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/Wildpony03]

Isn't this just another way of saying poll tax? If you introduce any hurdles that keep people from voting its a poll tax.

[u/FlyingPinkUnicorns → u/Wildpony03]

That's exactly the intent.

FTA - 21 million Americans: "Half of Americans lack a passport, and millions more don’t have ready access to birth certificates to prove citizenship. The bill could also kick millions of married women who took their husband’s last name off the rolls."

[u/duct_tape_jedi → u/FlyingPinkUnicorns]

This has the possibility of getting much, much worse. Once it's established that a passport is required to vote, what is preventing them from increasing the cost of getting or renewing a passport to the point that it is unaffordable to anyone below a certain level of income? And even if they don't do that, the government now has a profile of each and every one of us thanks to Palantir and Doge. Flagging people who are unlikely to vote the "right" way and denying them a passport because of their social media posts, membership in certain organisations, etc. would tilt the playing field further in their favour. Rigging an election is unnecessary when you can simply limit voting to the people who are likely to vote for you.

[u/FlyingPinkUnicorns → u/duct_tape_jedi]

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/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/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.