Voter ID Laws are a threat to liberty

[lefty2000]

They say that liberals, and I guess that includes me, detest voter ID laws because citizenship must be proven to obtain an ID or to vote. Requiring proof of citizenship a priori is wrong because the burden is placed on the citizen to prove his eligibility. It is wrong because the individual is presumed guilty unless he can prove his innocence. Voter ID laws are also wrong because they can be and are usually constructed in such a way as to favor certain demographics over others.

Certainly protecting the integrity of the vote is a worthy goal, but using the administrative machinery of elections to suppress the vote of your political opponents is both shameful as well as unconstitutional.

The record is clear. Historically, both political parties have been guilty of this practice, but two wrongs do not make a right. We should oppose the enemies of liberty no matter what their party label.

So what if some guy from Norway sneaks into the local precinct and votes for president? What's he gonna do? Vote for Hilary Clinton? Or maybe some guy from Russia votes for Donald Trump? Big deal.

Tyrants and authoritarians wish to concentrate power in the fewest hands possible. The best protection against tyranny is extending the franchise to as many people as possible. We do not have to distill virtue from the will of the people. If there are enough people, virtue will prevail. That is the fundamental principle of democracy.

[think]

1. It's shameful the GOP works so hard to deny a person's right to vote. We need to making voting

easier to do. Democrats should also work to increase voter awareness and understanding of the critical issues at hand in elections.

[MarvinGardens]

2. 100% Agree!

Voter ID is the new poll tax.

K&R

[KittyWampus]

3. -no taxation without representation- Legal voters, citizens, are paying taxes

but not allowed to vote or have their voting hindered.

[Freethinker65]

4. I used to wholly agree with this...

However, after cross check, voter caging, etc. I think perhaps a FREE national ID card may be the only way to make sure all citizens can vote. With unique data such as that in a passport (or Medicare card) each voter could only vote once and could vote at any polling place...your unique ID would pull up the appropriate ballot electronically, or print it out. As long as EVERYONE has to jump through the same hoops to get the card it might fairer than what we have now that gave us Trump.

[MarvinGardens]

5. And let me add...

Unfortunately they aren't going anywhere soon. As long as the Repugs issue free voter IDs ( in theory), they've been upheld by the courts, and a majority seems to support them in surveys I've seen. If we can get them repealed, great. Otherwise, our focus needs to be on helping people comply with the laws and getting exceptions put in to make it easier for them to get ID. For example, if someone has a hard time getting ahold of their birth certificate for whatever reason, they should be able to sign a sworn affidavit that they are a citizen

[uponit7771]

6. This is central, the voter suppression measures should be the primary fight!! We could run JFK, FDR

.... Obama, Abe Lincoln, RayGun and Eisenhower all wrapped in one and still lose if we don't address the suppression efforts

[spanone]

7. tennessee voter I.D. laws were enacted a few years back....

they don't even look at my voter registration card anymore...just my Photo I.D.

[Truth321]

8. Does anyone not have id?

I know years ago some elderly folks didn't have I'D-But now u have to have I d to board a plane, open a bank account-and I got carded at Walmart buying spray paint . Maybe i jyst dont get it, but it doesnt seem like spray paint repression.This would prevent the old "vote early, vote often"

[lefty2000]

9. Not Dead Yet

Hundreds of thousands of people in Texas do not have one of the required documents to obtain an ID. There are usually ways to get around these problems, but they can involve cost, travel, and effort depending on the case.

Anatole France: "The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich and the poor alike to to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, or to steal bread."

The point is that equal laws impose unequal burdens on those with unequal circumstances.

[libtodeath]

10. Voter ID is the repuke way of saying whites only can vote.

[MaeScott]

11. All of a piece....Voter ID, crosscheck, rigged malfunctioning voting machines...

..erosion of the Voting Rights Act, gerrymandering and outright coups as seen in NC.

All hands on deck, pick your battle. There will be many to defend.

[Gothmog]

12. The gop is the party of voter suppression