Today the Republicans almost defeated me. They tried to keep me from voting.
I went to the polling place near my house, whipped out my Virginia Registered Voter card and was ready to go to the touchscreen when the registrar said, "We'll need a photo ID."
I don't have a photo ID because the police confiscated my driver's license last week (for a matter having nothing whatever to do with breaking the law, driving badly or anything else you might imagine) and I have yet to get it back because I am unable to get the information I need to do so.
So, I can't vote. Actually, I could cast a "provisional ballot," which means I would have to vote, then go to the downtown registrar and have a photo ID made, then become verified as a voter. I said to the registrar, "Oh, hell, just forget it. We'll give this one to the Republicans." I felt defeated at that moment.
The GOP wantS desperately to disenfranchise people like me because they can't win if we vote. They have passed laws throughout the country making the act of voting more difficult, especially among those not likely to vote for them. That's why the Senate is in play and it looks like Republicans may expand their majority in the House, one they achieved by gerrymandering--which is ostensibly illegal--even though well more than half the voters in the country don't vote for them.
The elections I could vote in will return incumbents by large majorities, so going to all the trouble to widen the margin for Mark Warner or be one more vote against Bob Goodlatte didn't seem worth the bother.
(Graphic: colorlines.com)
It seems to me, the bigger concern here is why the police confiscated your ID...Hmmmm.
ReplyDeleteHere are some of the items that count as a photo id.
Valid Virginia Driver’s License or Identification Card
Valid Virginia DMV issued Veteran’s ID card
Valid United States Passport
Other government-issued photo identification cards (must be issued by US Government, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or a political subdivision of the Commonwealth)
Valid college or university student photo identification card (must be from an institution of higher education located in Virginia)
You mention, your ID was taken a week ago, plenty of time to secure a new one. (After all, this law has been in place since july) if you say you didn't know you needed an id, blame the media and the Virginia Elections office for not getting the word out.
at the end of it all, you had an ID..why? because you needed one, for whatever reason. Why shouldn't you need one for something that is as important as voting?
The commonwealth wasted $millions issuing and reissuing now worthless voter registration cards. Dan could probably have purchased a concealed weapon more easily and faster than he cast his vote today. He is correct that the current voter ID laws are meant to disenfranchise undesirable voters.
ReplyDeleteI suppose the fact that you need id to board a plane, buy some cough medicines and even cash a check would disenfranchise you from those activities...and btw
ReplyDeleteyou need an id to get a conceal carry permit, as well as a criminal background check and finger printed in the Commonwealth.