Voter Registration

[Starport Seven-Five]

So why is voter registration/voter suppression/voter ID laws etc such a big talking point in the news whenever an election starts rolling around? I am genuinely curious.

It is generally easy if you have a driver's license. There is a subset of the population (inner city, lower income, and/or other reasons) that do not have a license and get negatively impacted by some of these restrictions.

When you see how those groups vote the allegations of voter suppression start to make more sense. It's definitely not a problem that impacts the majority of Americans, only a subset.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yeah, that is what I did 50 years ago, go to a designated voter registration location. They since have added other options and the website Buzz Rules posted being one of the options.

Many years ago I had to go to a voter registration place to register when I was old enough. I always thought it was interesting in was in a car dealership.

Now, it's really easy to register in any number of ways.

 

[Kae]

It is generally easy if you have a driver's license. There is a subset of the population (inner city, lower income, and/or other reasons) that do not have a license and get negatively impacted by some of these restrictions.

When you see how those groups vote the allegations of voter suppression start to make more sense. It's definitely not a problem that impacts the majority of Americans, only a subset.

If you are constantly told something is hard to do, you begin to believe it. Most if not all, states offer free Id's it is not a drivers license that you need. It just takes effort. so many things you can't do without a picture id.

 

[ncc1701]

It was over 40 years ago when I registered . I think went to our borough hall with my birth certificate & driver license. Wasn't hard. I have lived in the same state but moved twice. It was easy to change my registration to my new town(s).

 

[georgina]

It is generally easy if you have a driver's license. There is a subset of the population (inner city, lower income, and/or other reasons) that do not have a license and get negatively impacted by some of these restrictions.

When you see how those groups vote the allegations of voter suppression start to make more sense. It's definitely not a problem that impacts the majority of Americans, only a subset.

A drivers license is not considered proof of citizenship, and apparently neither is a birth certificate if the recent fiat is allowed.

 

[tvguy]

A drivers license is not considered proof of citizenship, and apparently neither is a birth certificate if the recent fiat is allowed.

I have a Real ID Driver's license. Not sure how a birth certificate won't be since it is what you need to get every other kind of proof of citizenship, a Passport and a Real ID Driver's license.

 

[HopperFan]

Why is it so difficult to register to vote in the United States? I am genuinely perplexed by this. Why is the process so onerous?

In Canada, we register through a question on our tax return. You check a box. When they process your taxes your citizenship is confirmed and voila. Registered to vote and before an election you get a voter registration card that tells you when and where you can vote (Canadians generally have 3 options, advanced polling dates, vote at the returning office for your riding (district) or election day). Furthermore you can register at your polling station or the returning office when you go to vote. You require one of; photo ID to vote (driver's license or photo ID card') or photo ID and proof of address or have someone with you that can vouch for your identity and eligibility to vote in that riding (district) that has ID.

I am not sure how it works in other countries, but it just seems like voting is a hassle in the US and can be made easier or harder at the whim of government officials.

Oops, I meant for this to be in the controversy section. Can someone please move this. Sorry.

As posted already every state handles their voter registration and elections with their own rules.

In our state is is pretty easy to get registered to vote as you can do it online IF you have the proper identification through the state. BUT we also have substantial voter suppression because they make it very difficult to vote, change the rules all the time, block some groups from voting, wipe databases meaning your registration disappeared (and wiped voting data in 2017), constantly changing voting districts to change vote results. It is very frustrating when we are in reality a "purple" state. So my point is suppression works in many ways, registration is the least of it.

 

[Kae]

As posted already every state handles their voter registration and elections with their own rules.

In our state is is pretty easy to get registered to vote as you can do it online IF you have the proper identification through the state. BUT we also have substantial voter suppression because they make it very difficult to vote, change the rules all the time, block some groups from voting, wipe databases meaning your registration disappeared (and wiped voting data in 2017), constantly changing voting districts to change vote results. It is very frustrating when we are in reality a "purple" state. So my point is suppression works in many ways, registration is the least of it.

Again if you continually said it hard when is not you believe it

 

[_19disnA]

Much like insisting it is about 'voting integrity' when the real intent is 'voter suppression' to make it more difficult for certain groups of people to vote. Repeating that often enough won't make us believe it to be true either.......................LOL.

 

[Kitty 34]

It's very simple, not complicated at all. I have no idea why you think it is

I'm confused, too.

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

If you are constantly told something is hard to do, you begin to believe it. Most if not all, states offer free Id's it is not a drivers license that you need. It just takes effort. so many things you can't do without a picture id.

It's not hard but it takes time and potentially resources (to acquire the necessary documents). The two states I have lived in issued the state IDs through the DMV which meant you're going to spend a couple hours and have to find a way there during the hours they're open.