Wisconsin set to require photo identification to vote

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Wisconsin set to require photo identification to vote
By Jeff Mayers Jeff Mayers – 1 hr 31 mins ago

MADISON, Wis (Reuters) – The Wisconsin state Senate on Thursday approved a Republican-backed bill that would require photo identification to vote, and Republican Governor Scott Walker is expected to sign the measure into law.

Debate over the proposal again highlighted the partisan divisions in Wisconsin after the recent bruising battle over Walker's campaign to weaken public sector union bargaining rights that sparked massive pro-union demonstrations.

Ten states now require a photo ID to vote. Kansas also added a photo ID requirement this year, which takes effect January 1. Thirty-three states have considered adding or strengthening voter identification requirements this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate voted 19 to 5 along party lines to concur in a state Assembly bill approved earlier in May also along party lines. Most Senate Democrats did not cast votes on the proposal. It requires voter identification in polling places and eliminates straight ticket voting among other provisions.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110519/us_nm/us_wisconsin

[izquierdista]

1. Oh, so that's why

Nazi party membership cards always have a photo on them.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. If that ID costs money it is a poll tax.

As such it is a violation of the 24th amendment.

[defendandprotect]

11. Agree -- great point ---

Think you'd have to make these things available FOR FREE in every town --

maybe at the local libraries -- if any of the libraries are still open -- !?

[Corruption Winz]

18. Great point. Someone should bring this up...

You know, since, it's a law and all.

But, this is the government... why worry about and waste time with laws?

[dragonlady]

19. A state ID will be provided free upon request

That's the good news. The bad news is that many DMV offices are open only one day a month in the rural counties and who knows how much will be spent on more hours of service? Also, one will have to present a birth certificate or other proof of identity, which could involve money and effort to obtain.

[fascisthunter]

21. damn straight it's a Poll Tax

[baseballguy2001]

24. What tax??

How can something be a tax if it is free for the asking?

[lbrtbell]

27. You need photo ID to get food stamps, etc.

People should get ID, apply for all sorts of benefits (even if they don't qualify, it'll cause a ton of paperwork and expense), and VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!

[Warren Stupidity]

30. The 24th amendment does not address food stamps.

It does address poll taxes and forbids them in any shape or form.

[midnight]

32. So shouldn't this unconstitutional bill be thrown out?

[Warren Stupidity]

34. all of these bills will face legal challenges

being thrown out depends on a rather dubiously inclined court.

[RebelOne]

3. Georgia has had this bill for a few years now.

I have always had to show my drivers license when voting.

[villager]

8. Did it start around the time Saxby Chambliss first stole his Senate seat?

The timing would make sense, then...

[rfranklin]

14. A drivers license can only be had with a fee, how is that not a poll tax?

Though I know that Tony "The Fixer" Scalia has a perfectly good explanation.

[midnight]

33. Not everyone drives....

[shraby]

4. Despite the rest, how can they eliminate straight ticket

voting? I would think that isn't legal by any stretch of the imagination.

[Bjorn Against]

12. That sounded strange to me too so I looked it up...

If the information I read is correct the elimination of straight ticket voting is not as big of a deal as it sounds, it is the rest of the bill that we need to be concerned about. My understanding is that Wisconsin has an option on their ballot in which you can check a single box for a party and you then don't have to vote for any of the individual partisan races, all candidates from that party will automatically be selected for you. People will still be able to vote a straight party ticket they will just have to check each race manually rather than only having to check a single box. Living in Minnesota I have never had the option to vote straight party ticket the way it seems to be defined in Wisconsin, nor do most other states. There are lots of bad things about this bill, but I think the elimination of straight-ticket voting is the least of our concerns.

[madrchsod]

13. illinois-straight party for primary only

[fatbuckel]

5. How would one absentee vote? Who do you show the ID to?

[HereSince1628]

6. They expect you to send a photocopy with the ballot...like very secure-hey?

[Scottybeamer70]

7. I only remember purple thumbs

when Iraq voted for the first time. Did they require a photo or did
we give them a different "democracy" than we claim to have? I get
so confused with all these different democracies around the world.

[baseballguy2001]

39. Not Democracy

America is a Constitutional Republic, not a Democracy.


In both the Direct type and the Representative type of Democracy, The Majority’s power is absolute and unlimited; its decisions are unappealable under the legal system established to give effect to this form of government. This opens the door to unlimited Tyranny-by-Majority.


A Republic, on the other hand, has a very different purpose and an entirely different form, or system, of government. Its purpose is to control The Majority strictly, as well as all others among the people, primarily to protect The Individual’s unalienable rights and therefore for the protection of the rights of The Minority, of all minorities, and the liberties of people in general. The definition of a Republic is: a constitutionally limited government of the representative type, created by a written Constitution--adopted by the people and changeable (from its original meaning) by them only by its amendment--with its powers divided between three separate Branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Here the term "the people" means, of course, the electorate.

[Javaman]

9. This has NOTHING to do with the upcoming recall vote.

:sarcasm:

[dragonlady]

17. The ID part is supposed to take effect next year

At the remaining elections this year, poll workers will ask for ID but allow you to vote without it and will pass out leaflets explaining the change. That is the provision in the latest version of the bill I've seen (although they do have a habit of passing things without proper notice).

[defendandprotect]

10. This kind of demand for ID will hurt poor voters and the elderly ...

especially -- i.e., Democrats --

[Warren Stupidity]

15. NH just had a special election (Dem won!) but...

at least one of the polling stations attempted to enforce the NH voter id law BEFORE IT HAS BEEN ENACTED.

[MrDiaz]

16. I live in Texas

And everytime I have voted i needed to use an ID card.

[baseballguy2001]

23. No ID in Texas

There is no ID law in Texas yet. The Texas Legislature has sent a voter ID bill to Mr. Perry and he hasn't signed it yet. If you were told you needed a valid state issued ID, then you have a case.

[fascisthunter]

20. Poll Tax to Disenfranchise Voters

anti-democratic and unamerican.

[baseballguy2001]

22. No burden

Having a valid state issued ID card is not an undue burden. One must show ID to fly, is that a burden? If one gets pulled over for a broken tail light, the policeman asks for ID is that a burden? To pick up a package at the Post Office, one must show a valid state issued ID card, is that a burden. Get off your high horses and go get a state ID! (in Texas, its free if you meet certain income requirements) I was asked for valid ID at the ballpark to buy a beer last week!

[customerserviceguy]

25. Agreed

If all you have to do is get copies of whatever it takes to prove who you are to get a state photo ID, then it's not a poll tax. Every person should have a copy of some sort of birth certificate (I've still got mine, re-issued by Indiana in 1957) and something to prove residence.

If a person can't figure out how to do that in sufficient time for an election a half a year away or more, how can we consider them informed enough to cast a minimally intelligent vote?

[baseballguy2001]

28. Good Point

I didn't think of your last point, but it is a good one. Freedom and Responsibility go hand in hand. If you want to vote, have your say, and every American should, you need to know what you are voting for! (or against) If you don't vote, you can't credibly complain if things don't go the way you'd like. Get informed, and if your state requires it, get your ID.

[emilyg]

29. Good poins.

[Warren Stupidity]

31. The 24th amendment disagrees.

Citing things that are not voting as examples does not address the constitutional issue.

[baseballguy2001]

38. Responsibility

A poll or head tax was imposed at the time of voting, and used to circumvent the 14th Amendment. Elections are known about months before they take place giving voters plenty of time to take responsibility and get whatever state issued ID he/she needs. Some states have state issued ID cards that are available for no charge to those that meet certain income requirements. Keep in mind, one cant just show up on election day, and expect to vote, you have to be registered to vote. The notion that anybody can show up and vote is nonsense. The voter ID bill here in my state (not law yet) says that voters who don't have an ID can use a provisional ballot, if they come back and show a valid ID, that ballot will be counted as a regular ballot. As you know, provisional ballots are counted 7 to 10 days after the election and are used in most cases when the voters name has been purged from the rolls. Take responsibility, get informed, and vote. EVERY election is important.

[Warren Stupidity]

40. If it costs money to vote it is a poll tax.

the constitution is pretty damn clear. You may think it is responsible or reasonable, but that is not relevant to the constitutional issue.

[DallasNE]

26. Most States Issue Licenses/ID For 5 Years

Many renters will move at least once during this period. For those the ID means nothing because the address will not be current, including people with out of State licenses. Make no mistake, this bill is aimed at poor and young people who vote Democratic. Plus, I don't see where it does any real good. At best, this is a feel good bill that cannot be enforced if it means turning away a registered voter at the polls due to a difference in address.

[Odin2005]

35. If that ID costs money to get it violates the Constitution.

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