In states all over our nation Republicans are instituting strict voter ID laws as part of their overall strategy to disenfranchise poor and minority voters. They make it appear quite reasonable, saying it is easy to get a voter ID, but is it? For elderly, disabled and poor Americans, it can prove a daunting challenge. A recent personal experience sheds light on the issue.
I lost my wallet, and with it, my government ID card, Social Security card, Medicare card, health plan card, debit card and credit card. Arranging for the replacement of all but the first two was easy to do over the telephone. I know to take my birth certificate to the Social Security office to replace that card.
My government ID card is an Oregon ID, issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to people who do not drive. On occasion my COPD is sufficiently severe for me to lose consciousness for a few seconds, and I will not put others at risk. I visited the DMV website to see what I needed to bring. I’m a fairly bright fellow, and the legalese was so thick that Michele Bachmann’s brain scan would be more lucid. I figured out what I could and called my local DMV office. I explained to the clerk that my Social Security card was in my lost wallet. He explained that, if I have correspondence from the Social Security Administration that has my name, address and SSN, I could bring that.
This morning I boarded a bus to the DMV, five minutes away, armed with my birth certificate, my Social Security tax information letter for 2010, and my cell phone bill. Several hours later, and $40.50 lighter, I left with a temporary Oregon ID. The permanent will be mailed in a couple weeks. It would appear that my experience supports the Republican position, but hold on. There’s more to this.
I am well organized, could pay the fee, and live in a big city. My original birth certificate was lost over forty years ago. I never needed it, because I always had my drivers license. But I needed to replace it, when I applied for SSDI a few years back. My birth certificate from NJ cost me $60 and took six months to receive. That could delay getting a government ID for months. Also, if I were not receiving Social Security, I would not have the tax information letter. That is another obstacle to people who are below retirement age. If I were poorer than I am, I would be unable to pay the fee. In addition, my DMV office is five minutes away by bus. For Americans who do not drive, live many miles from the office that issues the ID, and have no public transportation to get there, going could be a huge impediment.
Finally, I live in one of the most progressive states in the country. ID laws here are not draconian, intended to disenfranchise voters, like the ones Republicans are passing. In fact, when I was at DMV, three different clerks offered to register me to vote, if I was not already registered. I asked one how poor people, who can not pay, can get an ID. She said there are programs to help, but did not know who to call or where to go. If getting an ID here could be that hard, complaints about the Republican laws are spot-on. They must be opposed.
25 Responses to “Editorial: Getting a Voter ID”
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TomCat,
I empathize with your struggle, and I, too, do not approve of Republican efforts to disenfranchize legitimate voters. In my case, I lost my Social Security card years ago and never bothered to replace it. Actually, that was the second time. The first time was over 30 years ago and it was replaced for FREE, mo problem, with an absolute minimum of hassle. NOW, however, I find that getting a new card will cost me over $40, a fee I won’t even consider, being a disabled 99-er awaiting approval for SSDI. And I don’t even know where my birth certificate is. Perhaps all newborns should now have their ID indeliby placed on their skin, the way the Nazis did with the Jews in Germany? So I would have trouble voting under Republican guidelines as well were they applicable in my state, and I HAVE VOTED IN EVERY FEDERAL AND STATE ELECTION SINCE 1972!
It is clear the cynical game the Republicans are up to. They want to shave just enough points off key races to ensure a Republican win. They will do whatever it takes to win, even cheat. They obviously hate government anyway, at least government THEY don’t totally control or own. That is among the many reasons I will NEVER BE A REPUBLICAN!
My step son recently lost his wallet as well along with a debit/credit card, his SS card and his drivers license. The hoops he is having to run through to get all of his information back is a nightmare. SS won’t issue a new SS number until he has a photo ID. The DMV won’t issue a new license without a SS card, a utility bill (he lives with his father) and a birth certificate. So without the SS card, which he can’t get, he can’t get his license. This is a real nightmare to untangle. 😡
This is a warning to all – DO NOT CARRY YOUR PASSPORT, BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR SS CARD IN YOUR WALLET. Keep it in a safe place at home. Ours are in my safe at home.
And you don’t even live in a red state.
Jack, I hear you. Their principal goal is to establish a thousand year regime of one party rule. Look how they tried during the Bush Reich. The only saving grace is that their incompetence matches their arrogance.
on of the opposite side of the coast, we’ve got 178,000 registered voters – already registered, mind you – hanging from a thread. They’re registered to vote, but have expired IDs or alternate formats of ID. And now the state won’t let them vote. Students who’ve lived in SC for four years attending college? Tough – no SC ID, no vote. Elderlly, don’t drive anymore and didn’t bother to renew your driver’s license? Tough – you’re out. Born in rural area of the state that actually didn’t release birth certificates? Out. Even cases of folks whose parents couldn’t decide the name of teh child immediately when born (which was noted on birth certificates as “Baby Boy/Girl Jones”) are now told they can’t vote here, because of the difference between birth certificate name and ID name.
Welcome, Rob. Thank you for demonstrating the truth of my words, by showing what Republicans do when they control.
Sorry about all your troubles. But, as you state, they were solved after a bit of work and expenses on your part. The people who can’t afford it or physically are unable to do this would be disenfranchised.
Exactly.
Disenfranchised is the goal–and the only goal– anyone ,like yourself , who has ever had to obtain or replace one of these documents can relate to the problems involved , Programs designed to assist disabled and /or elderly with the confusing paperwork involved in obtaining even simple documentation , are being cut–another factor here; Someone on a limited , fixed income would have trouble with $40 — a big cost , This is such a cynical move -but it really illustrates how far ‘they’ will go , and the contempt they hold for people.
And remember, there is no intent to disenfranchise voters here, as Republicans are not in charge.
Voter fraud happens, but I don’t think the majority of it is from people who register illegally. It is from politically organized groups who “find” uncounted votes, or in some way tamper with the vote count. Computerized voting machines only make this type of fraud easier. We should have only hand counted paper ballots that can be visually inspected and verified as many times as necessary to get a legitimate count.
Voter fraud is very rare, Jerry. Election fraud is what Republicans do.
I know people don’t like this but it’s all a good argument for a national ID card. I would go so far as to say chipping because there are so many dishonest people who regularly practice ID theft. I’m not opposed to it, only how it could potentially be used.
I agree. I would have no objections, as long as privacy is assured.
Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts will be critical for progressives to counter right-wing attempts to disenfranchise Americans who right-wingers don’t like how they vote.
And let me add that is GOTV for Democrat, not a third party.
Sorry to hear of your troubles Tom. It just isn’t right. Republicans are trying to take away the right to vote for a large segment of this country. If you are poor they don’t think you have any rights, but don’t try to take away any right’s of the wealthy. Don’t take away their tax loopholes. You are right Tom you do live in a very progressive state and a very beautiful one.
Welcome Audrey. 🙂
If my troubles can help teach people this important lesson, they are worth it. I agree, and thank you,
I could say more but wiil leave with this daunting thought, “Sign Of The Times We Live In”.. Take care Tome. 🙄
Welcome Barbara. 🙂
Amen to that!
Tome 😉
I’m really sorry you lost your wallet, but the ill fortune gave you real, practical experience on how difficult the Repugs are trying to make it for people to be “people.” You know, have ID, registered to vote, can collect social security, etc.
Note to EVERYBODY: Never carry your SS card with you. Put it away in a safe place. This is the A-1 ID you’ll need to get everything else done, but you don’t need to carry for everyday living.
That is good advice about the SS card!
Thanks Marva. I knew that, but needed it for something a few years back and forgot to remove it. You are so right!
Tom, so sorry you have to go through this mess. It’s exhausting and expensive and just a general pita (pain in the ass). You can’t get this without this, you can’t get that without this, they make it almost impossible to get any form of id. It’s ridiculous; my nearest SS office is in downtown Chicago – 50 miles away. You can take the train down there but then you have to walk about 20 blocks to get there. Talk about a pita. I’d never make it – I’d have to take a bus (and I don’t know the bus schedules or where they go at all; I’d probably wind up on the South Side in the middle of a really, really bad neighborhood, where I would be immediately robbed or worse) or a cab to get over there which would be (round trip about $50) plus the train fair, plus the fee for the SS card. Luckily, we have a really great Secretary of State who totally re-vamped the DMV so it’s very quick to get in and out. But even that is 15 miles away. Ugh, I would HATE to have to do that. Plus I have about a thousand credit cards that I would have to cancel (I’m a shopper, what can I say?). I should take most of them out, but lately I’ve needed them, because my son lost my debit card, again (this is his third time). Needless to say, he’s not allowed to touch it anymore; I always keep plenty of cash on hand, he can use that. I keep it in case I have to bribe a cop. 😆
Poor Lisa. Thanks. Thank goodness i have only one credit card and I pay the full balance every month.