The GOP's 2012 Campaign Plan: Disqualify Eligible Voters

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Steven Rosenfeld

The GOP's 2012 Campaign Plan: Disqualify Eligible Voters
A tide of new stricter state voter ID laws proposed by Republicans targets presumed Democratic voters.

April 25, 2011 |


Across the country, Republican lawmakers are resurrecting one of their party's favorite but most cowardly tactics to quote, win elections. They are seeking to create new barriers to voting by passing stricter voter ID laws intended to prevent the very electoral segments who helped to elect President Obama in 2008 from receiving ballots in 2012, particularly the young, poor and elderly, according to voting rights groups.

"Touted under the guise of addressing so-called 'voter fraud,' the proposals are part of a quiet but coordinated effort to reduce the voting strength of minority voters who saw greater turnout in 2008," reads the Advancement Project's new report, "What's Wrong With This Picture: New Voter ID Proposals Part of a National Push to Turn back the Clock on Voting Rights." "The 2008 elections saw record turnout by black and brown voters, offering a glimpse of what a more equitable voter participation might look like. The photo ID proposals are part of a concerted effort to turn back the clock on voting rights."

The Advancement Project, a non-profit voting right law firm, said there were bills or new laws in 32 states requiring voters to present specific forms of government-issued photo IDs to get a ballot. Most states now require voters to show ID to vote, but those can range from driver's license to bank statements to utility bills. In contrast, the proposed or just-passed bills--in Texas, Missouri, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Minnesota and Ohio -- would only accept non-expired photo IDs from the federal government or state in which they vote.

"These photo ID proposals stand to create second-class citizenship for classes of voters, particularly racial minorities, senior citizens, young voters, people with disabilities, immigrants, the working poor and students, who are disproportionately less likely to have current state ID or face substantial hurdles to getting one, who stand to be turned away or denied a regular ballot," the Advancement Project report said. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/news/150731/the_gop%27s_2012_campaign_plan%3A_disqualify_eligible_voters/

[ejpoeta]

1. but it's all fine and good as long as 'those people' are the only ones prevented from voting.

this is so unamerican. and people like my brother who i am sure is all for this are unamerican for supporting it.

[DCKit]

2. Together, with the slew of election fraud schemes they employ, it could really hurt U.S. in 2012.

Voter ID is going to pass in a lot of places. It's up to whatever (D) representation we have in those places to ensure it's affordable and readily available to those the (R)s are looking to expunge from the rolls. It's moronic to think we can fight these initiatives. Better to "go along to get along" and short-circuit their plans by out-thinking them.

Additionally, if those groups are educated about how and why the Republics insist on making it harder for them to vote, they may get angry enough to get off their asses and actually vote, maybe even work for some (D) campaigns.

[Scuba]

3. This is another red herring, to attempt to keep the focus off "election fraud"...

...as opposed to "voter fraud".


In any case, it is up to us to make sure our friends, relatives and neighbors are both registered to vote and armed with accurate information.


It's People like those here on DU that make this happen. Thanks to one and all.

If you need an outlet for your excess time/energy (LOL) contact your local Democratic Party.

[liberal N proud]

4. Preventing people from voting has always been their plan

They are always fighting voter registration efforts, and blocking registered voters at the polls.

They know that if everyone voted the GOP would never win an election.

[Demeter]

5. Michigan Instituted this Photo Id Law

If a person doesn't have (or won't show) an acceptable photo id, then all he need so is swear to his identity and sign the back of the ballot application.

It's a massive big loophole. Unless someone has an objection to swearing/signing...

As a poll worker, I am qualified to speak of this state's practice, which has been in effect over two years, by my recollection....