How the Republicans could TAKE 2006 -- FOR REAL

[JMDEM]

I just received the following e-mail from Barbara Burt of Common Cause:

"Dear ----:

"Do you think partisan politics should play a role in election law? Of course not. Should eligible voters be blocked from voting to gain partisan advantage? Of course not.

"Call (this number) today and ask (your Congressional representative) to vote against the rigging of election rules for partisan advantage. Ask (your Congressional representative) to vote against H.R. 4844.

"On Wednesday (September 20, 2006), the House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 4844, which requires that all citizens voting in a federal election must show a photo ID card that proves their citizenship. Take a look at your driver's license. Does it state that you're a citizen? If not, you'll need to bring your passport when you vote if this bill becomes law.

"This bill has passed out of committee on a party line vote, and is ready to go to the House floor for a vote on Wednesday (September 20, 2006).

"Call (this number) today and ask (your Congressional representative) to vote against H.R. 4844 on Wednesday (September 20, 2006).

"According to the State Department, only about 25 percent of citizens 18 and over have passports. It costs $97 to get a passport and takes six weeks, unless you pay even more for expedited service. This amounts to an immense poll tax.

"Why is H.R. 4844 being pushed through Congress in the final two weeks before Congress goes on recess until after the election? Some representatives claim they're concerned about voter fraud. Yet, fraud based on voter identity or citizenship is very rare. What photo ID and proof of citizenship *do* accomplish is to block eligible voters from voting. Elderly, minority, poor, rural, and urban voters all are unduly burdened by these requirements.

"This bill and others like it must be stopped. Ask (your Congressional representative) today to vote against H.R. 4844.

"In addition, such a requirement will increase the problem of long lines at the polling place. Poll workers will have to explain onerous requirements, and voter after voter will be turned away. Is this what we want to see at our next election?

"We have a huge challenge ahead of us to take partisanship out of election management and to ensure that every eligible voter can cast a ballot and that every vote is counted accurately. It will take all of us working together to see that these reforms are enacted. We are counting on your help.

"Thanks for all you do today and in the future for election reform.

"Yours truly,

"Barbara Burt (from Common Cause)"

[w4rma]

1. Don't care. I'm interested in what *we* can do. (nt)

[JMDEM]

2. Don't care? ???

Did you even read the post?

[NJCher]

3. alarming beyond belief

I guess I shouldn't say that: what we've seen from this administration will take your breath away. I can hardly believe they'd pass this but bush seems to get his way on just about everything, regardless of how unpopular he is.

Scary.




Cher

[JMDEM]

4. Be prepared to bring birth certificate or passport to polls

If this passes, in the November 2006 elections, you would be required to bring proof of citizenship to the polls to vote. This would mean either a birth certificate or a passport.

Now, how many of you out there have one of those two things readily available? A lot, I bet. I also bet a fair amount of you can't find your birth certificate and haven't been traveling to foriegn countries, so you don't have a passport. You don't get to vote, unless you can get a passport ($90 some dollars) or a duplicate birth certificate.

But wait a second. It typically takes 60 days to process a passport request, and depending on the state, it could take you several months to get a duplicate birth certificate. So you don't get to vote in 2006. You won't have these documents in time.

Now, in general, which group do you think has higher odds of having a birth certificate and/or passport handy? Republicans or Democrats? What percentage of poor, who have to move move move all the time, who can barely pay their rent, have lost their birth certificates? A whole lot, I would bet. Maybe a majority. Too bad Dems.

[Erika]

5. So?

It's a known the GOP suppress the votes. What's new?

[JMDEM]

6. I can't believe this apathy

2 of 3 posts (that are not mine) don't give a rat's ass about this move. SO? SO?

So see what happens if it passes. We won't win seats in either house, we will lose more. Then Bush will claim a mandate to do what he wants for 2 more years, and frankly I don't think the country will be able to take it without some sort of collapse.

[JMDEM]

7. I just don't think people here get it

If this passes, it could wipe out 25% or more of the Dem vote!

So? So? So what?

So we lose every friggin race that we aren't up by 25%.

[subterranean]

8. A driver's license would be acceptable

According to my reading of the bill (link below), you would need proof of citizenship when you register to vote, AND you would have to present a photo ID (but not necessarily showing citizenship) when you actually go to the polling place. I could be wrong, but it seems if you're already registered, showing your driver's license when you vote would be sufficient.

However, I can see how this bill would discourage some people from registering to vote -- which presumably is its main objective.

http://www.govtrack.us/data/us/bills.text/109/h/h4844.pdf

[I_Make_Mistakes]

10. One of the female clerks at my local Rite Aid was trying to cash

her Rite Aid pay check at Bank of America drawn on B. OF A., and her driver's license SS card etc., were not proof enough for the teller. The teller told her she had to get an official NJ State id card, at a cost to her for them to cash her check, then ceded and said, that she would cash it this one time only.

This is becoming an absurdly ridiculous thing, I am getting so pissed off about this entire prove your an American thing.

I have had cable at my current address, first and only owner on record, and some how Comcast got my SSN and input it incorrectly (I know the didn't ask for my SSN in Jan. of 1989 when I purchased this place.). They asked for my SSN and I told them it, they said it was incorrect. I've had this damn number for 46 years, and it was memorized since I started working at 16 yrs of age. They had the balz to tell me that I gave them an incorrect number, when they had an incorrect number. It is really out of control and we need to push back hard on this BS!

[subterranean]

11. That does seem a bit excessive for cashing a check.

I can also imagine the kind of confusion this bill might cause among voters and poll workers by introducing new ID requirements one month before the election.

[Syrinx]

9. ah, the return of the poll tax

I see.