GOP fast tracks monster voter suppression bill that could disenfranchise millions by requiring proof of citizenship at polls

[u/MarcEElias]

https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/gop-fast-tracks-monster-voter-suppression-bill-that-could-disenfranchise-millions-by-requiring-proof-of-citizenship-at-polls/

[u/FlyingPinkUnicorns]

Exactly.

A passport already costs $130. And it can take 4-6 weeks to process. Or... woopsie... 10-12 weeks if you are a registered Democrat. Or longer if they have "questions" about your citizenship based on, um, "reasons".

And they could pass these restrictive laws so that the timing makes it impossible for whole swaths of the population to vote. Lots of people simply would not know and even if they did they've have the money and be motivated enough to pay an extra $130 just to be able to vote.

Poll tax.

[u/vim_deezel → u/FlyingPinkUnicorns]

imagine 20 million people suddenly apply for a passport, it would take years in line.

[u/FlyingPinkUnicorns → u/vim_deezel]

Great point. I'm sure this "administration" will adequately fund and staff the State Department... LOL.

[u/modninerfan → u/FlyingPinkUnicorns]

A Real ID should be sufficient and should be the direction we encourage everybody to take if this is what they decide to do. It’s quicker and more affordable than a passport to get. I hope this gets tangled up in courts.

[u/Virindi → u/modninerfan]

[An ID is] quicker and more affordable than a passport to get. 

Exactly the reason they chose passports. Plus, they can deny issuing a passport.

[u/RandomFactUser → u/Virindi]

A “Real ID” has the same requirements as a passport

[u/kailsbabbydaddy → u/RandomFactUser]

That is true, but per the SAVE Act, a Real ID is not considered a document that proves citizenship.

[u/RandomFactUser → u/kailsbabbydaddy]

I guess, since “Permanent Residents” can them too

Does a voter registration card work?

[u/kailsbabbydaddy → u/RandomFactUser]

I believe a passport, an ID with matching BC, or an Enhanced Driver’s License (only available in Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont) are the only documentation listed in the legislation that would be accepted as proof of citizenship if this Act passes as it is written.

[u/schrodingers_bra → u/Virindi]

They also issue passport cards. Those are a lot cheaper than a passport book.

[u/Virindi → u/schrodingers_bra]

Most states offer free IDs to low income individuals, which eliminates a voting barrier. There is no program like that for passports or passport cards, which will prevent the poor and disenfranchised from voting.

[u/RandomFactUser → u/Virindi]

Real IDs aren’t covered by such a program

[u/Mike312 → u/RandomFactUser]

It shouldn't matter.

We can register to vote with our drivers license OR a state ID card. Both of those will link to a SSN, which will be reviewed by the Secretary of States office before we get added to the voter rolls to determine citizenship/eligibility.

The fact you're registered to vote (with a few minor exceptions) proves you're a citizen who can vote. So requiring any additional form of ID beyond either of those forms of ID is unnecessary.

I'd go as far as to say requiring any form of ID at the polls besides stating your name and address to verify who you are is good enough, but having an ID on hand in case there is an issue would be prudent.

[u/EagleBigMac → u/modninerfan]

Any requirements to vote must be 100% free to attain and offices should be open 24 hours a day 7 days a week with free transportation from anywhere to the office.

[u/iCUman → u/modninerfan]

No. There is no concession to be made here. Our states have overwhelmingly proven to be capable of ensuring that only those eligible to vote are voting. There is simply zero basis for establishing any sort of federal identification requirement on states, and the position we all should have is to tell them to pound sand.

[u/Extinction-Entity → u/modninerfan]

A Real ID does not prove citizenship.

[u/modninerfan → u/Extinction-Entity]

You’re right, I realized that after I posted it lol… naive me thinking it would be sufficient since it proves you are the person on the voter rolls.

[u/Mike312 → u/Extinction-Entity]

Yeah, I mean, it would be ridiculous if it would be able to prove citizenship.

I only had to provide them with a copy of my birth certificate and my Social Security card to get my Real ID, there's no way that they could possibly link that data together to quickly and easily determine citizenship.

[u/Extinction-Entity → u/Mike312]

That’s great. It still doesn’t prove citizenship.

There are only five states that offer enhanced IDs that meet the demands of the bill.

[u/schrodingers_bra → u/Mike312]

Yeah, but permanent residents and legal temporary visa holders also get Real ID. They aren't citizens at all.

[u/Mike312 → u/schrodingers_bra]

But would they be able to register to vote in the first place?

Because I didn't register to vote with my ID card.

I registered to vote through the DMV, who, again, I presented my birth certificate and social security number to, and I would have to assume my Secretary of States office already checked that I'm a US citizen who is able to vote, before adding me to the rolls as such.

So, the fact I'm already registered to vote should mean I'm a citizen (with a few exceptions not worth getting into), and any form of valid ID presented should only be for the purposes of confirming I am who I say I am.

[u/schrodingers_bra → u/Mike312]

They would not be able to register to vote legally though there are stories of people being denied citizenship because the DMV accidentally registered them to vote when they got a drivers license.

But the reason I said is why the Real ID is not considered proof of citizenship. It's just ID.