http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_dorri_st_060914_why_the_lwv_opposes_.htm
H.R.4844 would require documentation and ID which proves you are a citizen of the US. The only document which does that is a passport. Do you have one? Could you produce it at the polls?
Is this the biggest anti-American proposal yet? Would this mean only the wealthy would be allowed to vote?
Write your congressman and complain now!!
QuoteSeptember 14, 2006 at 16:29:05
Why the LWV opposes the anti-democratic HR 4844 for voter IDs
by Dorri Steinhoff
http://www.opednews.com
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as found on DU:
Here are excerpts of the League of Women Voters' statement regarding HR 4844
We believe that H.R. 4844 would turn back the clock and erect unnecessary barriers to voter participation. Many Americans simply do not have the documentary proof of citizenship and photo ID that would allow them to exercise their right to vote if H.R. 4844 were to become law. ...
In our modern society, where many of us travel by air or bank with credit cards, it is easy to assume that everyone has appropriate ID or can prove their citizenship. But it is a more difficult problem than one might think. For example, older women are substantially less likely to have ID than others, and getting that ID in order to vote could be a major burden. People who were born outside of hospitals are among those who can face problems in getting birth certificates or other proof of citizenship....
For a citizen of voting age, the passport application fee is $55. The security surcharge is $12. The execution fee is $30. The total is $97. For native-born Americans, a certified birth certificate is required, with its accompanying costs.
Under at least one proposal, every voter would be required to prove their citizenship before voting in 2008 - more than 100 million Americans would need to prove their citizenship..
http://www.lwv.org/am/template.cfm?sectionfiltered=home&template=/cm/contentdisplay.cfm&contentid=5904
HR 4844 here
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:h.r.04844
http://www.house.gov/
Write them.email them NOW!!!!!
I think overall it is a good idea....maybe there should be a grandfather clause in place...to protect the elderly....but, what is wrong with it...you need proper ID to get a drivers liscence...I don't hear a major cry about that....why shouldn't there be one for voting?
Allowing people to vote without proper identification is stupid. Why should non-citizens, legal OR illegal, be allowed to vote on issues in this country? When they take on the responsibilities of citizenship, more power to them, but until then I don't want to see elections, especially in big cities, decided by inelligible voters who dare to vote. He who lives by political correctness, dies by political correctnes...
A pass port, though? You have one? YOu gonna have one for the 2006 election? What do they cost now? $60? Can everyone afford to get one? Is this not discrimination?
I see "passport" in that quote but I don't see where it says that's the only way to go. A birth certificate should work...and you have to have a certified birth certificate in order to get a passport anyway. I don't think it's a big deal. In a few years, all of those who were born without receiving a birth certificate will have died and then no one will have the problem of proving citizenship. Naturalized citizens would have it easy right now even because they were given tons of paperwork proving their acceptance as citizens. I think it's much ado about absolutely nothing, really.
I hope you're right...but I think I'll research it some more...just that fear conspiracy thingy...you know.
Now tell me hi, please...it's been a long time and I want these debates to be civil like we ended up being on the HAG before you left..
Cookie, I like the civil tone of this place. The lack of civility at the other place was so discouraging that it became a gigantic waste of time. That's why I didn't try to figure out why I couldn't get back into the site. Beating my head against a wall for fun is not something I look forward to doing.
BTW, I also remember hearing that older people would be allowed to use just about any kind of paperwork to prove their citizenship...including family records in old family Bibles, etc. I don't think they want to exclude any citizens; they want to make sure that fakers don't get a vote.
Well, then, that's good if they don't exclude. But, I'll research.
This is a civil place and the admins here keep it that way. You can go to the Rough House and get a bit more caustic, but they have their rules there, too. I do like civil debate...and especially with someone as knowledgeable and intelligent as most are on here....that makes a huge difference. No url kings here.....
So, you are here....I need to get off here and do some chores and get some rest....and find my bible...I'm old and maybe I can use that to vote!!!!
Nite Sam!!!! thanks for the chat... ;D