So, I just voted in the PA primary today…
For the first time ever, I was asked for photo ID to vote. When I responded that asking for that was just wrong, the suburban white lady looking up my name in the voter rolls actually defended it: “It will keep the terrorists from voting, and we’ll give you a free one.””
What? Will you give me a free birth certificate so I can go to the DMV and get the free ID? If I lived in North Philadelphia, would you give me the bus fare to travel to where there is a DMV to get that free ID, because there is no DMV in the ghetto?
Obviously, this woman missed that whole civil rights/voting rights thing in the 60s. Probably shuffling kids to the country club pool in her station wagon instead. She must have missed the whole CItizens United thing too, because if terrorists wanted to influence our elections, they could just fund a superPAC to support their chosen candidate. Much more effective than voting in my suburban township precinct.
And the worst part, is this is the quality of the people working at the polls. I got a sympathetic look from one of the elder stateswomen of the local Dems during this exchange; the rest just didn’t get it.
pffft.
welcome to Duhmerica.
I voted earlier. I didn’t pick a fight but I complained and forced them to apologize.
I voted earlier today as well. I was asked for an ID. I didn’t say anything though. I should have asked if anyone was turned away, but since this is white-bread suburbia(not far from you!!) I doubt it.
I’m unclear. Is the photo ID optional, or mandatory?
Optional today, mandatory in the general. This is the trial run. They ask everyone for ID, but you can vote if you don’t have it.
You could still vote today without it, but they are asking for it and handing out cards telling people they need photo I’d to vote in November.
For the record, I declined to go out to the car for my ID.
Good for you!
This whole requirement is a damn joke.
I knew you would 😀
Or, rather I should say “wouldn’t” 😉
Thanks for this report. In addition to trying to change the laws, I think we all need to practice our snappy retorts for situations like these (since we’re apparently going to be dealing with them more and more).
“Terrorists??!! Really??!! How many terrorists voted here in the last election?? And why did you let them vote? Where are they now?”
Anyone can play! (And I’ve set the bar low.)
Also, I voted for Some Dude against Sen. Bob Casey because Bob Casey sucks.
And I voted for Patrick Murphy for AG because I like him and his opponent dabbled in Democrats for McCain.
Doesn’t it just gripe you when both candidates suck? I wound up selecting a candidate based on the recommendation of one of my neighbors who had a yard sign. (Hey, they really work!) He lost big time and I wouldn’t even vote for either Blue Dog in the Fall except the incumbent is Joe Walsh (R-IL-08). I’ve sworn to defeat him and have volunteered to work for the TakeDownJoeWalsh project of CREDO SuperPAC. We had our organizing meeting last week. I’ve tried to enlist some fellow Democrats at work but on the QT, because my boss is a Tea Party Chairman and thinks Walsh walks on water. Shows you the mental quality of Postal Management. And you wonder why we have a postal crisis?
P.S.
The Postmaster General used to work at the Heritage Institute and got his initial appointment from W.
yup, me too, on both counts!
adding, i know a LOT of women in Philly who were appalled by Casey’s vote for the Blunt Amendment. And I know a bunhc of progressive organizers who are also furious (marc stier comes to mind). I wonder if there will be a teeny weeny dent in casey’s support in Philly? It’d be nice to see Some Dude pick up more than .5% in a Casey stronghold.
Keep the terrorists from voting? Give me a break! Must have been a Republican. They are the only people wetting their pants about terrorists. Sixty years ago she would have said,”To keep the Communists from voting.” In both decades they really meant, “To keep the Democrats from voting.”
As you know, I am on the opposite side of the photo ID question, but that is the lamest excuse for photo ID that I have ever heard.
Apparently you have no place like Chicago in Pennsylvania. You are lucky. I could tell you stories, recent stories, that would curl your hair about voting and handling of voting records here in Cook County (called Crook County by R’s & D’s alike). Vote stealing exists. If it doesn’t exist in Pennsylvania, I’m glad. Still, really, terrorists?
If terrorists were voting, they wouldn’t be terrorists.
Don’t we want the terrorists (whoever the hell they are) to vote? To participate in democratic elections? Rather than, you know, terrorizing?
The Stupid, it burns.
True Dat.
Terrorists?
Just by coincident, the ad on my view below this thread is for a counter-terrorism degree program at the American Military Institute.
Who needs that if we are keeping them from voting? 😉
My google ad server is absolutely convinced that I need new tires for my car. No idea why.
Put a penny in the tread. If you can see more than half of Lincoln’s head you need new tires…
Or just don’t drive in the rain. 😀
When I moved to Minnesota, I found same-day registration, and no requirement to declare party affiliation.
This was great, until the registrar was unhappy with my passport as an ID. She preferred an expired drivers license- which couldn’t even get me on an airplane.
Election day is not the right time for these battles. We have a lot of work to do now, to make sure everybody gets it.
Passport is fine in Illinois. You need two forms of ID, but only one needs a picture. A work photo ID is OK too. The photo requirement is to show that someone that looks like you has your name. You need something else with your name on it like a library card or a piece of mail connecting the name with the address. Basically, you need smething linking a picture with a name and something linking a name with an address. The driver’s license (or Illinois photo ID) and passport satisfy both, but you still need a second. Bureaucracy.
Oh, yes, a Medicaid card works too. Probably other welfare documents. You just need two things and at least one must link name and face and at least one must link name and address. I’ve registered people with a Postal Employee ID and a property tax bill. In one case it was the Postal ID and a traffic ticket.
I saw a terrorist voting today. His hair was perfect. (apologies to Warrent Zevon)
Was he drinking a Piña colada at Trader Vic’s?
I figure that see a werewolf w/perfect hair and pinca colada at Trader Vic’s is about as likely as seeing a terrorist voting.
Ugh. Should be “seeing” and “pina”.
IIRC, this will be the third election cycle for photo ID in Indiana. I caught the local Bureau of Motor Vehicles trying to sell IDs to non-driving elderly people when they’re supposed to be free. Put a quick stop to that.
BTW, photo ID did nothing to prevent the former Indiana Secretary of State from casting a fraudulent vote out of his precinct of residence. It eventually cost him his office, but only because a Democrat whistleblower from his home county raised the issue.
I was asked for mine during the Virginia primary, but I had my voter registration card. I didn’t bother picking a fight; wasn’t worth it. Maybe I will in the GE if I’m asked again.
I asked the octogenarian looking at my ID if maybe a poll tax might be easier. She shook her head and sighed.
AS I was leaving she thanked me for voting (never happened before) and I thanked her for manning the polling place. I wonder who will do it when they’re gone? I guess it’ll be folks my age.
I just accepted a 19 year old college kid’s application to work as a poll clerk. Hope she likes it enough to stick with it.