I would really appreciate it if you could tell me what IDs are required in your state in order to vote. This is in no WAY meant to be a political discussion. I do not care who you are voting for or why. I am simply concerned that restrictions in some states will prohibit some eligible voters from being able to vote.
If this is the case, we have some time to go through the courts to make this equitable.
Thank you in advance for being concerned and thougthful.
Cyn

It's almost impossible to answer the question without being political, but to address your original comment, we have a card with name and address. It also has the voter number and tells which districts the voter is in. Many people think they have to show their DL with it, probably because the many times they showed up without their card, they were asked for an ID. I have worked in the elections for many years. I haven't seen much voter fraud, but it is probably where I live. Yet there is an area less than ten miles from here in which it is rampant. It's just that no one has the guts to fight it. The one lawyer who tried had his wife's life threatened, but he did get somewhere before that happened. They will probably still be at it in the next election. Rumor is that they are paid to be professional fraud initiators, mostly with absentee ballots. If voter fraud doesn't get in the news, then there is no voter fraud, right?

I'm actually not sure what is required in my state. I usually just bring my license. I will see if I can find out.

No photo ID requirement in Maryland.

We are registered voters and they have lists of our name and address, no ID necessary, we are in the book by district and address, which is why we can only vote at a certain polling place.

While searching requirements , I found this site. Can't verify its accuracy.

[www.ncsl.org]

I just checked yesterday and I am glad to report that in OH you can use a utility bill, government check and some others if it has your name and address. The reason for my concern is that in states that require a state issued photo ID you will usually need a birth certificate and SS card. Alot of potential voters do not have a birth certificate in their possesion and that requires a $20 fee and some considerable time to write and get a certified copy. I can imagine that many people, because of various circumstances, do not know in what county or possibly even what state they were born.

It seems unlikely to me that undocumented aliens would attempt to vote as it would only draw attention to themselves and their situation.

Not knowing what country you were born in, how the h__ can that happen? Needing a birth certificate to vote, if your traveling
out of the country at voting time, you can always mail in your vote. My family (Mothers side) were immigrents,
birth certificate lost and my Mother always managed to vote after getting her citizenship. She mailed in her vote from the
hospital where she had a stroke. I don't get your concern.....

Irene, your name and address is probably not all they have on you. When we worked in the election, if we were so inclined, we could check the voter list and get everyone's birthday. It was very helpful for relatives living in the same household who had similar names: Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.

cynb, my friend who worked with me in elections for a few years told me a story. I'm not sure if she was involved or a friend of hers was there, so it could be second or it could be third hand, but it definitely occurred before the social media could propagandize everything. All day long, people who "looked Hispanic" would come in to vote, but run out as soon as they looked at the workers. (We are near the border.) Then the workers figured it out. One of the men was wearing a sweater and cap very reminiscent of the uniform of Border Patrol agents. (You didn't interview any illegal aliens before you guessed, did you?)

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not knowing what country you were born in, how the
> h__ can that happen? Needing a birth certificate
> to vote, if your traveling
> out of the country at voting time, you can always
> mail in your vote. My family (Mothers side) were
> immigrents,
> birth certificate lost and my Mother always
> managed to vote after getting her citizenship.
> She mailed in her vote from the
> hospital where she had a stroke. I don't get your
> concern.....


Irene: Please read more carefully. I did not say in what country you were born, I said what county. In most states you need a birth certificate to obtain a DL or state ID. You often need to know what state and county you were born in order to obtain a certified birth certificate. Costs $20. And believe it or not, there are people that are citizens that may not know even what state they were born for many reasons. If you do not understand my concern, please read my posts. I was as clear as I can be. Do you or do you no want every eligible voter to be able to vote? Especially on this day that should be a concern. If we want anything close to a democracy to survive and prosper.

Sandra Sue Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cynb, my friend who worked with me in elections
> for a few years told me a story. I'm not sure if
> she was involved or a friend of hers was there, so
> it could be second or it could be third hand, but
> it definitely occurred before the social media
> could propagandize everything. All day long,
> people who "looked Hispanic" would come in to
> vote, but run out as soon as they looked at the
> workers. (We are near the border.) Then the
> workers figured it out. One of the men wI
> wearing a sweater and cap very reminiscent of the
> uniform of Border Patrol agents. (You didn't
> interview any illegal aliens before you guessed,
> did you?)


I had to read this over many times to figure out your third hand story. I guess you meant some of the poll workers looked like border guards and therefore the "look alike Hispanics" left. Do you realize that this is a part of the whole issue? Someone "looks Hispanic"??? How would you , or I feel if we had immigrated to this country from Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia etc, worked to get a green card and then were harrassed because of the way we looked.

I live in NM and after AZ did (or attempted) to get their law through where theie police officers can check status of folks to see if they are illegal or not, many of the illegals moved to NM. As a law abiding citizen here I would most definitely like to have voter ID. If you are not on a border state you have no idea about the problems.

Furthermore, you need to show ID to travel, cash a check, get a driver's license - I even have to show my ID to do certain mystery shops or business verifications.

I also feel very strongly that we should provide more protection for our borders and we should quit providing free education, medical and welfare programs to illegals.

The Mexican government loves illegals coming here because they work here, collect our freebies and send money back to Mexico to their relatives to spend in Mexico, thereby helping their economy. I am sick of paying taxes to pay for these people.

Sorry, Cynb, I got off the issue but it is a VERY political subject and one that those of us who are in States that have to deal with these issues consider a "hot button." While we had Richardson for a Governor, illegals were allowed to get driver's licenses. The illegals were coming from as far away as NY to get a NM driver's license. Fortunately, we now have a Governor who is trying to get that law rescinded.

Was just watching the news and they did a poll on how NM folks feel about the law providing illegals with driver's licenses.

71% of our fair citizens are against the law and want it changed.

In border counties the percentage went to 74%.

I am not talking about undocumented aliens in terms of voting. I am talking about citizens that may have a difficult time finding a birth certificate and other documentation to register to vote.
Just to be clear undocumeted aliens cannot get any sort of government assistance : food stamps, housing subsidy or other.
I do not see how this is political. Everything I have said is factual.

..

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/12/2013 06:56PM by lucky7s.

PLMCUT, I totally understand where your coming from....you stated facts clearly. My cousin Dianne Feinstein has worked
on this issue for years, it is worth fighting for.
CYNB, Your post is confusing and I personally didn't know of this problem...can the forum help you, I can't, but continue
with your cause.

Irene: Now I am confused. What issue exactly has Dianne Feinstein been working on. Please clarify. I really want to know. I have of great deal of respect for her.

She has been working for years, since she was Mayor of San Francisco on the immigration of illegals across the border from Mexico to U,S, as PLMCCUT post states, it was clear I was talking about that issue.
cynb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Irene: Now I am confused. What issue exactly has
> Dianne Feinstein been working on. Please clarify.
> I really want to know. I have of great deal of
> respect for her.

Ok, I never ,ever said that I was in favor of people crossing the border illegally. Please read my original post only asking in your, state do you know what is required to register and vote. That's it. I only want citizens of the US to be able to vote. Period.

Cyn - I don't think I've ever run into anyone who did not have a birth certificate, at least in my generation. Now I do understand that the chances of not having a birth certificate in my mother/father's generation was probably pretty frequent given that most births were at home.

And I can't see folks having a problem with forking out the $20 or so to get a certified copy of their birth certificate. Those people who may complain about not having the money to get the cert. probably have cell phones and ipads.

Sorry if I sound cynical but I have a daughter and son-in-law who work in one of the hospitals and you would be amazed at the folks who go there w/o insurance. Most of them come waltzing in with cell phones.

I really do understand your point. However re birth certificates, remember that it is up to the parents to provide them to their children. Some do not. I have lost mine several times in moving. But yes, you would hope that people could get it together to get their documents in order. And I have several other rants ready to go about people (men) who are sitting outside all day yacking about nothing while the mothers of their children are working and taking care of said children. And when older people (like us) are out there trying to pay the bills. Sorry off topic. Sometimes ya just gotta get it out. Thanks.

I'm in NY and so far we don't have to see the voter's ID in order to vote. I'm an election inspector and we were told in a recent class that it may happen sometime down the road here but so far not yet.

cynb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ok, I never ,ever said that I was in favor of
> people crossing the border illegally. Please read
> my original post only asking in your, state do you
> know what is required to register and vote.
> That's it. I only want citizens of the US to be
> able to vote. Period.

I was just answering your question, not saying you were for illegal crossings, I was speaking to PLMCCUT.
I keep my birth certificate in a locked steel box in my home, where did you get the idea that folks don't have a birth certificate , they can purchase a new one (if lost), or that they need one to vote?

This has been in the news here a lot lately. I am on the border of PA, so it is a hot topic in my area.


[www.usatoday.com]

Sorry, but OP said this is not a political question., seems very political since it has to do with voting.

Yes it is political because it regards voting laws. I think she meant to keep it non-partisan. Everyone can say what they will about people should have birth certificates or they can get one for $20. Money is a factor for some who cannot afford it and they will most likely just not vote. Another issue is the timing. There are also rules regarding how far in advance of an election someone has to be registered.

Preventing voter fraud is important. Making sure citizens can easily exercise their right to vote is also important. IMHO, these are matters best dealt with in an "off" year, when there are not hotly contested Congressional, Senatorial, Gubernatorial and Presidential races going on. Implementing new regulations within 7 weeks or less of major elections is putting an unreasonable burden on many voters.

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cynb Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Ok, I never ,ever said that I was in favor of
> > people crossing the border illegally. Please
> read
> > my original post only asking in your, state do
> you
> > know what is required to register and vote.
> > That's it. I only want citizens of the US to
> be
> > able to vote. Period.
>
> I was just answering your question, not saying you
> were for illegal crossings, I was speaking to
> PLMCCUT.
> I keep my birth certificate in a locked steel box
> in my home, where did you get the idea that folks
> don't have a birth
> certificate , they can purchase a new one (if
> lost), or that they need one to vote?


Irene; I do not know why you are sounding upset with me. You do not need a birth certificate to vote, but you need one to obtain a DL or state ID in many states IN ORDER to vote.

I just see this issue as a personal one. You must know if you have a birth certificate, you need one to get into school, get shots
when a baby, etc. Would you be talking about 21 year olds needing to register, and how many don't have BC, I would say the
percentage is tiny. Many just don't vote, and I bet that count is higher, how can anyone control that, or track it?

[aha.confex.com]

[www.brennancenter.org]

[www.cbpp.org]

[www.freerepublic.com]

[www.brennancenter.org]