safety net is a good idea.
Great link Elaine. Mitt has no chance unless he can restrict enough voters to give him the edge. Sounds like a good business practice.
Romney Smears Obama, Falsely Claims He Filed Lawsuit To Restrict Military Voting In Ohio
By Judd Legum on Aug 4, 2012
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/08/04/640491/romney-smears-obama-falsely-claims-he-filed-lawsuit-to-restrict-military-voting-in-ohio/
Excerpt:
Today on Facebook, Mitt Romney claims that the Obama campaign is trying to “undermine” the ability of members of the military to vote in Ohio:
President Obama’s lawsuit claiming it is unconstitutional for Ohio to allow servicemen and women extended early voting privileges during the state’s early voting period is an outrage. The brave men and women of our military make tremendous sacrifices to protect and defend our freedoms, and we should do everything we can to protect their fundamental right to vote. I stand with the fifteen military groups that are defending the rights of military voters, and if I’m entrusted to be the commander-in-chief, I’ll work to protect the voting rights of our military, not undermine them.
This certainly sounds outrageous, but it is not true. Since 2005, Ohio has had in person early-voting in the three days prior to the election. This year, however, the Republican legislature in Ohio eliminated early voting during this period, except for members of the military. The Obama lawsuit is attempting to restore voting rights for all Ohioans, not restrict them for the military or any other group. From the Obama lawsuit, filed in federal court:
Plaintiffs bring this lawsuit to restore in-person early voting for all Ohioans during the three days prior to Election Day – a right exercised by an estimated 93,000 Ohioans in the last presidential election. Ohio election law, as currently enacted by the State of Ohio and administered by Defendant Ohio Secretary of State, arbitrarily eliminates early voting during the three days prior to Election Day for most Ohio voters, a right previously available to all Ohio voters.
Why Does Mitt Romney Want To Restrict Voting Rights For More Than 900,000 Ohio Veterans?
By Jon Soltz, a two-tour Iraq veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/08/06/641891/why-does-mitt-romney-want-to-restrict-voting-rights-for-more-than-900000-ohio-veterans/
Excerpt:
When I read stories this weekend that said the Obama campaign was suing to restrict the voting rights of military in Ohio, my blood got boiling. Of course, Think Progress has already documented that story, inflamed by the Romney campaign, is patently false. In fact, the Obama campaign was suing to block an Ohio law which restricts a very successful early voting program in the state. The President’s campaign was trying to keep expanded voting rights in place for everyone, military included. So, why am I still so disturbed?
Because Mitt Romney, by supporting the Ohio law that would do away with three days of early voting for all but those covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voter Act (‘UOCAVA’), is supporting the restriction of voting rights for as many as 913,000 Ohio veterans. This includes military retirees with over 20 years of service and multiple deployments. In short, Mitt Romney supports efforts to make voting more difficult for the very people who have put their lives on the line after swearing an oath to uphold our Constitution and democracy.
Once you leave the military, you are no longer covered by UOCAVA. Your voting rights are the same as any civilian. That means the early voting law which Mitt Romney wants to undo, provided hundreds of thousands of Ohio veterans with more of an opportunity to vote. By all accounts, Ohio voters liked and used the early voting law. In 2008, nearly one-third of all ballots was cast under the early voting measures, surely many of them veterans.
Bron,
your comment is uncalled for. The poor and and the elderly and the handicapped are just as capable of functioning as the rest of us if given the opportunity. However, when laws are designed to push them out of the polling place or make it more difficult, that is the real crime. If the Right is so willing to share its views and welcome all into their fold, why are they trying so hard to limit the vote? What are they afraid of?
Otteray Scribe:
No I guess I dont get it, why do we have all of these laws to help people with disabilities and they still have to suffer at the DMV? It seems to me a reasonable accommodation to let a person in a wheelchair go to the head of the line.
What most of the comments seem to indicate is that the elderly, the poor, the handicapped are victims without the ability to reason or function. How do they ever find their way to the polling place?
BarkingDog,
I always liked the Labrador retrievers best.
The voter ID propaganda is an obvious ploy to allow the republican party to lie, cheat, and steal to gain more power.
ALEC may have written the script and talking points.
It looks like a mobster tactic.
Half the dogs in the dogpack would vote RepubliCon if they could. Those are the one’s without webbed feet and cant swim– no name no blame here. One fourth say they like Ron Paul. The labradors and other swimmers like Obama. All have dog tags and papers. The DogWOP program took care of that. Yet they can not vote. Four legs good, two legs baaaaad!
That last campaign slogan is from Animal Planet. Or is it Animal House?
Orwell. If you have a dog in your household or like dogs then you should vote in their interest. Like vote to outlaw the organizations which tweety little names like Humane Society that round up dogs and kill them. There is some schmuck on Television in one ad after another who is running from something, or for something, named Willard, who put his dog in a crate tied to the roof of his car and drove it for a thousand miles or so. They call the dog DeafDog now. The answer was blowing in the wind. This Willard guy went to prep school on daddy’s stolen dime and made fun of a gay guy and teased him with the name “Atta Girl”. He wants you to vote for him and he favors all these show me your papers voter ID laws but he wont show you his papers regarding whether or not he paid income taxes. He has a hairdo like The Donald. They both hail from up in the Northeast Quadrant where people talk funny and think that St. Louis is in Michigan and Texas is next to California. So, That is The Ticket: The Willard and The Donald. Coming to a theatre near you.
Well said Pete.
Darren,
1) Buy booze or smokes if appearing under 25 – don’t buy booze or smokes
2) checking into a hospital. – not required
3) cashing a check – direct deposit or mailed to long established account
4) Using a credit card – not required
5) setting up an account for electricity / gas / utilities – not required
6) Obtaining a bank account – done long ago, don’t remember being asked.
7) Identifying yourself to a LEO on a traffic stop – not if I don’t drive
8) Crossing an international border – not if I don’t travel
9) Pawning property – ???
10) Withdrawing cash from a bank – not required
11) Registering for a hotel room – only the person doing the registering.
Darren, you must look awful sneaky to have all these folks wanting to see your id. : )
To tell you the truth I would not be able to vote because I do NOT
have “valid” State Issued Identification”. I have an expired Drivers License. It seems not be a considered a “valid identification”. Unless of course the police find this “Invalid Identification” in my pocket. Then, by some mystical legal non-process… I am the person pictured on the card. It is not good for anything else. How many plates open accounts (pick one) on expired drivers license? Can I fill out a w4? nope. I’m not recognizable as that person anymore because some arbitrary clock went off.
The funny thing is I can’t get an ID because of excise taxes that were levied against a car that was “not within in the State” and TOTALED. The insurance company hired a sub that “lost” the plates.
Massachusetts will not let you get an ID with outstanding excise. I AM NOT GOING TO PAY A USE TAX FOR AN UNUSABLE OBJECT OUTSIDE THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE STATE.State.
The net real world result if I was in an n ID required State is this.
I would no be able to vote because the State will not recognize an expired Drivers License for the purposes of anything but law enforcement.
An insurance company basically disenfranchises me via it’s negligence that caused an excise levy.
The excise tax would bar me from an purchasing Identification without paying the extortion fee to vote.
The State has become a useless bunch of machine code. Government officials have become braindead CPU’s that just “execute the program”. T
After reading some of the responses here, including Pat’s, I have come to the conclusion that if one wants to vote republican, they must first prove beyond a reasonable doubt they are sentient beings. I am in favor of a full psychological competency exam to rule out non compos mentis before they are allowed to vote. Let’s add driving, opening a bank account and being allowed out of their homes without being accompanied by their mommies.
people in assisted living facilities and nursing homes don’t drive, aren’t likely to be id’ed for alcohol purchases, have banking accounts that may have been open years ago. the dmv does not allow ss cards, discharge papers, or old drivers, fishing or hunting licenses to be used for new id. if the person is in their mid 80’s they haven’t had to prove who they are to ss for 20+ years. now before the november election they are expected to find old proof of birth (birth certificate or affidavits of persons attending their birth).
and all this after being able to vote in every election since ww2
(we thank you for your service)
Pat,
You are ignoring the data that was presented in the article, including the Brennan Center report noted in the Additional sources mention.
Darren,
Once again, there is no appreciable voter fraud now so all of what you suggest is unnecessary and irrelevant. Unless of course you do not believe what the State of Pennslyvania admitted to? By the way, I do not need a picture ID from the State to use my credit card, to check into a hospital, withdrawing money from a bank(most of the time) and registering for a room. I have never Pawned anything (yet) so I do not know if you are correct there. I do have to show my drivers license to a LEO and my passport or drivers license to cross some borders. As mentioned by one of the commenters, these ALEC designed voter ID laws are designed to make it difficult to obtain the necessary ID’s as highlighted by Texas closing offices in entire counties.
How about setting the ground work so there will be less voter fraud IN THE FUTURE?
Many other aspects in American life requires presentation of valid ID to continue. Why not something as basic to our system of government as validating who you are in order to vote?
Some examples of ordinary transactions
1) Buy booze or smokes if appearing under 25
2) checking into a hospital.
3) cashing a check
4) Using a credit card
5) setting up an account for electricity / gas / utilities
6) Obtaining a bank account
7) Identifying yourself to a LEO on a traffic stop
8) Crossing an international border
9) Pawning property
10) Withdrawing cash from a bank
11) Registering for a hotel room
OK so give me a specific example of why you believe that presenting a form of identification in 1-11 is A BAD PRACTICE and should be eliminated because it might disenfranchise others. What do you think would happen on a large scale. Fraud is what would happen. Don’t delude yourselves into believing it would not.
So why should something so basic to our country be just brushed aside. For those who feel it could never happen here? That is voter fraud. Well, you might want to do your own research but it has been a problem in areas in the past. It regularly happens in other countries presently.
This is a different issue than Gerrymandering, making it more difficult for others to vote, namely soldiers. I also would remind people not to just attack one political party and declare they are the only ones who manipulate the vote. Look at history, you will be educated that this is not the case. It would be a better statement to say nearly all major political parties have had members who have manipulated the vote.
I would say it would be a healthy debate to question every motive of any group that attempts a change in voting practices or laws.