Why Obama Was Asked To Show His ID

[DonViejo]

Why Obama Was Asked To Show His ID

RYAN J. REILLY 6:03 PM EDT, THURSDAY OCTOBER 25, 2012

Despite his personal stance against voter ID laws, President Barack Obama was asked to show a form of photo identification when he voted in Chicago on Thursday. While Illinois does not have a voter ID law, the state does require voters who take advantage of early voting to show a driver’s license, a state-issued identification card or government-issued photo ID.

"Voters don't need reasons or excuses to use Early Voting -- but voters do need to present government-issued photo identification to use Early Voting," according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

The Justice Department has opposed voter ID laws in Texas and South Carolina but approved of less-stringent voter ID laws in Virginia and New Hampshire.

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http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/why-obama-was-asked-to-show-his-id

[doublethink]

1. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=71744

[Tx4obama]

3. LOL we both referenced info on the same thread :) n/t

[doublethink]

5. ...

[Tx4obama]

2. An explanation from a DUer ...

JeffHead (67 posts)

5. That's how it works here in Illinois...

When you vote on election day you vote at your local polling place where they have the list with all the SIGNATURES in that precinct on file. You sign in, they compare it to the list they have. If it matches you're good to go. When you vote early it's at a totally different place without a list of signatures to check from so in order to verify that you are in fact you they ask for an ID. I voted yesterday and they did ask for an ID and they told me that they update the local precinct list for election day and my name will be removed from that list so I can't vote early and on election day. People without photo ID can only vote on election day. They show a birth certificate and address verification in order to register sign the registration form and that is the signature they compare when you sign in on election day.

DU comment here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/101771729#post5

[GitRDun]

4. It's strange but they seemed to have my signature too...

They had something on their computer to compare my signature to.

[Generic Brad]

10. So IL poll workers are hand writing experts?

That seems dubious.

[Cha]

6. KNR

[WI_DEM]

7. I don't know? maybe because it's the law to do so there?

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. You can early vote in ANY EARLY VOTING STATION

You do not need to vote in your home precinct. You can vote wherever they have an early voting station. It is for this reason that you need ID. In your home precinct, they have identity verification through signature. In some other location (remember, you can early vote in ANY EARLY VOTING STATION), they obviously cannot have every single registered voter's signature on file.

As a trade-off for allowing early voters to vote anywhere there is an early voting station, a gov. issued photo ID is not that bad.

(PS: I voted this morning in an early voting station in Chicago, and showed my photo ID.)

[Calypso0956]

9. Good~

It shows they are paying attention at the polls.

[treestar]

11. What did he show, a DC DL?

Is he still a resident of Illinois? So I guess he can keep an Illinois Driver's License.

But the whole point is identifying the person. The President needs no ID.