Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

House Democrats push to make voting easier
The Hill ^ | May 17, 2012 | Mike Lillis

Posted on 05/17/2012 4:50:34 PM PDT by jazusamo

House Democratic leaders on Thursday introduced legislation to streamline Americans' trips to the polls.

The bill is a response to a slew of recent state legislation – some proposed, some already law – setting stricter standards for voters to register or cast a ballot.

Supporters of those state efforts — including new picture ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements – say they're necessary to weed out ineligible voters and maintain the integrity of elections. But critics contend they're designed to suppress eligible voters, particularly minorities and low-income Americans who tend to vote Democratic.

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a hero of the civil rights movement who marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King, said the state laws threaten to return the country to the same era of discrimination he fought against.

"In this age of technology, our country is moving backward, not forward," Lewis said Thursday as he introduced the bill in the Capitol. "People died for the right to vote, and some of them were people I knew. I hope and pray we do not return to the days of overt discrimination before we decide to do something about it."

Other Democrats piled on.

Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.), the assistant Democratic leader and another veteran of the civil rights struggle, said the new state restrictions would "roll back our hard fought access to the ballot boxes." Rep. Steny Hoyer (Md.), the Democratic whip, said the reforms are "exactly the wrong way to go." And Rep. Charlie Gonzalez (D-Texas), chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said the rules "are usually targeted" to exclude minorities.

"We know who the victims are," Gonzalez said.

At issue are a growing list of state laws recently pushed – usually by Republican lawmakers – aimed at preventing voter fraud. Since the start of 2011, at least 14 states have enacted – or are about to enact – new voting restrictions that will affect this year's presidential election, according to New York University Law School's Brennan Center for Justice. Eight states have passed new photo ID laws – quadrupling the number before 2011 – while the number of states with proof-of-citizenship requirements has doubled over the same span, the Brennan Center found.

In all, 176 restrictive bills have been proposed over the last 18 months in 41 states, according to the Brennan Center.

Rep. Robert Brady (Pa.), ranking member of the House Administration Committee, condemned a new Pennsylvania law that requires voters to show a government-issued photo ID at the polls. Those without such an ID, he said, need to produce a birth certificate and a Social Security card to get one. Those without a Social Security card need to show a government-issued photo ID.

"So you have to get a photo ID to get a Social Security card to get a photo ID to vote. It's ridiculous," Brady said. "These laws do absolutely nothing – zero – to encourage more democracy and our democratic system."

The Democrats' bill seeks to lower the hurdles to voting, making online registration universal, allowing all eligible voters to register on election day and providing funds to train poll workers. The legislation would also require all federally-funded universities to conduct registration drives.

The proposal is sponsored by Lewis, Hoyer, Clyburn, Brady, and Rep. John Conyers (Mich.), senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.

One thing the bill does not do is to prohibit certain ID requirements – a move the Democrats defended Thursday.

"Voter ID is not a problem. Everybody that goes to vote shows some form of ID," Clyburn said. "The big problem has been the process … you go through to get there."

The Democrats decried the cost of some required IDs, comparing them to the poll taxes that discouraged poor citizens from voting generations ago.

Lewis said that 51 million Americans are not registered to vote "and it is harder for them to register today than it was just one year ago."

"We must not be silent," Lewis said, "while leaders we elect take away our voting rights."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: democrats; voterfraud; voterid; voterregistration
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last
House RATS are concerned they're going to lose a fair sized chunk of their voter base, dead voters and ineligible voters.
1 posted on 05/17/2012 4:50:41 PM PDT by jazusamo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
a hero of the civil rights movement...

Unbiased reporting here.

2 posted on 05/17/2012 4:52:48 PM PDT by BRL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
...dead voters and ineligible voters.

They have rights too.

3 posted on 05/17/2012 4:53:15 PM PDT by EGPWS (Trust in God, question everyone else)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
The ACLU is posting naive college students in front of grocery stores to get us to sign some sort of petition protesting "voter suppression" laws.

My vote is suppressed only when it is cancelled out by an illegal vote.

4 posted on 05/17/2012 4:53:43 PM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

Its already easy. I walk down to the polling place, sign in, show my ID, and vote. I’m home less than 10 minutes later.


5 posted on 05/17/2012 4:54:09 PM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

If these people drive, collect a government check or use a credit card/cash a check, then they have an ID. This legislation is meant only to allow voter fraud and yet the Pubs won’t call them out on it. Passing Voter ID laws is a great move but calling out the Dems on this type of legislation long and loud is also necessary.


6 posted on 05/17/2012 4:55:16 PM PDT by onevoter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

“But critics contend they’re designed to suppress eligible voters, particularly minorities and low-income Americans who tend to vote Democratic. “

***

Yup. Here we go with the low income/minority idiocy. At least in that sentence the reporter was honest about these brain-dead morons voting Dumocrapic.


7 posted on 05/17/2012 4:59:00 PM PDT by max americana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek
Exactly...And the phony argument that some people can't afford photo ID’s is bogus, many states are issuing them free for people who can't afford them.
8 posted on 05/17/2012 5:01:07 PM PDT by jazusamo ("Intellect is not wisdom" -- Thomas Sowell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Please bump the Freepathon or click above and donate or become a monthly donor!

9 posted on 05/17/2012 5:02:21 PM PDT by jazusamo ("Intellect is not wisdom" -- Thomas Sowell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
"Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a hero of the civil rights movement who marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King dumb ass, said the state laws threaten to return the country to the same era of discrimination he fought against."
-
Had to correct this error, sorry.
Carry on.
10 posted on 05/17/2012 5:12:51 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (We have met the enemy and he is us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Repeal The 17th

Amen! No cause to be sorry.


11 posted on 05/17/2012 5:17:14 PM PDT by jazusamo ("Intellect is not wisdom" -- Thomas Sowell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
If the Democrat dead can vote—how the hell much easier can it be?!?!
12 posted on 05/17/2012 5:19:01 PM PDT by Happy Rain ("Biden and Obama--Dumbo and Down Low.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

The Democrats are enraged that 50,000 dead people have been disenfranchised in Florida.


13 posted on 05/17/2012 5:19:22 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Do I really need a sarcasm tag? Seriously? You're that dense?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
Someday a Congressman, probably a black, say Allen West in his second term, will stand up and explain in no uncertain terms the absolute necessity of an informed and virtuous electorate. This Congressman will elaborate on why illegals, felons, the lazy, those on the government dole, should not only be not encouraged to vote; they should be prevented.

In closing he will say the obvious. Our nation does not benefit, but rather the primary beneficiaries of universal voting are the demagogues, statists, masterminds and slave owners of the demorat party.

14 posted on 05/17/2012 5:21:10 PM PDT by Jacquerie (No court will save us from ourselves.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
The Democrats are enraged that 50,000 dead people have been disenfranchised in Florida.

But they had ID's a death Certificate

15 posted on 05/17/2012 5:21:47 PM PDT by scooby321 (h tones)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

“So you have to get a photo ID to get a Social Security card to get a photo ID to vote. It’s ridiculous,” Brady said.”

What is he saying?

Isn’t everyone required to have a SS card? If so, and they had to have a photo ID in order to get the SS card, then they already have a photo ID and need no other. Or am I missing something?


16 posted on 05/17/2012 5:45:09 PM PDT by Heart of Georgia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
I would go for all of this if the prospective "voter" had to produce proof that he/she/it paid some tax over and above FICA and Medicare taxes.

As long as we are stuck with the graduated income tax, this is the least that should be required to vote.

No pay....no say....in choosing the "leaders" of the Country.

17 posted on 05/17/2012 5:58:41 PM PDT by B.O. Plenty (Elections have consequences....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Heart of Georgia
What is he saying?

LOL!

If you can figure it out let us all know, he's full of it. He doesn't want a photo ID requirement.

18 posted on 05/17/2012 5:59:49 PM PDT by jazusamo ("Intellect is not wisdom" -- Thomas Sowell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

DEMOCRAT pole worker counting the votes when polls closed: “One for you, three for us. One for you, two for us. One for you, two for us .....etc....etc......etc”


19 posted on 05/17/2012 6:07:09 PM PDT by jmax (Be warned....I'm armed. Round is chambered, full magazine is inserted, safety is off.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jmax

pole worker = poll worker. DUH


20 posted on 05/17/2012 6:08:49 PM PDT by jmax (Be warned....I'm armed. Round is chambered, full magazine is inserted, safety is off.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson