Senate GOP lays out its plan to improve elections

[minorjive]

and it's entirely about preventing "voter fraud" and requiring voter IDs.

My predicition: if some version of VVPT legislation is passed, these Repug provisions will be forced on it as compromise.

The result: legislation to create verifiable voting (which may not be any good...) and a further assault on the voting rights of minority and low income citizens.

From the Election Law blog:

Steven Duffield of the Senate Republican Policy Committee emails: The Senate Republican Policy Committee has released a new Policy Paper, "Putting an End to Voter Fraud: the Need for New Federal Reforms." It argues for voter identification requirements at the polls, adjustments to the “Motor Voter” law so that states can protect against fraudulent and duplicate voter registrations, more protections to ensure that only Americans vote in American elections, and greater examination of fraud risks in early and absentee voting.

The executive summary of the plan contains the following points:

First, Congress should require that voters at the polls show photo identification.

Second, Congress should examine the integrity of the voter registration process and the ongoing failures of states to maintain accurate voter lists.

Third, Congress should examine the extent to which early and absentee voting increases the likelihood of fraudulent votes being cast.

No election-related legislation should proceed in this Congress unless these issues receive a thorough examination.

[yurbud]

1. shut them up by giving them the ID issue--one piece like driver's license

[yurbud]

2. could neutralize their stupid provisional ballot challenges

[wildflower]

3. It is very interesting how "election reform" means:

For one side: preventing the 'wrong' people from voting.

For the other side: making sure everyone eligible can vote and get it counted.

-wildflower

[yurbud]

8. How does state issued ID hurt?

I strongly believe the GOP is trying to disenfranchise voters, but it seems like they would have less basis to question people if they could produce a driver's license or DMV issued state ID. What could possibly be their basis for challenge if the person can prove they are who they say they are?

[Trish1168]

11. This could tie to the immigration bill

The immigration bill (which is being tacked on to the emergency funding for Iraq as a political maneuver to get it passed) has a license provision. The gun owners and NRA are angry over the feds having authority over who can or cannot get a license, because you need a license to buy a gun.

If you need a license to vote, then this whole bill is a 'license' to disenfranchise!!!!

There are scarier parts of that immigration bill. For example, the homeland secretary can have employment, environmental and eminent domain laws suspended in the building of barriers (very loosely defined and includes roads) and no judge can have jurisdiction over this part of the bill. Its clearly UNCONSTITIONAL... but then so was the abrogation of treaties, the conviction of Lynn Stewart, the patriot act etc etc.

When these guys put their hand on the bible and swear to uphold the constitution...is their right hand actually behind their back with fingers cross instead of being raised up in the air?

[yurbud]

12. same q: how do driver's licenses = disenfranchisement?

I don't see how any of this goes together. I am not against immigration, but do you want illegals to vote or something? I'm not seeing a coherent argument against this, but I'm more than willing to agree with one that makes sense.

The immigration bill (which is being tacked on to the emergency funding for Iraq as a political maneuver to get it passed) has a license provision. The gun owners and NRA are angry over the feds having authority over who can or cannot get a license, because you need a license to buy a gun.

If you need a license to vote, then this whole bill is a 'license' to disenfranchise!!!!

[minorjive]

4. wildflower has got it right... but yurbud

giving Repugs the ID requirement is giving them legal ways to disenfranchise voters. It will make for many more voter challenges and many more provisional ballots cast and not counted.

Sorta sounds like you care more about getting your own vote counted than making sure citizens whose votes have always been at risk get their votes counted.

we need to be very clear about pusing for BOTH verifiable voting AND measures to end voter disenfranchisement. One without the other will not accomplish very much and will lull many into a false sense of security.

[MissWaverly]

5. This is such BS

When I voted in Maryland, I had to produce 2 ID's, one a voter registration and one a government issued photo ID. Now if I had not had my voter registration card with me then I could not have voted, even though I had my Photo ID even though I had voted at that site for 10 years. Then I went in and saw the machine default to Bush, when I pressed the button for Kerry 5 times, now even though I waited to vote for 2 hours, the results for my precinct show only 944 votes all day in my precinct. There was plenty wrong in November 2004 election but the Republican never stop their rant, ID's were not the problem, the vote was stolen from the American people and it was not an ID issue. If the Republicans are so concerned about election fraud, let them open up the machines in Ohio and count the votes and take private corporations out of the voting process.

[damntexdem]

6. Foxes lay out plans to improve hen house security.

Wolves to propose getting rid of 'dangerous dogs' to protect sheep herds.

[flyarm]

7. BE AFRAID..BE VERY AFRAID!!..N/T

[Andy_Stephenson]

9. "Putting an End to Voter Fraud: the Need for New Federal Reforms."

Oh Faye...perhaps you should send these yayhoos a lesson in ELECTION FRAUD!

:eyes:

[meganmonkey]

10. LOL!

I know! As soon as I read the first sentence I scrolled down to see Faye's response. I'm sure she'll weigh in soon enough! :)

[New Earth]

13. dammit

who do i write to? i'll set the assholes straight!!!! :grr:

[Amaryllis]

16. Me too! Those guys only care about voter fraud; never about election fraud

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

14. please give the democrats a little credit

they have corruption problems too.

Look at Dodd and Hoyer, blocking the amendment for VVPB to HAVA.

What could be more disgusting?

In Georgia, it was the democrats who shepherded in the era of paperless voting. Look at who is sponsoring the super legislation in Georgia to hand count every ballot at the precinct level.

See any democrats?

See, some folks are democrat in name only.
we must learn the difference.

[New Earth]

15. seriously does anyone know where i can write to

i want to write one of these senators and shove it up their ass!

[Amaryllis]

17. Go Faye!

[fasttense]

18. New GOP plan to improve elections requires loyalty oaths

prior to voter registration.