the Voter ID bill....

[jbm]

I'm in the process of informing myself on all of the details concerning the voter ID bill, so I may not have all the details correct, but I think we need to work very hard to counter this bill.

I just came from a local dem meeting on this issue, and the picture ID is going to be almost impossible for many people to get. There was a woman there who is 86 years old, but has never driven and had no birth certificate. Without a birth certificate they won't give her a picture ID. She's always been very politically active, so when she heard they may require picture ID, she began the process of getting the ID. She requested a copy of her birth certificate from Jefferson City (the state capitol)over 6 months ago, but keeps running into roadblocks. Most recently they told her she had to bring in a family member who was older then herself to somehow verify her birth. The woman is 86..she doesn't have any family left that is older then herself.

There is a local office here that will print out a birth certificate from hospital records on the net, but the license bureau refused to accept those copies for some reason, so even people in the system will have to request the certificate from Jeff City. I spoke to a judge and an attorney earlier today who are talking with the ACLU to see if we can fight this legislation, but for now it stands, and it will impact the November elections. There is a part of the bill that allows for provisional ballots if the person has no ID , but their signature can be verified. Local parties in Missouri may not be able to fight the legislation, or get IDs into the hands of all the voters , but we can make certain that we have someone at the polls insisting that people without ID be allowed to vote with a provisional ballot. We also need to make certain that people know they CAN vote with a provisional ballot, so they will still come to the polls.


(If this post looks familiar, it's because I had originally put it up in response to a comment on the "latest breaking news" forum, but I figured we need to discuss this issue at the Missouri forum.)

[catmandu57]

1. I think it's a poll tax

unconstitutional and illegal, we're still going to have to buy an official state issued birth certificate in order to get the id. They don't give those away free, it's a poll tax. I hope some challenges the legality of this as soon as babydoc blunt signs it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Oh it's a poll tax alright

damn bastards.

[jbm]

8. I agree..

I have heard several people say this will wind up in the courts, but I'm not sure if that means it stands until it's overturned, or if it means that it cannot be implemented until the courts have made a decision.

[loyalsister]

2. "Voter IDs"

There is a provision in the bill that claims that DOR will provide IDs for voting free of charge. I am not sure what the identification requirements are to get it, however.

[catmandu57]

4. A state certified birth certificate

and those they don't give out free.

[loyalsister]

5. As stated previously

It's a poll tax

[usregimechange]

3. Please give any such cases to me and I will raise hell.

That pisses me off. If you could give me her name and county of residence, I will make some phone calls. That is BS!

[jbm]

9. thanks usregimechange..

I'll ask her if she would be willing to let you make some calls on her behalf. It sure sounded like she could use an advocate.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. The ACLU here in KC was planning on filing a lawsuit

to stop this the day the governor signed it. What happened?