Texas voter ID law “will take effect immediately,” says Attorney General Greg Abbott

[TexasTowelie]

WASHINGTON — The implications of today’s landmark ruling could be swift and stunning.

With the Supreme Court suspending the mechanism that forced Texas to get a federal OK before it can implement any election law change, state Attorney General Greg Abbott asserts that nothing now can stop the state from activating its controversial voter ID law.

“With today’s decision, the State’s voter ID law will take effect immediately,” Abbott announced. “Redistricting maps passed by the Legislature may also take effect without approval from the federal government.”

Laughlin McDonald of the ACLU, on a call with reporters, conceded that Texas has “a very strong argument” that in light of today’s Supreme Court decision, it can implement the Voter ID law and other laws that previously required federal approval.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has announced that starting Thursday, “Photo identification will now be required when voting in elections in Texas.”

More at http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/06/texas-voter-id-law-could-start-now-attorney-general-greg-abbott.html/ .

[Downwinder]

1. How soon can I send in requests for mail in ballots?

[still_one]

2. Yeah there is you asshole, if the Democratic Party gets off their ass and insures people get ids

And then votes your sorry ass governor out

[TexasTowelie]

3. Will you please clarify your statement?

When you use the phrase "you asshole" are you directing that towards the attorney general or towards me as the OP?

I will kindly inform you that the Democratic Party in Texas makes substantial efforts to encourage people to register and vote including registration drives in malls, on college campuses, door-to-door interaction and online social media. Since it looks like a photo ID will be required then the Democratic Party will inform potential voters that they will have to present photo IDs to be allowed to vote and also encourage them to obtain the photo IDs.

Your post is disruptive in my opinion and accuses Texas Democrats of being lazy and of being assholes. It must be nice to be able to sit on your (I won't use the word) at your computer in the overwhelming blue state of California and bash Texas. I don't know you and I actually hope that you are politically active in California to encourage people to vote, but if you aren't then your statement comes off as arrogant and hypocritical.

The facts are that Democrats are outnumbered in Texas among the people that are politically active. Are you suggesting that we round people up and force them to register, obtain IDs and vote by a coercive or torturous means? I can only imagine the backlash against the Democratic Party if we behaved in such an authoritarian manner.

Rather than alert on your post and have you locked out of this thread, I want to give you the opportunity to clean up the ambiguity in your statements and remove the accusations. Otherwise, I view your post as something that I would be ashamed to have other Democrats read.

Sincerely,
TexasTowelie

[still_one]

4. Of course it is at the current Texas attorney general. I wanted it to fit all on the title line.

I would NEVER call any fellow DUer that whether I agreed or disagreed with them

Sorry if it was misunderstood, but in the body of the message, context was to insure the governor of Texas does not get re-elected

How if you feel insulting the attorney general and governor of Texas is disrupting, feel free to alert, but I don't think that was your issue, it was a misunderstanding

By the way, I know they are, which is why those in power now in Texas are going to try and do everything in their power to suppress the vote

I was also directing that the Democratic Party on the national level should get off their butts and help Texas achieve this

[TexasTowelie]

5. Thank you for the clarification and I want to give everyone the benefit of the doubt

when ambiguous statements occur. I am the first to admit that writing is a skill that I struggle with at times and misinterpretation can occur with words such as "you" and possessive pronouns like "my", "mine" and "yours". For instance, Rick Perry is the governor of this state, but I will be damned to say that he is "my" governor since I will never vote for him.

I certainly will not object to anyone throwing out insults at our politicians here in Texas. Republicans certainly deserve most of the insults; however, on occasion I know that independents (e.g., Kinky Friedman and Carole Keaton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn when they ran for governor--her last names are best remembered by the fact that she is proceeding through the alphabet with each marriage) and even an occasional Democrat also deserve ridicule.

So please continue insulting our conservative politicians--nobody at DU will have an issue with that, but please try to direct those parties to the correct individual so that we can all share in the laughs!

Peace,
TexasTowelie

[still_one]

6. Thanks. Sorry about the confusion, will be more attuned next time to the context

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. The DPS says they're offering free voter ID cards.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday that paves the way for implementation of Texas’ voter ID law, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced it will begin processing applications for free voter ID cards this week.

On Wednesday, the department will begin issuing so-called "election identification certificates" for qualified voters. Offering the certificates is required by Senate Bill 14, a measure that passed in 2011 but was on hold until Tuesday's decision.

The IDs are free and will be available to voters who do not yet have a viable form of ID, such as a driver’s license, a concealed handgun license, a passport or military ID. Applicants must go to a DPS driver’s license office to apply and show proof of citizenship. The IDs can only be used to vote, and are not acceptable forms of personal identification for other purposes.

In order to qualify, applicants must be U.S. citizens and Texas residents and be eligible to vote in Texas. They must prove it by showing a valid voter registration card or submitting a voter registration application when applying for the card. Most documents will be valid for six years, though they do not expire for citizens 70 or older.

http://www.texastribune.org/2013/06/25/dps-begin-offering-free-voter-id-cards-week/

It sounds like we're going to be very busy from now until election day trying to get ID's to voters in Texas.