So much for the Democrats being in favor of election reform.

PA. Governor Rendell vetoes a bill that would have required showing identification to vote. And to do it on the Washington's birthday holiday, too! Terrible.

I can't for the life of me understand why Democrats are so opposed to requiring a frickin' ID to vote. (Actually, I know the reason, but I won't go there right now.) Similar bills have been defeated in other state legislatures.

Here in Illinois, ever since I turned 18 many moons ago, I have needed to show my driver's license (some form of state issued ID) to vote, whether the election be a federal one or even a municipal one. In fact, I remember when I was 19 or 20, I once went to vote where the election judges knew me--it was a small town in Cook County--and when they asked for my ID to "confirm" it was me, I reached into my pocket to get my wallet and driver's license and realized I had forgotten it. I had to go back and get it to vote.

Requiring an ID is a simple but necessary step to ensure that the person voting is (a) registered and ( the person voting is who he says he is.

This veto is just ridiculous!

[ February 21, 2006, 02:08 PM: Message edited by: MIB ]

PA has virtually no voter fraud. It's typical Republican party racism. And the fact that Lynn Swann supports the bill is a disgrace. Then again, he doesn't bother to vote that often, does he?

The same thing has been passed here in Georgia. The Republicans said it was to prevent voter fraud. The Secretary of State said there haven't been any cases of voter fraud so why bother. The courts threw it out because it would require the very old and very poor to purchase an ID, which was viewed as the same as a poll tax. Of course, the Republicans are trying a new version of the bill again this session. The reason this whole thing is a waste of time is because if someone really wanted to commit fraud, all they have to do is vote absentee (where there obviously can't be any ID check!)

Racism to require an ID to vote? Don't be so foolish.

It's only common sense. Voting is a fundamental right guaranteed to U.S. citizens. It's only proper to require us citizens to show that we are who we are when we vote.

Those who do not support such requirements are those who condone voter fraud, something perfected by Democrats over the decades. This isn't surprising.

Did you ever stop and think the reason Republicans propose such bills is because they see the rampant fraud the Democrats try to get away with and the many illegal voters the Dems try to get to the polls to vote early and vote often?

It should be noted that in Georgia, the state said it would provide free of charge the ID's and would even personally deliver them to those unable to acquire them on their own.

Isn't a voter registration card acceptable?

well, if voter fraud by the Democrats is so rampant then why haven't the Republicans been able to come up with even one documented case, dumbass?

One is usually issued and sent this by the state board of elections (or similar entity). I don't know what the Pennsylvania law says about that, but I imagine it's got to be some sort of photo ID, as I was required to show.

I just can't understand why, with all the claims of vote fraud over the last two elections--claims by both parties--that requiring something as simple and sensible as an ID to vote would even be opposed. If one wishes to avoid even the potential for chicanery, common sense would tell us to make sure the people voting are who they say they are.

Obviously someone idiot has been living in a cave. Are you seriously that stupid?

You're full of it. Again. This is just another tactic by the GodOP to try and keep voters from the polls who are more likely to vote against them. The only thing the GodOP wants is to steal elections.

Excuses, excuses, excuses, Joseph. You're full of them. Because voting is so important, so significant, there is NOTHING wrong with making sure someone does it legally. There is NO common sense reason to oppose something as basic as requiring an ID to vote.

It's needed to buy cigarettes, alcohol, etc. It's needed to travel, which also is a fundamental right. So why not require it to do something as important as voting? That's easy: so the Democrats can drag every ex-con and "dead person" they can to the polls to vote. That's the reason, and you know it.

"One man, one vote," as SCOTUS has once ruled. What better way to guarantee this than to have one ID for each of these "one men"?

Well, let's do this. If we're going to have voter ID cards, which I think is an awful idea--because the IDs don't address the Republican attempts to suppress voting and people should be able to use whatever standing legal documents they have, like a birth certificate, SS cards, drivers licences, green card, etc.--then the Republicans should get behind having a paper trail FOR EVERY VOTING MACHINE in the country. No ifs ands or buts about it.

Everyone has an ID, and every machine has a paper trail. Every single one. The Republicans in general have fought this, so if they're so committed to voting rights, they should sign on to it right away, and stop appeasing big funders like Diebold. Seriously, if you take money out of a Diebold ATM, you get a printed record, don't you?

[ February 21, 2006, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: fantomas ]

I suppose they could charge you $10-20 for each card, might help with the deficit.

I agree, and anyone who thinks otherwise is just plain stupid AND taking an awful risk. How is one supposed to verify something if there isn't a hard copy backup of some sort? Electronic backup may work for some things, but not for ballot backups.

It depends on the ATM. Many of the machines give you the option of a receipt or not.

[ February 21, 2006, 06:10 PM: Message edited by: MIB ]

Again, you're full of it. You keep claiming to not be a RepubliScum. Based on your twisted views you can't NOT be one of them. Even if your voter registration isn't RepubliScum, it may as well be. Of course, considering your past record of lying about being a judge, or not being a judge, I suppose anything is possible.

Why, because The Omniscient One and Mr.-I-speak-for-everyone-Joe-in-Philly says so? Or maybe because someone doesn't goose step to your extreme views that anyone can simply walk up and vote, with no proof who they are. This is utterly frightening, but not unexpected from you and your ilk.

Poppycock. You must have gotten your Preparation H mixed up with your toothpaste this morning, because you're talking like an arseblank.

*Yawn*

As someone who paid the ultimate price once said, "...I want proof, not leads."

Goose-stepping is YOUR department. You and the rest of the right-wing scum.

Well, there's an original line. Did you think of that all by your iddy biddy self?

They passed a similar law in the state of Indiana, then, a few days later, they closed several Bureau of Motor Vehicle offices, including the only one in the city of Gary, Indiana, the fifth largest city in the state. For those who don't know, Gary Indiana has the largest African American population of any city in the United States. Racism? Seems pretty obvious to me. After months of fighting, they decided to open a "limited-facilities" BMV in Gary, but that was only done after much fighting. It's so sad that we still have to fight for our right to vote. It's even more depressing when Republicans seemingly want to disenfranchise so many Americans, regardless of their skin color.

Oh, quit being so presumptuous. There's nothing wrong with requiring that people who vote are those who they say they are. I can't believe that we can require ID's for many things, including some inane, minor things, but we can't require ID's for something so vital as making a decision on who will pass our laws and control our money.

ID's should be required for voting, but everything must be done to ensure people can easily get these ID's, and at no cost if necessary. We must make it easier to vote but must also ensure it is done legally.

[ February 22, 2006, 07:06 AM: Message edited by: MIB ]

from "Judge" Judy:
I may be stupid, but I'm still smarter than you.

Previously in Georgia there were 17 forms of ID valid for voting. The legislature wants that reduced to 1. But this won't do anything to prevent voter fraud because:
A.) The highest potential for voter fraud is thru absentee ballots which this law will not address.
B.) Anyone who really wants to commit fraud can still do it by simply getting a fake ID. In Georiga all you need in order to get a drivers license is something showing proof of residency, such as a utility bill.

Ironically, I should probably support all attempts to reduce voter fraud because it would reduce the vote totals for Republicans.

[ February 22, 2006, 07:19 AM: Message edited by: HotlantaTarheel ]

In the battle of wits, Georgia boy, you are unarmed.

A more naive secretary of state I doubt there is than your oblivious one.

Whatever you say Judy.

MIB Are you insinuating that someone from Georgia is inferior in intelligence to someone from Illinois? My, My, Lord of Darkness, even you don't believe that do you?

Oh, yeah, the line about being unarmed in a battle of wits, were you remembering your elementary school days? You remember, right before the girl punched out your lights, you at least got in this little zinger to make the hurt not so bad.

[ February 22, 2006, 09:05 AM: Message edited by: Aubie In Bham ]

As is always the case. You are learning.

I need not insinuate that which you so easily infer.

Believing is for the weak of faith. The truth is for reality.

MIB Does anyone have a Sith to English dictionary I could borrow?

Post very often Judge?

(and now like a trained monkey, he will give some childish response)

Its always a good laugh when MIB speaks on "truth."

Kinda like Dick Cheney lecturing on gun safety or military service.

Your Sith assertions, incorrect they are.

MIB said:

"Oh, quit being so presumptuous. "

What, dearest MIB was I presuming? I was simply making a statement of fact. I realize facts continue to elude you. Try a bit harder to pay attention, then perhaps you will have something of substance to add to the discussions on this board.

If your ridiculous and illogical rantings were half as substantive as mine, you'd be reasonably intelligent. As it is, your jealousy is flattering.

Yeah, who needs an ID, right?