WAR ON VOTING: Wis Official To DMV Employees: Don't Offer People Free Voter-ID Cards Unless They Ask

[kpete]

Wis. Official To DMV Employees: Don't Offer People Free Voter-ID Cards Unless They Ask
Eric Kleefeld | September 7, 2011, 11:41AM


The Madison Capital Times reports that in the latest development in the controversy over the state's new Voter-ID law, recently passed by state Republicans, a memo written by a state Department of Transportation official instructs employees at the Division of Motor Vehicles not to directly offer applicants the option of a free photo identification card -- but only to assist if people directly ask for it.

The option of free photo identification is necessary in order to prevent the law from clearly becoming a poll tax -- a tax or fee required in order to vote, which was made unconstitutional under the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1964. Unless applicants check the appropriate box on the DMV's new forms, there will be a fee of $28.

The memo written by Steve Krieser, executive secretary at the Department of Transportation, instructs DMV employees: "While you should certainly help customers who come in asking for a free ID to check the appropriate box, you should refrain from offering the free version to customers who do not ask for it."

Krieser defended the memo, telling the Capital Times that the Voter-ID law does not have language requiring DMV employees to ask people who request a photo ID whether they needed it for voting, or for other purposes. "If the person initiates that direction, then certainly, we will help them. We will not be coy," said Krieser. "But we still are not going to be selling it at the counter as a free ID."

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/wis_official_to_dmv_employees_dont_offer_people_fr.php?ref=fpblg

[KamaAina]

1. Democrats want more people to vote. Repukes want fewer people to vote.

And only the white, er, right people, if you know what I mean. :eyes:

[tsuki]

2. What if the person cannot read? nt

[bobthedrummer]

3. K&R-RECALL WALKER!

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Help me understand this, pls.

In Wisconsin now, you can go to the DMV to get an ID card,
Said card will cost you 28.00
UNLESS...... you say you need it to use as Voter ID, then it has to be free.

If I got that right...
the State just screwed it self out of a 28.00 fee for ID cards?
If enough people have the sense to ask for it for VOTING reasons?

Great...any other states where one can get FREE ID cards now???????????

If so, I would be standing at the entrance of a DMV with a huge sign, educating anyone who walked into the building.

[Supersedeas]

5. Name names: Steve Krieser, like Katherine Harris and Ken Blackwell--names to go down in the history

of American democracy.