[jgarden]

With the results of the whole 2000 Presidential Election depending on the outcome of a Florida recount, should we be surprised at any voting "irregularities" that occur within that state?

If current demographic trends continue, the majority of Ameribans will be visible minorities by 2050.

We will be seeing more and more of this in the years to come as white minorities, particularily in the South, will be pulling out all the stops to retain political power.

[Angel4Truth]

Dems hate it when people want to verify actual voters, then their dead wont be able to vote anymore along with all the illegals.

[jgarden]

Originally Posted by Angel4Truth

Dems hate it when people want to verify actual voters, then their dead wont be able to vote anymore along with all the illegals.

In 2011, the state of Florida imposed a short deadline for the submission of voter registration forms, with stiff penalties for late filing. The bill led to the end of voter registration work by one organization, the League of Women Voters, whose spokesperson said, "Despite the fact that the League of Women Voters is one of the nation’s most respected civic organizations, with a 91-year history of registering and educating voters, we will be unable to comply with the egregious provisions contained in [this bill]."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_suppression

When organizations like the "League of Women Voters" throw up their hands in frustration because they are unable to comply with Florida's bill, perhaps its more than "illegal voters" that are being targeted!

[Angel4Truth]

Its very frustrating when you have to admit a person is dead or illegal when you are suppose to be signing people up, i know.

[jgarden]

Originally Posted by Angel4Truth

Its very frustrating when you have to admit a person is dead or illegal when you are suppose to be signing people up, i know.

A commonly cited study by New York University's Brennan Center claimed that 11% of the United States population is of voter age, but lacks government-issued photo IDs. A paper in the Harvard Law and Policy Review, “ID at the Polls: Assessing the Impact of Recent State Voter ID Laws on Voter Turnout.”

In 2007, a report prepared by the staff of the federal Election Assistance Commission found that, among experts, "there is widespread but not unanimous agreement that there is little polling place fraud". The report was based on research conducted by a Republican elections lawyer and another expert with liberal leanings.

The final version released to the public, however, stated that there was "a great deal of debate on the pervasiveness of fraud." Democrats charged that the commission, with a Republican majority, had altered the conclusion for political reasons, which the commission denied. During the George W. Bush administration, "The [Department of Justice] devoted unprecedented resources to ferreting out polling-place fraud over five years and appears to have found not a single prosecutable case across the country," Slate reported.

The Democratic Party fought the voter identification laws, calling them the GOP war on Voting and a return of Jim Crow disenfranchisement. Civil rights groups were vocal about the laws, saying they disproportionately hurt blacks and Latinos. According to another report commissioned by the Election Assistance Commission, one effect of voter identification laws is lower turnout, especially among members of minorities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_ID_laws

Unless Republicans can demonstrate that voter fraud accounts for 11% of the national vote, perhaps these initiatives have other targets in mind - or is it just a matter of coincidence that visible minorities and young voters, the groups most adversely affected by voter ID, also happen to be traditional Democratic supporters?

[Delmar]

Originally Posted by jgarden

Unless Republicans can demonstrate that voter fraud accounts for 11% of the national vote, perhaps these initiatives have other targets in mind - or is it just a matter of coincidence that visible minorities and young voters, the groups most adversely affected by voter ID, also happen to be traditional Democratic supporters?

So if voter fraud only accounted for 10% of the vote, that would be acceptable to you? How many states are won or lost by less than that margin?

[jgarden]

Originally Posted by Delmar

So if voter fraud only accounted for 10% of the vote, that would be acceptable to you? How many states are won or lost by less than that margin?

Photo ID laws require voters to present a government-approved photo ID before they may cast their ballots. Countries including Belgium, Spain, Greece, Italy, Malta, and seven US states have such laws, including Indiana and Georgia.

A significant distinction between the United States and these other countries is that national identification is commonplace and a longstanding infrastructure exists to ensure all voters are issued identification at no cost.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_suppression

Conservatives, like Delmar, don't appear disturbed by fact that they have yet to provide any compelling proof that voter fraud constitutes a widespread concern.

Even if it could be proven that photo ID were necessary, one wonders why the Republicans have chosen not to adopt the European approach whereby a national identification card is made available to all citizens - at no direct cost!

[Delmar]

Originally Posted by Alate_One

Is it more of a surprise that people with Hispanic names have been targeted? It's the state's job to not register people to vote that aren't citizens. Going back and targeting people because of their race and demanding proof or purge is racist, and playing partisan games with democracy plain and simple.

One of the incorrectly targeted people






Source of the above

A ridiculous "solution" to the non-existent problem of voter fraud.

This guy was asked to show proof of citizenship. He showed proof and then he voted.

[WandererInFog]

Originally Posted by bigbang123

Florida's Republican Governor's request to get rid of noncitizens voters this election year has turned up 180,000 hits — but it incidentally targets minorities and Democrats while giving white Republicans a pass.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/1...t-targets.html

And of that 180,000 only 2,700 were actually sent to the counties as potential non-citizen or deceased voters to be verified and if verification proved impossible to purge. Given thats only like 1 voter per 3 voting precincts, it's pretty obvious why this isn't being treated as a serious story in the press.

[WandererInFog]

Originally Posted by jgarden

Conservatives, like Delmar, don't appear disturbed by fact that they have yet to provide any compelling proof that voter fraud constitutes a widespread concern.

Amazingly

Even if it could be proven that photo ID were necessary, one wonders why the Republicans have chosen not to adopt the European approach whereby a national identification card is made available to all citizens - at no direct cost![/quote]

You do realize that as a part of the voter ID laws, those states all do provide free photo IDs, right? Thats a central reason why all the laws keep ultimately being upheld, as it's really hard to take the argument that requiring a freely provided Photo ID somehow intrinsically discriminates against minority groups.

[Nick M]

At least Travon Martin can't vote. He was 17, and I am only guessing he would be 18 by then.

[jgarden]

Originally Posted by WandererInFog

Amazingly

Even if it could be proven that photo ID were necessary, one wonders why the Republicans have chosen not to adopt the European approach whereby a national identification card is made available to all citizens - at no direct cost!

You do realize that as a part of the voter ID laws, those states all do provide free photo IDs, right? Thats a central reason why all the laws keep ultimately being upheld, as it's really hard to take the argument that requiring a freely provided Photo ID somehow intrinsically discriminates against minority groups.[/quote]

The High Cost of a Free Voter ID
December 4, 2011

..... The U. S. Supreme Court held that states with strict photo ID requirements must offer free voter IDs. While the voter ID is free, the documents a citizen must produce to establish his or her identity are not free. Those documents include birth certificates and passports. Of course, if a voter has a passport, there would no need to get a voter ID.

..... The photo ID requirements will disproportionately impact young and minority voters. It is estimated that 18% of young voters, 19% of Latino voters, 20% of Asian American voters and 25% of African American voters do not have government-issued photo ID.

http://www.rhok.org/problems/high-cost-free-voter-id

Would"WandererInFog" have us believe that it is all just a matter of coincidence that voter ID laws adversely effect young voters, Latino voters, Asian American voters and African American voters - all traditional Democrat supporters?

Does "WandererInFog" really think that conservatives would be so zealous in pursing voter ID if it had a disproportionate negative impact on older, white voters?

[bigbang123]

Originally Posted by WandererInFog

And of that 180,000 only 2,700 were actually sent to the counties as potential non-citizen or deceased voters to be verified and if verification proved impossible to purge. Given thats only like 1 voter per 3 voting precincts, it's pretty obvious why this isn't being treated as a serious story in the press.

You are kidding me right?

Published April 16, 2012

With less than 2,000 votes separating Gore and Bush when the polls closed on Election Night 2000, the final result in Florida was slim enough to necessitate a subsequent recount process to determine who would win the state's 25 electoral votes. George W. Bush was not declared the winner for almost three weeks after the election -- having received fewer popular votes than Gore.

Recent polling suggests that the 2012 presidential election is going to be extremely competitive and could very well be decided by a narrow or even one state victory, or a situation where one candidate wins the popular vote and the other wins the electoral college.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/...#ixzz1wj1CK8NF

[Delmar]

Originally Posted by jgarden

Conservatives, like Delmar, don't appear disturbed by fact that they have yet to provide any compelling proof that voter fraud constitutes a widespread concern.

Even if it could be proven that photo ID were necessary,

What proof do you need? It is common sense to make sure that people are who they say they are.
edit: I absolutely believe that attempts to prevent determining the eligibility of voters are designed to stir up racial tension.

one wonders why the Republicans have chosen not to adopt the European approach whereby a national identification card is made available to all citizens - at no direct cost!

I don't have a problem with that Though a lot of the states rights people would prefer it to be a state by state thing. My own state of Indiana already has a free state ID available to anyone of voting age who doesn't drive and I think that is a good thing.

[Delmar]

Originally Posted by jgarden

Would"WandererInFog" have us believe that it is all just a matter of coincidence that voter ID laws adversely effect young voters, Latino voters, Asian American voters and African American voters - all traditional Democrat supporters?

Does "WandererInFog" really think that conservatives would be so zealous in pursing voter ID if it had a disproportionate negative impact on older, white voters?

Delmar believes that every citizen should go to the trouble to have state ID if he wants to vote. If Democrats tend to not have state IDs perhaps the Democrat party should work harder to make sure their constituents take the trouble to get an ID.

A photo ID is not the only way to insure people are who they say they are, by the way. I would be OK with anyone who doesn't want to go to the trouble of getting an ID being required to put their hand on a finger print scanner. Maybe do a DNA swab while your at it.