I heard some people on the radio get really offended now that it may be required to show proof of citizenship to vote in all upcoming elections, Do you believe this is racist or a valid request. And do you think it is inconvient to have to show proof?
Personally I dont think its inconvient but thats just me.
2006-10-11 04:23:40 · 42 answers · asked by ask me again 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
It is not discrimination to show ID. You are asked for ID when you write a check or use a credit card. The reason they wish to ask for ID is to prevent fraudulent voting.
The reason for the mock outrage is that the pro illegals are trying to turn the debate into a civil rights debate. A country has the right to limit who enters their country, regardless of race.
2006-10-11 04:29:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
It's not discrimination to show an ID per se - the problem arises because it's almost impossible for the poor to GET identification documents.
For example, Georgia recently passed a law saying that in order to vote, you had to present a driver's license or equivalent state-issued ID.
Problem is, there is not a single driver's license office anywhere in Atlanta. Not one. The closest one is in Decatur, which is a two-hour drive by car, and a four-hour bus ride. So it would put an undue burden on the poor without cars (who'd have to take an entire day off of work, if they have jobs) to go to the nearest license office by bus.
Also, in order to get an ID, you have to have a birth certificate now. If you want a birth certificate, you have to call the vital records office of wherever you were born. But if you don't have a telephone or access to the internet, it's almost impossible to find the numbers for these offices. So you have to find a way to get that document, then you have to take a day off of work to go to some office in an out of hte way location to get an ID document.
Final note: In order to get an ID, you have to pay a fee. If a fee is required to get an ID required to vote, then a fee is required to vote. This is a poll tax, and it's unconstitutional.
The far better way to do things is with provisional ballots: You vote, and your vote is marked as provisional. So election officials check the name of the voter to the voter rolls of registered voters in that precinct. If the name matches, the vote counts. If it doesn't, it doesn't.
And ANY election worker can require ANY voter to file a provisional ballot. It's not like it's all that hard, and it doesn't put an undue burden on states because they've been doing provisional ballots for a hundred years, so it's not anything new.
2006-10-11 04:35:40 · answer #2 · answered by Brian L 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, the Constitution clearly states only citizens can vote. All people have some form of ID, even poor people. How else would you get a job, drive a car, get your welfare check, etc. Additionally, with some states allowing illegals to get a license, I don't even think a license is proper identification at this time. Suitable proof of ID will prevent voter fraud,as well. We must seek to preserve the integrity of our elections at all costs. Surely remembering your ID and showing, just as you would when you use your credit card or buy alcohol, is not an inconvenience.
2006-10-11 05:10:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not a question of convenience. It's a question of finances. In the old days many places had a poll tax, a fee a person had to pay each year in order to vote. That was ruled to be unconstitutional because it discriminated against people who couldn't afford the tax (mostly the poor and in the south, African American). Requiring a photo ID to vote is a good idea however if the voter doesn't have a drivers license or state issued photo ID, and has to pay in order to get one and can't vote without it, then in effect we've brought back the poll tax. If there is a mechanism set up so that the voter could get the ID for free then I would not have a problem with it.
2006-10-11 04:47:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I would find it discriminatory if they were only asking people who appeared mexican or arabic or what have you, yah.
In general it seems pretty reasonable to have to show some ID to make sure people aren't double voting, voting out of their jurisdition or not a citizen.
If you are talking about an actual citizenship card, that seems unreasonable and inconvenient since how many people other than immigrants actually have those.
I've even used a Social Insurance Card (Social Security in US) combined with a recent utility bill showing a valid address and that sufficed.
2006-10-11 04:36:22 · answer #5 · answered by elysialaw 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The place you should have to show proof of citizenship is when you register to vote.
The people at the polls are often volunteers or working for minimum wage, and generally not the brightest.
There used to be literacy requirements to vote, a friend of mine with a PhD from Columbia took her diploma. She was not allowed to vote because the poll worker didn't understand the document (in Latin).
2006-10-11 04:42:09 · answer #6 · answered by Gaspode 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not everyone in the U.S. is allowed to vote. People under the age of 18 can't vote, neither can criminals convicted of certain felonies or military members who were dishonorably discharged. How are the people at the voting precincts supposed to know if any of these apply to you? All voters should be required to show proof of citizenship, proof of identity, and a voter registration card.
2006-10-11 04:32:31 · answer #7 · answered by sarge927 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well if you have to show proof to buy beer, and smokes things that are small and stupid. Voting is the only time you should show proof of citizenship, because to many illegals vote and even dead people are voting we get knuckle heads in office like Clinton and Bush
2006-10-11 04:38:02 · answer #8 · answered by spyderman131 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The US Constitution is crystal clear that ONLY legal citizens of the US can vote in US elections. It is in no way "discrimination" to take the necessary steps to ensure that the law of the land is carried out.
Only the dopey liberals would take issue with common sense like this.
2006-10-11 04:33:28 · answer #9 · answered by Wayne H 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Voting is a right for US Citizens. Illegals are not citizens and should not be voting. Without some type of a authenticating system our system is in great jeopardy.
Some states already have this and I am 100% in favor of it. You have to have an drivers license to drive, a pilots license to fly, why not an id card to vote and preserve our system?
2006-10-11 05:40:47 · answer #10 · answered by j H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋