VOTER ID: "Every single county in which blacks make up more than 75 percent of registered voters..."

[Hissyspit]

"Every single county in which blacks make up more than 75 percent of registered voters will see their driver license office closed.

Every one."

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/09/voter_id_and_drivers_license_o.html

Voter ID and driver's license office closures black-out Alabama's Black Belt

Kyle Whitmire | [e-mail] By Kyle Whitmire | [e-mail]

on September 30, 2015 at 3:55 PM, updated September 30, 2015 at 3:59 PM

I still remember when the lady in the uniform giving me my driver's test asked me to do a three-point turn.

Instead, I gave her a blank stare. I had no idea what a three-point turn was. It was a couple of days after my sixteenth birthday, and I knew right then that I wouldn't be getting a license that day, but the lady was nice about it. Politely, she explained what I was supposed to do. Next we drove back to the Clarke County courthouse, and she failed me.

A couple weeks later, I took the test again. That time, I passed, but my parents weren't all that happy that we had to make a second trip.

And that trip was only 10 miles, each way. When you live in a rural area, 10 miles seems a lot farther there.

However, today a lot of folks will have to drive a lot farther just to be able to drive.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's website says their office at the Clarke County Courthouse is still open, but soon a lot of others nearby won't be. On Wednesday, the agency announced that it would close 31 offices throughout the state, leaving 29 counties without a place where 16-year-olds can take a driver's test, whether they pass on the first try or not.

That's an inconvenience.

But there's something bigger happening here.

In 2011, Alabama lawmakers approved the state's voter ID law, making it illegal to vote in Alabama without a government-issued photo ID.

For most folks, that's a driver's license.

MORE AT LINK

[Fred Sanders]

1. The gerrymanders assured everyone a drivers license would do....then closed the offices....because

that was the plan all along.

The APEC supplied customized state blueprints came with exactly this plan in mind and it was all carefully thought out.

These evil folks are not lovers of democracy, they are lovers of power and privilege. They should be in prison, not power.

They only get away with it and so much more because the media is as corrupt as they are.

[Rex]

2. As long as they keep districts gerrymandered, this will go on forever.

The GOP will always make it hard for people to vote for the Democratic nominee. Besides the M$M, the GOP doesn't have much left in the bag. Voter suppression is one of their specialties.

[hedda_foil]

3. This looks so bad the DOJ may be able to stop it.

[msongs]

10. funniest thing I've ever heard on DU. presumes DOJ will even bother nt

[Fast Walker 52]

32. they've been decent on voting rights

and I think they will have to step in if this action isn't over-turned.

[hedda_foil]

38. They have been okay on voting rights, and they're likely to be on the lookout with this case.

That doesn't mean they'd step in automatically,if at all, or that they would be successful if they step in. The VRA has been weakened substantially by SCOTUS, but it's not dead.

Rolling on the floor with laughter is a very weird response to this, wouldn't you think? (NOT you...the other responses.)

[Fast Walker 52]

40. yeah, I agree it was odd

[awoke_in_2003]

25. Too busy going after important things

like FIFA officials and pot smokers.

[HooptieWagon]

27. .

[Spider Jerusalem]

4. And, of course, the Supreme Court struck down the part of the Voting Rights Act...

that would have kept them from doing this (because institutional racism on the part of state governments in ensuring the franchise to their citizens isn't a thing, anymore, apparently...except oh, look, it is!)

[xynthee]

5. I'm sure it's just a coincidence!

Or how about this one: Correlation ? causation?

[herding cats]

6. This should be on the national news.

It won't be of course, but it should.

[Elwood P Dowd]

7. They gave away millions a year in tax breaks for the rich and giant corps which left them

with a huge deficit. To pay for it they're adding taxes on tobacco products, closing state parks, and closing the drivers license offices in 29 counties, all majority black, poor, or both. Oh, and they're gutting education funding in a state that already has one of the worst education systems in the country. They create a problem that leads to another problem, and then they have an excuse to install their republican fascism. When you ask the brainwashed repuke voters who is at fault here they just say one word.....Obama.

[ancianita]

8. Terrible statistic. The consequence of "race neutral" state policies from historically racist states

[brer cat]

9. The new "Secure ID"

requirements here in GA are adding another burden, and it can be expensive for people with limited funds. When I needed to get mine, I no longer had a certified copy of my birth certificate. Fortunately I live within walking distance of my court house and could afford the fee, but that is not the case for everyone. Plus they required proof of Social Security number, and two items with name and current address, such as bank statements or utility bills which not everyone has.

[jtuck004]

11. Rank the driver's licensing offices by the income level they serve. Begin to pack them with

information requests, starting at the top. so that until the situation is rectified - that is, the white people in the state decide they want to treat people of color as equals - nothing gets done.

Bus trips. Lots of bus trips. And caravans.

[Sunlei]

24. most rural areas do not have bus or any public transportation. Many people have to walk or bike

to stores and don't even own a car.

The Federal gov has records on millions of Americans, records that are good enough for social security, military, IRS and health care, property taxes, mortgages, bank accounts. Those records of identity should be good enough for voting.

Totally get rid of this Local, county and state controlled republican crap. That "republican led effort" is only intended to make it difficult for 'some people' to vote.

[Yallow]

12. This Is Why I . H-A-T-E . Republicans

Period.

They are truly scum.

[KT2000]

13. yes - have to agree with you

Justice Dept needs to get on this.

[Fast Walker 52]

31. Yep, this is freaking insanity-- just absolutely intolerable

The GOP needs to be barred from holding office for perpetuity.

[drmeow]

41. scum is too good a word for them

scum probably serves some biological purpose. They are HIV infected sh$$ from a pampered pedigree pet which is so inbreed that it makes the last Hapsburg look diverse and healthy.

[PatrickforO]

14. Alabama sucks.

This is institutional racism at its ugliest.

[Elwood P Dowd]

15. Its gone to total shit , especially since Don Siegelman left in 2003. That election was stolen

by Rove's crime family.

[Fast Walker 52]

33. Indeed, it's horrible-- and even the DL's cost money, which is a poll tax

[7962]

36. I'm no fan of Auburn either...

Just a LITTLE levity

[GoneFishin]

16. Fucking corrupt cheating immoral asshole Republicans.

[Hepburn]

17. Pains me to see that hatred and discrimination is alive and well.

I just don't understand the hatred for Blacks, Muslims, homosexuals, etc. Why fear people and beliefs which are different than you and yours? If you and your beliefs are so great, you truly have nothing to fear. IMO, these bigots only have fears because deep down inside what they are, what they have and what they believe -- just does not measure up...they know they are at the bottom of the barrel and to find something they can make lower...that kills the fears, at least until the truth bites.

JMHO

[Generic Other]

18. A new Civil Rights movement needed

With freedom riders like the 60s. Helping get people registered with proper ID. Sad, that our country has regressed to this point. Jim Crow is alive and well in the USA.



UGLY ATTITUDES


NASTY PEOPLE


WITH NO SHAME AT ALL

[UCmeNdc]

19. Corruption! GOP style!

[secondwind]

20. I looked for more info in the internet, seems many counties have lost population.. just a thought.

[nxylas]

21. Bookmarked

For the next time some GOOPer says "You think black people are too stupid to get voter ID from the DVLA? Who's the real racist? Huh? Huh?"

[Takket]

22. Can't the ACLU file a lawsuit against these laws? This is a poll tax. illegal

[KamaAina]

23. Both counties in which college students make up a sizable proportion of registered voters...

...will eventually have their offices closed, too: Lee (Auburn) and Tuscaloosa (Alabama). The plan is for only four offices to remain open in the whole damn state: from north to south, Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile.

[Elwood P Dowd]

29. Repukes want no blacks, poor people, or college students voting. They will aslo shut down

DL offices in Troy, Livingstone (W.Alabama), Jacksonville (Jax State), and Tuskegee. Next will be women and Hispanics. Full blown fascism has taken over that party.

[UCmeNdc]

26. Close the white driver's license offices if they want to save money

Why are the black driver's license office so much more important to close? Sarcasm.......

[historylovr]

28. K & R

[Enthusiast]

30. I'd like to rub Scalia's fat fucking nose in this.

[AtomicKitten]

34. Outrageous! The Democrats should be screaming about this. <nt>

[rhett o rick]

37. If you mean the Elite of the Democratic Party, don't hold your breath.

Sorry to hear about your jury problem. And there is no truth to the rumor that there is a purge.

[AtomicKitten]

39. It would be mind-blowingly ignorant of them not to scream.

This smooth move by the GOP is meant to cut into a reliable voting block for Democrats.

Ps: Thanks for your kind words.

[rhett o rick]

42. Free AtomicKitten and cali. nm

[AtomicKitten]

43. :)

[Gothmog]

35. Has a Section 2 lawsuit been filed yet

Alabama will lose that lawsuit

[Utopian Leftist]

44. This calls for UN Intervention.

Please, world, save Murka from itself!

The veneer has fallen and we can't even pretend to be a Democracy anymore.

Once again the American Right-wing demonstrates its disgraceful, evil soul. Flaunts it, actually.

For some people (*cough*, the black, *cough*, the poor, *cough*, LGBT) it's like America is this huge, abusive, dysfunctional family. The ReThug Father metaphorically beats and rapes you. The Democratic Mother stands by, looks the other way and lets it happen. Again and again. Until you escape or die.

[patsimp]

45. It would be ironic if the next election

pits Ben Carson against Hillary or Bernie.

We'll see a lot of backtracking from the imbecile Republicans.

[HassleCat]

46. It's OK. Black people shoud not vote, anyway.

Because they might elect a black president. And he might turn out to be a great president. And he might get stuff done in spite of the hateful Republicans in Congress. And we might have to listen to a bunch of racists call him names I can't even repeat here. And it might be another "can't do that" thing to scratch off the list.