The Clarion Ledger published an article today about other states pushing voter ID bills.
Growing up, my mother would say: "If everyone else was jumping off the Brooklyn bridge, would you do it too?"
Of course not. Just because a law was passed in another state, does not make it a good law. Mississippi has had hundreds of bad laws that were either rejected by the courts or later eliminated by the legislature.
Voter ID laws are still unconstitutional. Voting is a right- not a privilege.
Click here to read what everyone else is doing in the Clarion Ledger.
The best argument against a voter ID law is one I heard while working in Missouri.
ReplyDeleteThe argument was "Well, you need a photo ID to get on a plane. You need one to cash a check!"
The answer, which I thought was brilliant went like this, "Yes, that's true. But you don't have a CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT to get on a plane. They can refuse you. Same with the banks. the Government CANNOT stop you from voting, or set conditions for doing so as long as you qualify!"
I thought a brilliant response to that topic!! I wish we heard it more.
Carrying that kind of logic to its conclusion means you’d do away with voter registration. After all only those who got get registered are allowed to vote.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not onerous to require people to show they are who they say they are before voting. It’s not preventing anyone from voting. Just have a system that allows you to be given an ID card, if you don’t already have one, when you register to vote.
I remember being shocked when I turned 18 and voted for the first time. I already had my driver’s license in hand as I walked up to the table and when the lady told me they don’t check that I was dumbfounded. I think I said something like “So anyone could walk in here and say they were me, take my vote?” Ridiculous.
It’s all about keeping the voters and parties honest. In Mississippi we all know that voter fraud is a problem in our state. Look at Simpson County in our past election. A man, who has had a record of doing this went into a senior living home and voted people that had no idea they were still alive. He also voted people that were dead. Do you think the founding fathers planned on this voter fraud? They did not intend for Americans to fraud the system they created.
ReplyDeleteIf illegal immigrants can get an ID, anyone can, but that’s not the real issue in Mississippi. It’s the fact that people will not be able to fraud the system like they have in past elections.
No one is saying you can't vote, but just provide a document to make sure you are not cheating the system. No one said you can’t keep and bears arms, but you better have documentation to be able to carry one. It’s the same concept.
Of course voter fraud has nothing to do with this right??? Oh and dear old grannie is still casting her vote even though she died three years ago...Get real people!
ReplyDeleteChuck
ReplyDeleteThe Libs who run this board are not concerned with being honest.
I want every legal, qualified, elector in the state of Mississippi to have the right to vote.
But, as we have seen this year, those who are not legal, qualified, or even living have tried to cast votes.
In Jeff Davis County we have an example of the wide spread voter fraud that the Mississippi Democrat Party either endorses or ignores.
Trey Parker is correct that voting is a right. It's a right for every legal, qualified, elector in Mississippi. It's not a right for illegals, felons and others who are not qualified electors.
For those arguing for the voter ID law, you make some good points, but there are a few things to consider.
ReplyDeleteFirst, voter fraud is not widespread. It happens from time to time, but it is by far the exception rather than the rule. To force the ID law on the public would mean that thousands of people are who legally able and registered to vote would not be able to.
My point. Drivers licenses cost money to get. Senior citizens may not be able to get one. Families living in poverty in small towns who do not own cars may not have one or have the means to get them. Under this law, that means they LOSE their right to vote, they'd have TO PAY for their right to vote. That's as un-American as they come.
The Constitution is not meant to be parsed, or obeyed only in part. EVERYONE has the right to vote, and the only exceptions are noted in the Constitution (non-citizens and felons for example). Forcing ID's on people will essentially make them pay to vote. That's unconstitutional, therefore, it's unacceptable.
There are ways to block voter fraud. But punishing the thousands of senior citizens and poverty stricken citizens who are honest voters, just to stop the small population that is dishonest is an absolutely atrocious idea.
I would have no problem with a VOTER ID law, IF AND ONLY IF, the government was responsible for providing the ID's to EVERYONE. This law does not do that. It merely makes people find their ID's by their own means...which is not easy to do for some folks. That makes the law unconstitutional, and therefore, unacceptable.
Trey
ReplyDeleteI think you are being intellectually dishonest with yourself when you say this:
"I would have no problem with a VOTER ID law, IF AND ONLY IF, the government was responsible for providing the ID's to EVERYONE."
Because, at some point those folks would have to prove citizenship to gain the state provided ID.
Then you would say that it is unconstitutional and that it's a form of voter intimidation to require them to apply for a "government ID".
The excuses from the left never end.
"There are ways to block voter fraud."
Yes, Trey there are ways to block and stop voter fraud, but none that are acceptable to the left.
Hey Trey if they can't get out to get a drivers license then what makes you think they are going to vote? If they can find a way to vote they can find a way to get either a DL or some other form of photo identification.
ReplyDeleteKingmaker, there isn no intellectual dishonesty from me.
ReplyDeleteMaking them pay for ID's to vote is against the Constitution. You don't pay for your right to vote in this country, not anymore. We tried that with the poll tax, there's a reason that nonsense was cut off.
If the government provided ID's to all citizens of this country (which can be easily proven), I wouldn't have a problem. But the government won't do that. The voter ID law is essentiall a tax on these people, a voting tax...and that is completely un-American, there is no acceptable argument for making voters pay for the right to cast their ballot. They've tried it elsewhere, forcing voters to show ID, but absolutely unwilling to help voters that didn't have an ID get one. It was all up to them. In other words, they were stuck. That's not acceptable...not in a free society that values it's right to vote!!
Kristen, where I grew up, my parents lived within a 5 minute walk of their polling place. There is a reason that many polling places are in churches, schools and community centers. I know many people who walk. Are you seriously suggesting that those who don't have the means to get a license should just not be allowed, even if they live by the polls and want to vote? I hope not!!
Saying "well if they don't drive, they must not vote," is a very close minded way to look at it. Fortunately, the courts are not quite so narrow minded.