September 26, 2006
THE STATE AS ARISTOCRACY:
Stricter Voting Laws Carve Latest Partisan Divide (JOYCE PURNICK, 9/26/06, NY Times)
Republicans say the laws are needed to combat fraud, especially among illegal immigrants. Democrats say there is minimal fraud, if any, and accuse Republicans of suppressing the votes of those least likely to have the required documentation — minorities, the poor and the elderly — who tend to vote for Democrats.In tight races, Democrats say, the loss of votes could matter in November.
Of course you don't wabnt people who are dependents of the state to have the vote, but it would be better to just amend the Constitution to bar them (and government employees). Posted by Orrin Judd at September 26, 2006 10:43 AM
Democrats combating fraud? What a concept.
Posted by: erp at September 26, 2006 11:13 AMWhy would minorities, the poor and the elderly be less likely to have drivers licenses or birth certificates than anyone else?
Posted by: Brandon at September 26, 2006 1:18 PMR: Voting should require an ID.
D: That's unfair.
R: A photo ID is required for flying, driving, buying liquor, or cashing a check. Why not voting?
D: Because it's discriminatory. Not everyone can afford to get a photo ID.
R: Ok, we'll give them free to the poor. Just go to the local county office.
D: But some people are handicapped.
R: Ok, a govt worker can go to their house then.
D: But there's the invasion of privacy.
R: We promise they won't look at the furnishings or the meth lab.
D: No, I mean invasion or privacy in general.
R: Huh? Your name is a on voter roll, you sign your name next to it, and you vote. How is this any less private?
D: It is.
R: (rolls eyes)
Posted by: Gideon at September 26, 2006 1:42 PMThese are also the same people pushing "vote-by-mail", which requires you to sign the ballot envelope (privacy) and put stamps on the envelope (poll tax) and put it in the mailbox (trusting the USPS). (Not to mention the pressures that can be placed on voters to see that ballot before its mailed.)
But the message has already made the rounds that if you want to "help" "progressive" candidates, just make sure you register for every residence you might have (college dorm, summer home, etc.) and make sure that even after you move, they get forwarded across the country. And who cares if Grampa died years ago, it's okay to vote his ballot(s) in King County..And unlike the old Cook County methods, no one gets punished because if they get caught, they just claim ignorance instead. (I ain't making all this up, either.) And as we learned here in the Upper Left Washington in '004, 42 (or was it 241?) extra votes can make a difference.
We received an absentee ballot at our house back in '04 for someone who hasn't lived at this address for several years (and they are still to this day registered to vote here even after I gave the ballot [unused] to the township clerk).
Posted by: Jayson at September 26, 2006 10:57 PMJayson:
Did you send it back, marked in straight Republican?
Posted by: ratbert at September 28, 2006 12:12 AM