Beware of voter-suppression mischief in Texas

[Caretha]

I'm posting this because I went to vote yesterday (early), and started to show my ID along with my voter's registration card. I'd read (gawd only knows where now), that ID was required in Texas to vote.

I wait my turn and am motioned to the next available station to sign & show the above. I have my Voter Reg Card in my hand and as I'm about to try to pull my Tx Driver's License out of my billfold to show ID, the lady says "I don't need to see that". I said... but I read where we needed ID now, and she says, "I know" with a very disgusted look on her face, "but that is not the law".

I guess I'm not as informed as I thought I was on what is going on in Texas and voting. I'll admit, I work long hours and can't always keep up, so I figure maybe there are others like me here in Texas and thought I'd pass this along. When I got a chance tonight I googled it, and here's a story about voter ID in Texas.

Beware of voter-suppression mischief in Texas

Let's clear that up. A federal court blocked Texas' voter ID law in late August. It did so because that egg on the state's face during court hearings came from its scrambled and convoluted explanations about how the voter ID effort wasn't about suppressing minority votes. The judges didn't buy it.

Texas wants to take this all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. It's too late for this election.

Got that? There is no voter photo ID law in force in Texas for the Nov. 6 election.

Zip. None.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/news_columnists/o_ricardo_pimentel/article/Beware-of-voter-suppression-mischief-in-Texas-3982479.php#ixzz2ASdU1tMM

[freshwest]

1. K & R. Thanks, Caretha for taking the time to give us the eye witness report.

[northoftheborder]

2. My fear is that dishonest election workers will go ahead and demand the extra ID from people who

do not know the law is not in effect, because of the law suits.

[Caretha]

3. I thought about that too

I live in the reddest of the red....we're talking maroon/vampire drippy blood red part of Texas, and I was so pleasantly surprised at the absolutely stand-up no-nonsense elderly election worker I dealt with, that it gave me hope that there are still people, whether they are republican or democrat (I don't know her affiliation of course) who believe in voting rights and the law.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. It's a 50/50 split of Dem Reps poll workers.

You can usually tell whose who by who smiles at you and who frowns when the see the primary stamp on your registration.

This is from someone who has worked elections in Texas off and on since 1992.

[Caretha]

6. She didn't look at my card long enough

to know if it was stamped or not....she saw the color and waved me to the woman sitting next to her to sign in. In fact, I'm sure she didn't even see anything but the color of my card indicating that it was up-to-date.

[Gothmog]

22. Did they scan the voter registration card?

I was an election judge for primaries in May (we forced the County to do separate primaries and so I agreed to an election judge). Most counties have a computer that has a scanner on it that can check you in very fast. When there is a line, we loved to see voters with voter registration cards or certificates so long as the bar code was intact. A scan of a voter registration card or certificate allows the poll worker to pull up your profile and check you in. Technically, the poll worker should have asked you to confirm your address.

Because the voter registration card has your name and address on it, it serves as all of the id you need to vote under the current law. An expired voter registration card or an expired drivers' license also works because all you need for a valid id under the existing law is a govt. document or letter with the voter's name and address on it or a card with a picture on it plus the voters name.

A three judge panel approved a modified voter photo id law for South Carolina under the Voting Rights Act for the next election cycle and I expect Texas to try to pass a similar law if Texas is not successful in getting Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act declared invalid.

[Caretha]

31. The poll worker did ask me

if my address was still blah blah blah. Which I confirmed, but did not use a scanner on the bar code. There were several people there to vote, but it was not crowded and after I signed in, I was immediately escorted to one of the machines to vote.

Thanks for your hard work Gothmog.

[WolverineDG]

41. that's to make sure you get the right ballot nt

[Lone_Star_Dem]

48. She should have paid more attention than that.

Such as, what your precinct number was, vetting you still live at that address, etc.

On edit: I see above they did verify your address, and I'm sure they made sure you were at the right polling place as well, then. Which is all good, and as it should be.

[Gothmog]

46. It is suppose to be a 50/50 split

Sometimes the election office cheats and uses someone from the other party as a "Democrat" or "Republican" for the day. In my county we have a list of volunteers who can work as election worker and have made it clear that there is no excuse for not having the proper number of Democrats at each polling location.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

47. I've never been unfortunate enough to run into that.

The Democratic precinct judge is responsible for securing their assistants in the county I'm in now. Previously, in Harris county & Fort Bend county, where I worked before we did it the same way.

Round up your volunteers, send them to the class and feel comfortable in your choices. However, all those counties have strong, working Democratic parties. I can imagine in some counties where the Dems aren't as organized things could get skewed.

I'd never thought about it before. Thanks for opening my mind to a real possibility.

[Gothmog]

49. It is my position that a good Democratic Poll worker is worth ten poll watchers

Poll watchers are limited in what they can do. An election worker who is trained can do a great deal to protect the right of the voters. I am pushing some of poll workers into being election workers for this reason. An election worker can talk to a voter and can do more than a poll watcher to protect the rights of a voter. I am not alone in my belief that good Democratic poll workers are more valuable than poll watchers.

The Democratic State Party has some good training as part of the Voter Enhance Program.http://www.txdemocrats.org/vep-trainings/ I took the course online and then went to a training session in Harris County. The training that you want is Polling Place procedures. This course is actually better than the course that the Fort Bend Election Administrator gives to the election judges in Fort Bend County

[Lone_Star_Dem]

50. Do you know if it's changed since 2008?

I took the Democratic State Party course then, and had my assistant take it as well. I didn't even think to check if it had changed this cycle. I, perhaps foolishly, assumed it would be the same since our laws hadn't changed.

I did find it amazingly helpful in 2008. Even as a newbie election judge, and previously a clerk. It simplified some of the more complex issues for me.

[Gothmog]

52. This is a new course

I think that there are minor changes such was what to do if someone applies for a vote by mail ballot and then tries to vote early or on election day. Now it is clear that if they bring their vote by mail ballot, they can cast a regular ballot if they surrender that ballot and sign a form. That is a fairly recent change to the law.

I do these course every year because I always learn something or something in the lecture triggers some idea for me to focus on.

[upi402]

4. There is no voter photo ID law in force in Texas.

got it

[Thinkingabout]

7. Went for voter training recently, ID is not required in Texas

Either your voter registration or drivers license to vote in Texas.

[TBF]

8. I early voted Monday with my voter registration card -

they asked whether my address on the card was up-to-date and that was it. I had my driver's license with me but they didn't ask to see it.

[Gothmog]

13. I use a different form of ID each election

Today, I used a letter addressed to me from my county's appraisal board dealing with the valuation of my house. I have used and expired voter registration certificate and an utility bill in other elections

I have also used my Costco card a couple of years ago.

[TBF]

33. That is good to know - I have a Costco card so that could be handy! :)

I figured they sent me that registration card so they'd better accept it!

[oneshooter]

9. During early voting a ID is required under Texas law.

This is because during early voting you may vote at ANY polling station. Not just at the one for your home area.
During the Nov 6 voting you can ONLY vote at the polling station nearest your home address.

[Caretha]

10. You are completely wrong

I just voted EARLY. Please read my post and DO NOT pass on incorrect information to the voters in Texas. That is distasteful and makes me angry!

[TBF]

34. They didn't ask me for additional ID - I used my voter registration card.

I am a white female in the suburbs. That shouldn't make a difference but I'm sharing that in case others are having different experiences based on minority status.

[WolverineDG]

43. No, I voted early in the general election in 2008 & used my registration card

& didn't show any further ID.

You only need to show ID if you don't have your voter registration card.

[Gothmog]

11. Voter ID is required in Texas but not a photo id

Some form of voter ID is required for both early voting and voting on election day. However, the photo id law is not in effect and so the old law still applies. This means that you can vote with any of the following ids http://www.txdemocrats.org/resources-for-voters/

Do I need to bring an ID?

Yes, however the types of ID that are acceptable for voting in Texas are very broad. You may vote with any of the following forms of ID:

Your voter registration card (whether current or expired)
A driver’s license or personal identification card issued to you by the Texas Department of Public Safety. You may also bring a similar document issued to you by an agency of another state, even if the license or card has expired;
A form of identification that contains your photograph and establishes your identity;
A birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the person’s identity;
Your United States citizenship papers;
Your United States passport;
Official mail addressed to you by a governmental entity; or
A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.

[Caretha]

12. I showed no form of ID

nor was it requested of me, other than my voter registration card and the question regarding my current address, which I verbally affirmed was the same on my card.

[Gothmog]

14. Your voter registration certificate is a form of ID

Under current Texas law, your voter registration certificate or card (the correct legal term is voter registration certificate) is an acceptable form of ID because it has your name and address on it. I have also used an expired voter registration certificate in a prior election just to make sure that the poll workers were complying with the law. An expired voter registration certificate works because it has your name and address.

[Caretha]

15. That is not the point

obviously you like to argue and skip the pertinent parts of a post.

I'm going to say this very slowly so you can get the point of the post

There. is. no. photo. ID. requirements. to. vote. in. the. state. of. Texas.

[blogslut]

16. I think there is misunderstanding

The recent law that has been struck down by the court requires that a voter has a specific PHOTO ID such as a state-issue driver license, state ID or Federal Passport.

The above poster is not wrong. One does need to bring some form of identification, but the options for ID are quite vast and include a Voter ID card or something as simple as a utility bill.

Incidentally, I live in the reddest county in the nation (Randall). I voted Tuesday and the poll workers couldn't have been sweeter. They always have been. They're thrilled when ANYONE comes to vote.

However, if I lived in a Democratic-leaning Texas county, a big Texas city or a border town, then I would be especially wary of voter suppression.

[Gothmog]

19. I am running the voter protection efforts in my county

I am in Fort Bend County which is a potential swing county. I am in charge of the voter protection operations in my county.

There is a difference between voter id and SB 14 (the photo id law ruled invalid by the courts and the DOJ). I posted a list of acceptable ids under current law from the State party's website. SB14 would have restricted the acceptable forms of id to drivers' license, passports, voter identification certificates, conceal carry licenses and citizenship papers. To get the free id (the voter identification certificate) one had to pay for a birth certificate and then go to the Texas Department of Public Safety office which for some residents may involve over a 125 mile one-way trip.

Since the forms of currently acceptable id includes things like official govt. correspondence, I never use my drivers' license or voter registration certificate and I try to use a different form each time I vote. I have also served as an election judge during the last primary and so I know that election judges love for voters to use voter registration certificates because they can be scanned.

I have been on the phone with my county's election administrator almost every day this week dealing with True the Vote poll watchers and issues on straight party voting. Tomorrow, I will be training more poll watchers and on Sunday I will be a poll watcher for my county party's Souls to the Polls program.

The State Party has a good section on these issues on its webpage www.txdemocrats.org under the Voter Enhancement Project icon.

[blogslut]

21. I think that's pretty awesome

I am unable to be as involved in the GOTV/election process as I was 4 years ago. I admire the hell out of boots-on-the-ground folks like you. My mom was very involved with League of Women voters when she was alive and if I didn't at least vote, well, I won't let that happen.

[Gothmog]

26. I am competing for volunteers right now

There is a mild disagreement within my party leadership as to the relative need for poll watchers compared to GOTV efforts.. Some think that GOTV is more important than voter protection. I agree with this to the extent that we have strong Democrats working as election workers.

My youngest child is going to be an election judge on Election day while I man the war room taking calls from my poll watchers and poll greeters. As a child of two lawyers, my daughter will have not trouble being an election judge on election day.

BTW, in case you missed it, I am very proud of my youngest child

[blogslut]

28. Give your daughter a hug from me

Don't tell her my nickname though.

BTW: blogslut jr. and I voted together this year. I'm pretty proud of her myself.

[Gothmog]

37. I went to vote with my youngest this year

It was a fun experience. I also remember voting with my oldest child back in 2008 when we voted in the Texas primary. This year, my youngest and I have voted in the primary together and even worked as election workers during the primary. Watching your children grow up is fun.

BTW, none of my kids would have problems with your screen name. My middle child is in law school in Iowa (she gave up her Texas registration to vote in a swing state) and volunteers at the Emma Goldman clinic where she has to walk past anti-abortion protesters every day she is volunteering. My youngest is in college and hangs at the Women's Resource Center and is member of one of the feminist groups on campus.

[blogslut]

39. Thanks for that

[Caretha]

30. I apologize for my earlier post

to you Gothmog. I believe I misunderstood you.

[Gothmog]

32. No problem

This is area that I have been doing a great deal of work in. The Texas State Democratic Party has some very good training on election issues and procedures available on the Voter Enhancement Project section of the state party web site. Sondra does a good job and these are good training sessions if anyone whats to learn more about this area. The training for election judges and workers is actually better than the course that I took when I trained to be an election judge for the May primary.

The best way to defend the vote is to make sure voters know their rights.

[Caretha]

29. I think there was a misunderstanding too

BTW, I live next door to you in Potter County.

Nice to know there is another DUer close by.

[TBF]

35. It's nice to know other DUers anywhere in Texas -

I am in a diverse suburb south of Houston and we do have some support for Obama here. Many Romney signs as well ... but, interestingly, some houses have signs that simply say "vote republican" or "we vote pro-life". These folks do not like their candidate. It's interesting to see.

[blogslut]

38. It's all good

[8 track mind]

17. holy shit

They asked me for ID today. I'm not fucking kidding. The poll worker says it's a random check. This is Scurry County Texas. I voted at 4:30 CST today. The wording on the back of my voters card is rather vague. I'm Going to go scan it right quick

[Gothmog]

18. Report this to the State Party

Call the State Party at 512-478-9800 or e-mail [e-mail]. The state party is monitoring this type of crap and we may be able to make a case to get federal monitors in for the general election for your county

[8 track mind]

20. thanks for the info

I just sent them an email with my contact info and a brief description of what happened

[Gothmog]

23. Good

You should hear from Sondra Haltom next week. Sondra runs the Voter Enhancement Project for the Texas State Party

[8 track mind]

24. Had i known this info

i would have challenged it right on the spot. Thanks for your work

[8 track mind]

25. K&R n/t

[Bozita]

27. K&R

[Honeycombe8]

36. I early voted in TX. There was a sign posted: PHOTO ID IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS ELECTION.

I was pretty proud of my local elections people for making that clear, and for the organization and ushering us through so quickly and efficiently.

The poll workers do a great service.

[WolverineDG]

40. If you have your registration card, you do not need to show ID

That has always been the law in Texas. You can just show up to the polls, tell them your name & address, they look you up on the voter rolls, & then check your ID to make sure the information matches. So, yes, ID *IS* required IF you don't have your voter registration card (& most people don't---mine is on my fridge so I don't lose it)

This is why many people (self included) don't have a problem with showing ID at the polls. We're already doing it anyway. (Now what forms of ID count is another matter entirely....)

[Gothmog]

45. Your expired voter registration card should also work

The law only requires that an official document has your name and address. An expired voter registration card meets this definition. I have used my expired card in the past just to test the poll workers.

[hobbit709]

42. Wasn't asked for mine here in the People's Republic of Austin.

Last edited Sat Oct 27, 2012, 11:44 AM - Edit history (1)

[Gothmog]

44. Idiot election judges are requiring photo ids in two locations today

I have trained poll watchers in Harris County as well as my county. One lady in my county just called me and she had her passport but they still required a Texas Drivers license. This is a Fort Bend County voter after my own heart and she gave them her expired Texas Drivers license and they made her sign a change of address form as punishment. I will be reporting this to the State Party on Monday and will be having a long discussion with the elections administrator.

The same conduct happened in one early voting location in Harris County. As I mentioned, we are coordinating with Harris County and I have trained poll watchers for Harris County.

I am going to be a poll watcher myself tomorrow. It should be fun. We are doing a Souls to the Polls program and have a good number of African American Churches taking their members directly from services to an early voting location.

These idiots who breaking the law are being caught. We have been training our voters what to watch out for and they have been calling the party so that we can take of these issues.

I am going to have a long Monday

[Caretha]

51. Go Get 'em Gothmog!

I hope you have the opportunity to give them a real "talkin' to" and a look, that says "we take no prisoners" for screwing around with voters.