Should muslim women be allowed to keep their faces veiled when voting as long as they can prove who they are?

Question

There is currently a controversy about this in Canada for an upcoming byelection. And please, thoughtful responses.

Answer 1

A head covering yes, they could be IDed without removing their covering.
If the covering veils the face, I imagine the problem could be dealt with by having another female check the ID + unveiled face in private. Maybe they could walk over to the voting booth together and it could be checked in there.

Not that big of a deal (in terms of time or money) considering Muslims are about 2% of Canadians, so 1% women, and a very small fraction veil beyond just their hair/head.

Answer 2

Absolutely not. How can they prove who is behind that veil? Don't you have a law where a picture I.D. is required for identification?

"The privilege of voting is not an inherent or inalienable right. It is a solemn and sacred trust, to be used in strict accordance with the intentions of the authority from which it emanates."

and

"Disappointment, vexation, and righteous indignation will burn in the breasts of upright citizens. These sentiments will be followed by apathy and despair of carrying out successfully a popular form of government. The enemies of the Republic will then take advantage of the existing scandals to decry our system and laud absolute monarchies. The last state in the drama is pollitical stagnation or revolution."

Quoted from The History and Government of the United States, A History of the American People, Volume VI, Page 1678, copyright 1905 Monarch Book Company.

From Patriotism and Politics by James Cardinal Gibbons

Answer 3

If the face is covered with the black veil to the point where only the eyes are showing, how does one actually prove who they are? Sounds to me like a no win situation. Even if their picture id is the same as how they walk in (with only the eyes showing) there is still no way to prove who they are. No, sorry, the muslim veil is not conducive to many factors of modern life in general but in this instance especially should not be allowed.

Answer 4

Too many male terrorists have gone unnoticed because they wore a Burka. I suggest Canadian law protect the integrity of their voting and demand the women unveil or don't vote. What about driver's licenses?? If veils are worn for photo ID, then the system is flawed.

These women are NOT in a Muslim country. They should be respectful and follow the laws or leave. Enough with the Politically Correct nonsense. Let them be PC for a change.
It works both ways. Let's not forget that!

Answer 5

i dont understand why there is even a debate about this.
If i have to show my face and proper identification in order to vote, then so should everyone else.

There are ways to get around this issue, anyways. They could privately show their face to a female working the voting booths.
Also, when it comes to the Islamic religion, it is a choice to wear the veils. hence, there is nothing in their religion that prevents them from taking it off

Answer 6

Does their id have a facial photo? If yes, then that is the way they are determined of who they are. Soon other means may be available, but for know facial identity is used most commonly

Answer 7

Do you need to do a photo id check at the voting place? In California we don't need to do a photo id check. The person identifies herself and signs the voting register.

Answer 8

How can you prove who you are if your face is covered? No they should have to unveil to vote. You can't compare someone to a picture if you can't see their face.

Answer 9

They should have to remove it so the poll worker can verify their face is the same as the ID being presented. Political correctness is going to kill this country.

Answer 10

Absolutely Not!