Get a copy of your birth certificate

[kimbutgar]

We really need people to vote but to get an ID in some states you need proof of citizenship.

We should all remind people we know and meet who aren't registered to make the effort to get a copy. It is a good excuse to see your parents and look for or get information about yourself to get a copy where you were born. It is vitally important we establish our birthrights now. The stakes are too high in 2016 to not vote.

[REP]

1. I have several copies plus the hospital certificate

My parents are dead, though, and didn't live at the Bureau of Vital Statistics. I could get another copy by mail anyway.

[brooklynite]

2. just a guess, but people who are here to read your post are probably already registered to vote

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. And so "We should all remind people we know and meet who aren't registered..."

[GP6971]

4. Passport will also do

[Tanuki]

5. Really good advice. Even if you don't think you need one right now,

it would be a good idea to have a copy "just in case."

[Igel]

6. Never a bad idea to have a BC around.

There was a Rice study done and published in Aug. 2015 that concluded that the rhetoric around the TX did more harm than the law itself.

Now, that's my take on it.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/08/10/3689809/texas-lawmakers-are-much-better-at-disenfranchising-voters-than-we-thought/ said that the law did harm by discouraging voters, but I'd hasten to point out that most of the voters involved didn't actually read the law. What they read and heard was "you can't vote." And so more stayed home convinced they lacked ID than actually did lack ID. What discouraged them was what was said about the law--and that's not likely to be from RW sources.

The Houston Chronicle was vaguely along the same lines, but after saying how it was the lawmakers who set up obstacles--after saying that most of those who didn't vote because they didn't think they had the right ID did have them (so, in other words, no obstacle there except their perceptions). Well, actually the Chronicle didn't say that, but an employee of a politician opposed to the law said this.
http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/06/study-law-discouraged-more-those-without-voter-id.

They had to conclude this. After basically scaring people and saying how so many lacked proper ID, a lot of people got the idea that they probably lacked it. The rhetoric around the law deterred more than the law itself, coupled with the populace's confusion, doubt, and misunderstanding. You use scare tactics on people, they get scared.

Word-of-mouth and social media are not the best sources of unbiased information.

The actual study is at https://bakerinstitute.org/media/files/files/e0029eb8/Politics-VoterID-Jones-080615.pdf.
"This study suggests that the most significant impact of the Texas voter photo ID law on
voter participation in CD-23 in November 2014 was to discourage turnout among
registered voters who did indeed possess an approved form of photo ID, but through
some combination of misunderstanding, doubt or lack of knowledge, believed that they
did not possess the necessary photo identification." (p. 1)

It's worth pointing out that the people who in the study claimed they lacked appropriate ID didn't say whether they had the documentation necessary for getting the ID, and the researchers, IIRC, didn't actually verify the claims. But when you get down < 1.0% of the voters and towards 0.5% that kind of non-confirmation might matter a lot.

[Shandris]

7. Do bear in mind those cost...or used to, at least.

I know it cost when I had to get my documents replaced from a theft almost 10 years ago or...oh, wow...15 years. Time flies and all that. Anyways, yeah, it cost me a little bit to get them. A few dollars, but still to someone who doesn't know they're going to need it a few dollars is no different than a few hundred -- out of reach.

[SoCalDem]

8. I have long advocated for the perfect graduation gift

a PASSPORT..

Also a great idea for older folks who no longer drive, but still may plan to vote.

So much better than a clunky watch or some electrontic gadget

[artislife]

10. That is a good idea for a present.

But your kitty photos are even better!

Love it

[BuelahWitch]

9. I just ordered one the other day

Wanted to be sure all my voting papers were in order so I can vote in the caucus next year, and then the general.
If anyone is ordering from PA beware: they will try and add on another $18 for expedited shipping. You have to OPT OUT of that if you don't want it. And if you were born before 1967 you are considered Older Than Dirt and have to wait much longer for them to get it to you.