Ohio House Passes ‘Nation’s Most Restrictive’ Voter ID Law That Would Curb Rights Of Almost 900,000

[babsbunny]

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/24/ohio-voter-id-law/

In 22 states across the country, Republican lawmakers are ginning up the specter of voter fraud to pass highly restrictive photo identification laws that would severely restrict the voting rights of millions. But yesterday, the Republicans in the Ohio House secured passage of “what could become the nation’s most restrictive voter identification law.”

In just eight days, House Republicans hustled through HB 159, a bill that would require voters to show one of five forms of ID to vote in person: an Ohio driver’s license, state ID, military ID, U.S. passport, or “a new, free photo ID that State Bureau of Motor Vehicles would dispense to indigent citizens who qualify.” Currently, voters must show a photo ID or present a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government document with a current name and address. Unlike other states’ photo ID laws, HB 159 would not even allow students to use IDs issued by state colleges.

[Botany]

1. this is a bill to stop something that doesn't happen

.... somebody voting twice. I have worked in election protection
and making sure people can get to vote for years in Ohio.

You can not vote twice end of story. This is about vote suppression
of likely democratic voters.

[Mnemosyne]

3. They are extremely prolific at 'branding'. If someone only gets their news from M$M, it sounds as if

it happens rampantly. The election system in this country is sickening.

[Botany]

4. Where the hell was all this concern about elections in '04?

But then it was about real election fraud not a make believe story about
people trying to vote twice.

The bill sponsor, state Rep. Bob Mecklenborg (R) “said the bill is necessary to combat voter fraud and the perception
of fraud.”

you just can not vote twice

@ your precinct poll you can only vote once and even if you went to another poll and swore that you were in the right
place and got a provisional ballot it would not be counted.

If you vote early you a flagged in the poll log as already voting = you can't vote
if you request an absentee ballot and you don't use it and you are given a provisional ballot and it will not be counted
if you used your absentee ballot .... we do have indoor plumbing and computers in Ohio

[Mnemosyne]

11. I have come to the conclusion

that we have not had an honest election in at least eleven years, probably longer. Smoke and mirrors, Botany, smoke and mirrors. I feel your frustration and share it. :hug:

[eilen]

2. This will go to the Supreme Court of the state

It is unconstitutional. It is a poll tax.

[MadMaddie]

5. Bingo! But we have 5 extreme radical judges that have no

problem overturning precedent. We can't take anything for granted. They may feel this is the last chance for the Right Wing to damage civil rights in this country.

[lonestarnot]

6. Unless Thomas is thrown from the bench.

[MadMaddie]

7. Thomas and Scalia but the odds are very low aren't they?

[Doctor_J]

8. Lots of Dem voters disenfranchised nationwide

curious to see if we will start burning things down now, or sign some more petitions and declare, "Can they do this?" I predict some rants and little else.

[jwirr]

9. Anywhere this is done they are trying to keep the poor and minorities

from voting - it is clear what needs to be done. We need to help these people get ID cards before the election. I remember people going to areas where the black vote was almost impossible in the 60s to help them register. It is time again. Also of course this needs to be taken to the SCOTUS.

[theHandpuppet]

13. Also the elderly, especially women

This bill is specifically aimed at any demogrpahic that tends to vote Democratic.

[madrchsod]

10. ohio better start organizing so people can get their id`s

what`s interesting is the republicans think this bill does`t effect the people who voted for them. will the republicans make sure their voters have id`s? i bet they will.

[theHandpuppet]

12. After all these years, I guess my mother doesn't get to vote anymore

She's 92, sharp as a tack and has voted faithfully all of her life. But since she gave up driving a few years ago, doesn't have a passport and isn't a military vet, I guess her only option would be for one of us to drive her to the DMV and declare her an "indigent citizen". Yeah, when hell freezes over would my mother agree to that.

This is unconstitutional as hell.