DesideriScuri
Posts: 12225
Joined: 1/18/2012 Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: kalikshama quote:
I feel no need to change things to correct a problem that does not exist. Next, assuming 100 votes are fraudulently cast in an election, and mind you that is a high figure, the likes of which has never been reported anywhere in the past 30 years, I would see no need to restrict voting practices --- an act that might well prevent thousands of people from voting. http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/legacy/d/download_file_39242.pdf ...As many as 11 percent of United States citizens – more than 21 million individuals – do not have government-issued photo identification. Eleven percent of the [voting age] American citizens surveyed responded that they do not have current, unexpired government-issued identification with a photograph, such as a driver’s license or military ID. Using 2000 census calculations of the citizen voting-age population, this translates to more than 21 million American adult citizens nationwide who do not possess valid government photo ID. [Elderly, minority, and low income students are less likely to possess valid government photo ID.] Survey results: proof of citizenship As many as 7% of United States citizens – 13 million individuals – do not have ready access to citizenship documents. Seven percent of the American citizens surveyed responded that they do not have ready access to U.S. passports, naturalization papers, or birth certificates.2 Using 2000 census calculations of the citizen voting-age population, this translates to more than 13 million American adult citizens nationwide who cannot easily produce documentation proving their citizenship.3 Citizens with comparatively low incomes are less likely to possess documentation proving their citizenship. Citizens earning less than $25,000 per year are more than twice as likely to lack ready documentation of their citizenship as those earning more than $25,000.4 Indeed, the survey indicates that at least 12 percent of voting-age American citizens earning less than $25,000 per year do not have a readily available U.S. passport, naturalization document, or birth certificate.5 Documentation proving citizenship often does not reflect the citizen’s current name. Many of those who possess ready documentation of their citizenship do not have documentation that reflects their current name. For example, survey results show that only 48% of voting-age women with ready access to their U.S. birth certificates have a birth certificate with current legal name 6 – and only 66% of voting-age women with ready access to any proof of citizenship have a document with current legal name. 7 Using 2000 census citizen voting-age population data, this means that as many as 32 million voting-age women may have available only proof of citizenship documents that do not reflect their current name. None of that matters, kali. It doesn't matter how many "voting age" citizens fall into any of those categories. The only thing that really matters is how many voters - citizens who vote - don't have the necessary ID's. I couldn't care less if someone doesn't have an ID to vote when they aren't going to vote. I think we had 65% voter turnout in 2012. 35% of voting age citizens didn't exercise their opportunity to weigh in on government leadership. How many voters didn't have a qualified ID? That's the only argument that has any bearing on this topic.
_____________________________
What I support: - A Conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
- Personal Responsibility
- Help for the truly needy
- Limited Government
- Consumption Tax (non-profit charities and food exempt)
|