Is anyone noticing ID discrepancies

[TBF]

With their voting cards vs drivers licenses? I have heard a couple of complaints locally about maiden names on one but not the other and misspellings on voter id cards. With the new rule simple errors that could be simply clerical could be a big factor in the 2014 elections.

[flamin lib]

1. Wife's ID didn't match voter card. Filled out the afidavit

and corrections were made at Tarranr Co. Elections. Worked out OK but it's all up to the precinct judge.

[broiles]

2. I used my maiden name as a middle name on

my drivers license but not on my voter certificate. I had to sign an affidavit saying that I was the same person.

[TBF]

3. I just checked mine and it is the same except

that the voter card uses the abbreviation "ST" and the driver's license spells out "Street". Hopefully that will not alarm them, but who knows with republicans.

[Gothmog]

4. There are a number of reports of this happening

Here is a report that I found on twitter http://jessicawluther.com/2013/12/16/texas-voter-id-problem-the-former-name-box-on-voter-registration/

This weekend, I was alerted by Ashli McKee to a new issue with voter registration certificates (or as I’ll call them, voter cards) in Texas. Due to the new voter ID law, if you have filled out the “former name” box on your voter registration card, that will now show up on your voter card even if that is no longer your legal name (which it rarely is). To clarify: your former name will appear on your voter ID card as if it is your middle name.

This may cause real issues when you go to vote since the same law that forces your “former name” to be on your card also says that the name on your card must match your legal name on a form of acceptable ID.

It’s hard to see this issue as anything but attempting to disenfranchise people who have changed their name. Or to force them to committ perjury since your voter registration form is supposed to be filled out fully to your best knowledge.

From the Travis County Tax Office:

Over the past week some of the approximately 600,000 orange voter registration certificates that hit Travis County mailboxes have angered voters. The issue involves the listing of “former name” on the certificate. While the Tax Office has always maintained records of former names, they were not included on voter registration cards until the passage of SB 14 (82nd Legislative Session), which now requires former names be included.

“Some voters who received their new voter registration certificate with a former name have complained that they never expected it to be included on the certificate,” commented Bruce Elfant, Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar. “It appears that the intent was to provide additional information for the new photo ID requirement, but this unintended consequence has upset many voters,” Elfant added.

Elfant advises, “If you would like your former name removed, submitting a name change and leaving the former name box blank will update the record to reflect that you no longer wish to have it listed. A new voter registration certificate will be sent within 30 days.” The former name will still appear in the county’s history records as required by law.
There are three ways to submit a name change:
◾Complete a name change online here.
◾Correct the information in the space provided on the back of the orange certificate and return it to Travis County Voter Registrar, P.O. Box 149327, Austin, TX 78714-9327.
◾Submit a corrected voter registration application with the “change” box selected in person at any tax office location or by mail at Travis County Voter Registrar, P.O. Box 149327, Austin, TX 78714-9327.

For assistance by phone, contact the Voter Registrar at [phone].

If you do not live in Travis County, contact your county tax office to find out what you need to do to fix the name on your voter card.

[TBF]

5. Thank you for the additional information -

I agree that the intent is pretty obvious. I just saw a few friends discussing this maiden name issue on Facebook and wondered if it was effecting many people. I didn't know about listing former names but I am going to leave well enough alone since mine match.

This is going to not only be an annoyance but I can really see if being a problem if it also slows down voting because folks have to fill out affidavits etc.

[Gothmog]

6. You still get to cast a regular ballot

Technically a voter in Texas signs an affidavit each time they vote when they sign the combination form. The similar name box is simply an additional affidavit that needs to be signed to vote. When you sign or initial this box, you still get to vote a regular ballot and your ballot will count.

[onestepforward]

7. My ID didn't match, but I had no problems.

When I went to vote, the poll worker noticed the discrepancy and asked if I'd like to fill out a form to change it without me having to ask. I filled out the form and was sent a new voter ID card in about a month.

I hope that other voters will be treated this way in 2014.

[hobbit709]

8. My driver's license had my middle name, voter ID had middle initial.

Last edited Wed Dec 18, 2013, 03:48 PM - Edit history (1)

no problem at my precinct and they gave me the form right there to change it. got the new one a week later and just got my brand new voter ID last week.

[Gothmog]

9. Here is some advise from Senator Kirk Watson

http://www.kirkwatson.com/voter-registration-card-update/

I wanted to provide an update about your recently mailed voter registration card. My office reached out to Bruce Elfant, Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector, and the Secretary of State’s office. They’ve provided me additional information.

To comply with the state’s 2011 Voter ID law, the Secretary of State directed counties to include all former names on the new registration cards.

It’s important that you check how your name appears in the white box above the mailing address in the lower right quadrant of the card. This is the name that appears on the official voter roll....

If you’d still like to change how your name appears on the registration card, the Travis County Voter Registrar recommends the following steps:

If you would like your former name removed, submitting a name change and leaving the “former last name” box blank will update the record to reflect that you no longer wish to have it listed. A new voter registration certificate will be sent within 30 days. The former name will still appear in the county’s history records as required by law. There are three ways to submit a name change:

Complete a name change online here.https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/sos/SOSACManager
Correct the information in the space provided on the back of the orange certificate and return it to Travis County Voter Registrar, P.O. Box 149327, Austin, TX 78714-9327.
Submit a corrected voter registration application with the “change” box selected in person at any tax office location or by mail at Travis County Voter Registrar, P.O. Box 149327, Austin, TX 78714-9327.

[DhhD]

10. My Driver's License was to expire in late November, after the election. When I went to vote, there

was no issue as they only looked at the license, then I signed, and voted (northeast Tarrant County). Two days later, I took all my papers with me to the DPS Driver's License Office and had my name changed to what it was on my Social Security Card. It took my old driver's license, marriage license and SS Card to re-register to vote and have all documents matching now.

It is easy to register at the Driver's License Office while getting a new license or renewal.

Edited to drop a letter.