The media mostly ignored the Republicans’ long time effort to make voting harder for poor people and minorities. Most people don’t even know that Jeb Bush — “normal”, respectable Republican — purged Florida’s voter rolls of tens of thousands of people in 2000. Reviews of that purge consistently showed it was extremely inaccurate.
Great article! I actually think the point about how many Republican vs. Democrat voters would be impacted is exactly the right point to stress. A full analysis of this impact could shut this entire conversation down if it were to show that Republican voters would be significantly more suppressed than Democrats. I see a lot of people mentioning the point like was done here, but what would the numbers show? One other point...of the 100 or so cases of fraud, what party did these people vote for? Another point that rarely or ever gets mentioned. It's only 100 people, so not a big deal, but I'd be interested which party is receiving the fraudulent votes.
Married women, if your passports are expired, get moving. Actually everyone get moving. We can't let this bill pass, but we also cannot become victims of it if it does. I hounded my sister and brother-in-law today to renew theirs. And if you can help anyone else who cannot afford a passport get one, do it. There is time right now to get more passports in place. Also, have your birth certificates ready. I actually had my dog eat mine, so that is on my list today.
We cannot fight off bad candidates and bad laws if we can't vote.
I can't imagine how onerous and expensive this Act would make it on states to comply with its regulations. At the very minimum, how many people have copies of their birth certificates? What is the process to get a certified copy of it in each state? How expensive is that? How long does that take? Even if the GOP Senate can pass it (not likely), how likely will it be that it is held up in court by states for months past the November election?
It can take weeks. It can cost plenty. And that money is effectively a poll tax. Illegal.
Then there's the hurdle of states that might choose not to accept even your birth certificate plus any marriage and divorce certificates as proof of citizenship, if you've ever changed your name since birth. There's no law decreeing that states have to be rational. And no guarantee that individual poll workers, perhaps some Republican volunteer running you through the process and noting that you're a registered Dem, will decide to enforce any such law even-handedly.
There are dozens of companies that will get you a certified copy of your birth certificate. It is not cheap, but even if we win this fight this time, this issue is going to keep coming back from the MAGAs. Get your birth certificate. Get your passport, and then help whoever else you can with it. If we get stuck with Biggs this year, we need to be ready to vote under new nightmare laws.
It was an extreme hassle to get a Real ID in blue California. It was during Covid and after waiting hours in line in the hot sun on a very hot day, I somehow still didn't have ALL the correct documentation and had to go back yet again. It was an enormous hassle and I was retired at the time. How would working people with children be able to go through this, especially with documentation less accessible than I had?
These fools are talking about a $100 "Never Ending Pasta Pass" that only 10,000 people are allowed to buy. (They sell out in literal minutes.) It allows you something like 13 weeks of unlimited pasta. But you understandably have to show photo ID to prove that you're the one who bought the pass, so you can't share it with family/friends.
If I buy wine or whisky at a state Fine Wines and Good Spirits store, they don't ask me to prove my age (75). But if I want to buy beer or wine at a grocery store, they ask to see my ID which they scan so they can prove they have not sold to a minor which could cost them their license to sell beer and wine.
One crucial point that seems to be missing from a lot of these debates: even if the Act passes, it is patently impossible to implement it in time for the midterms. The administrative burden on the states would be absolutely overwhelming, and lead to confusion, disruption and chaos. I mean, I think it's a loathsome idea, but even more so, they have to know that it can *not* be done in time for the midterms. Or as you say, maybe that part of the cruelty is the point.
Precisely. While Purcell (no major changes near voting time) has been used by Republicans to PREVENT good things (traitor McConnell and his cult unilaterally reducing the SCOTUS to 8 for a year, for ex), they have also IGNORED it to do BAD things (cramming a corrupt partisan SCOTUS hack through in just a few weeks before an election to keep SCOTUS at 9).
We have seen over and over that Republicans are happy to cheat if it gets them what they want (no J6 consequences, electing an insurrectionist w/o 2/3 of Congress 👍, giving Article I powers to the PINO illegally elected, permitting/enabling illegal firing of protected workers and elimination of statutory entities...and speaking of "statutory," violating the Trump-Epstein Files Transparency Act SINCE DECEMBER. SO no, I don't expect them to follow either Constitution or laws, because they have shown REPEATEDLY that they will not, and do not care that they are not.
I experienced an issue that would mean going through all this SAVE effort wouldn't work. WA is one of the states where a Real ID does prove citizenship; you have to supply a birth certificate to get one. I was heading to Canada. My passport was expired. I figured it would be faster to get a Real ID than a new passport, though I applied for both. So I wrote to the state for a certified copy of my birth certificate. The copy I had wasn't certified.
Weeks went by. Eventually the birth certificate showed up. It had my last name (and my father's) spelled wrong. (This was a current error of the state since my old copy was correct). Imagine the situation if I'd moved shortly before an election and needed to register. (Well, the passport beat the birth certificate to my mailbox, as it happened, but of course this could happen to the passportless.)
The media mostly ignored the Republicans’ long time effort to make voting harder for poor people and minorities. Most people don’t even know that Jeb Bush — “normal”, respectable Republican — purged Florida’s voter rolls of tens of thousands of people in 2000. Reviews of that purge consistently showed it was extremely inaccurate.
https://www.salon.com/2000/12/04/voter_file/
I imagine that this could backfire on rethuglicans if they could get the bill passed.
It is reasonable to assume that more education means someone is more likely to understand how to navigate the requirements of the proposed law.
Democrats hold a 10 point advantage with college educated people.
Further, higher educated people are more likely to vote.
Turnout Rates by Education Level (Pew Research):
* Advanced degrees: Roughly 82% to 90% of eligible citizens with post-graduate or advanced degrees cast ballots in major elections.
* Bachelor's degrees: Around 77% of people with a four-year college degree vote.
* High school or less: Turnout drops significantly, with roughly 52% to 55% of high school graduates participating.
And how many of that 52% - 55% feel motivated to vote this November with their POTUS having disappointed them so much during his 2nd term?
Great article! I actually think the point about how many Republican vs. Democrat voters would be impacted is exactly the right point to stress. A full analysis of this impact could shut this entire conversation down if it were to show that Republican voters would be significantly more suppressed than Democrats. I see a lot of people mentioning the point like was done here, but what would the numbers show? One other point...of the 100 or so cases of fraud, what party did these people vote for? Another point that rarely or ever gets mentioned. It's only 100 people, so not a big deal, but I'd be interested which party is receiving the fraudulent votes.
Married women, if your passports are expired, get moving. Actually everyone get moving. We can't let this bill pass, but we also cannot become victims of it if it does. I hounded my sister and brother-in-law today to renew theirs. And if you can help anyone else who cannot afford a passport get one, do it. There is time right now to get more passports in place. Also, have your birth certificates ready. I actually had my dog eat mine, so that is on my list today.
We cannot fight off bad candidates and bad laws if we can't vote.
I can't imagine how onerous and expensive this Act would make it on states to comply with its regulations. At the very minimum, how many people have copies of their birth certificates? What is the process to get a certified copy of it in each state? How expensive is that? How long does that take? Even if the GOP Senate can pass it (not likely), how likely will it be that it is held up in court by states for months past the November election?
It can take weeks. It can cost plenty. And that money is effectively a poll tax. Illegal.
Then there's the hurdle of states that might choose not to accept even your birth certificate plus any marriage and divorce certificates as proof of citizenship, if you've ever changed your name since birth. There's no law decreeing that states have to be rational. And no guarantee that individual poll workers, perhaps some Republican volunteer running you through the process and noting that you're a registered Dem, will decide to enforce any such law even-handedly.
There are dozens of companies that will get you a certified copy of your birth certificate. It is not cheap, but even if we win this fight this time, this issue is going to keep coming back from the MAGAs. Get your birth certificate. Get your passport, and then help whoever else you can with it. If we get stuck with Biggs this year, we need to be ready to vote under new nightmare laws.
NO! Not Biggs! I live in LD3; I can't fathom a Rep Feely!
We have to do everything we can to make sure we limit the damage this year. I am in LD12, hopefully looking good.
It was an extreme hassle to get a Real ID in blue California. It was during Covid and after waiting hours in line in the hot sun on a very hot day, I somehow still didn't have ALL the correct documentation and had to go back yet again. It was an enormous hassle and I was retired at the time. How would working people with children be able to go through this, especially with documentation less accessible than I had?
I don't even think Olive Garden asks for ID to get pasta. Last time I checked, they didn't require ID to pay with a credit card.
These fools are talking about a $100 "Never Ending Pasta Pass" that only 10,000 people are allowed to buy. (They sell out in literal minutes.) It allows you something like 13 weeks of unlimited pasta. But you understandably have to show photo ID to prove that you're the one who bought the pass, so you can't share it with family/friends.
That particular analogy describes a relatively unusual case as opposed to normal operating procedure at Olive Garden.
That's why it's so stupid that the GOP thinks it's a relevant talking point.
If I buy wine or whisky at a state Fine Wines and Good Spirits store, they don't ask me to prove my age (75). But if I want to buy beer or wine at a grocery store, they ask to see my ID which they scan so they can prove they have not sold to a minor which could cost them their license to sell beer and wine.
Yes, that is exactly why they do it. I am 70 and sadly don't look under 21, so I frequently joke about it.
One crucial point that seems to be missing from a lot of these debates: even if the Act passes, it is patently impossible to implement it in time for the midterms. The administrative burden on the states would be absolutely overwhelming, and lead to confusion, disruption and chaos. I mean, I think it's a loathsome idea, but even more so, they have to know that it can *not* be done in time for the midterms. Or as you say, maybe that part of the cruelty is the point.
Precisely. While Purcell (no major changes near voting time) has been used by Republicans to PREVENT good things (traitor McConnell and his cult unilaterally reducing the SCOTUS to 8 for a year, for ex), they have also IGNORED it to do BAD things (cramming a corrupt partisan SCOTUS hack through in just a few weeks before an election to keep SCOTUS at 9).
We have seen over and over that Republicans are happy to cheat if it gets them what they want (no J6 consequences, electing an insurrectionist w/o 2/3 of Congress 👍, giving Article I powers to the PINO illegally elected, permitting/enabling illegal firing of protected workers and elimination of statutory entities...and speaking of "statutory," violating the Trump-Epstein Files Transparency Act SINCE DECEMBER. SO no, I don't expect them to follow either Constitution or laws, because they have shown REPEATEDLY that they will not, and do not care that they are not.
"Anybody that gets on an airplane has to show a picture ID to vote. "
What does this even mean? We're not voting on the plane.
Bottom line: this is a sinister voter suppression law. Period.
I experienced an issue that would mean going through all this SAVE effort wouldn't work. WA is one of the states where a Real ID does prove citizenship; you have to supply a birth certificate to get one. I was heading to Canada. My passport was expired. I figured it would be faster to get a Real ID than a new passport, though I applied for both. So I wrote to the state for a certified copy of my birth certificate. The copy I had wasn't certified.
Weeks went by. Eventually the birth certificate showed up. It had my last name (and my father's) spelled wrong. (This was a current error of the state since my old copy was correct). Imagine the situation if I'd moved shortly before an election and needed to register. (Well, the passport beat the birth certificate to my mailbox, as it happened, but of course this could happen to the passportless.)