New G.O.P. Bid to Limit Voting in Swing States - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmbdiesel · #11 03-31-2014, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

How do you know that those alleging disenfranchisement were qualified voters ... check their ID's?

To start with, I feel that disenfranchisement is not the correct word for much of the fallout from these laws. It sounds good, has a lot of syllables and probably is a word unknown to many who haven't cracked open a book since they tossed the tassel on the mortarboard...
But I feel it is as dishonest as calling voter suppression laws 'Voter ID' laws...

What many of these laws are doing is increasing the level of preparation needed for people to vote. Of course, it depends on the specific law.
Many are arguing that Voter ID laws are good and necessary, some of them are, some of them aren't.
Laws which deny using welfare ID or Student ID are a couple examples I feel are not fair.
Laws which require birth certificates from previously acceptable voters who do not have a birth certificate fall into the same category.

I have no problem with laws which require some sort of proof of identity, and neither do the vast majority of people in this country, from either party.

What gives these laws a bad name is that many include other provisions which are decidedly unfair, and cannot be viewed as anything other than a partisan power grab.

It is time to separate the issues, and stop debating different things under the same title. The R's have done a masterful job of entwining their voter suppression and gerrymandering efforts into the larger debate about voter ID.
- Cutting early voting times is not a voter ID issue.
- Redrawing districts to eliminate minority representation is not a voter ID issue
- Restricting voter registration drives is not a voter ID issue
- Requiring ID which cannot be gotten at no cost to the recipient is not a voter ID issue
- Eliminating same day registration is not a voter ID issue
- Limiting the number of polling places is not a voter ID issue