New law could give illegals right to vote

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Tuesday, September 30, 2003 | Jon Dougherty

[JohnHuang2]

Illegal aliens who soon will be able to obtain legal driver's licenses in California may also be able to vote in federal elections under terms of a new law set to take effect in January, analysts say.

Under the requirements of the "Help America Vote Act," passed in the wake of the 2000 presidential election recount debacle, states are now required to implement new standardized voting regulations, which include verifying voter identity, according to an analysis of the law by Public Citizen, a national non-partisan consumer-advocacy group.

One way the new law allows voters to be identified is via a driver's license, according to a Federal Election Commission summary of the law. If illegal aliens legally possess one, analysts speculate, they could also be allowed to cast ballots in U.S. elections.

For the first time, the law – which was signed by President Bush Oct. 29 – creates national voting and election standards "for the administration of all federal, state and local elections," the group said. Included in those standards are identification procedures.

One, dubbed a "ballot security measure," says all who register to vote "must provide a valid driver's license or … the last four digits of your Social Security number," Public Citizen said in its analysis.

"In many ways, the new law marks a significant step forward in improving the conduct of elections in the United States," Public Citizen said. "At the same time, however, the compromise sacrificed some additional steps that should have been taken to ensure that every vote counts and contains some of the ballot-security measures that are not useful to the democratic process."

As WorldNetDaily reported, California recently passed legislation allowing illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses. Also, though they don't specifically permit it, 15 other states' licensing laws contain enough loopholes non-citizens can also obtain driver's licenses there, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group advocating tighter immigration restrictions.

"This may be an unintended consequence of the law," said Karen England of the Capitol Resources Institute, a conservative public-policy think tank in Sacramento.

One official with the FEC said "some safeguards" were in place to prevent illegals from voting in U.S. elections. But she admitted they may not be foolproof.

The Office of Elections Administration official, who asked not to be named, told WorldNetDaily her agency was examining the implications California law would have on elections, but that research wasn't yet complete.

"There's a way to alert people who are not citizens not to register to vote," the official said. "So there are some safeguards. Whether it's 100 percent accurate, I have no idea."

Immigrant-rights groups support licensing illegal aliens.

"We agree there is a serious immigration problem in this country. We've got a situation where our immigration laws really don't work," says Michele Waslin, senior immigration policy analyst at the National Council of La Raza. But, she added, "we believe everybody who drives a car should have a driver's license. It's better for all of us if all drivers are properly licensed and insured. It makes us all safer."

Opponents of the California law, which takes effect Jan. 1, are mounting a challenge to it. The Imperial Valley Press reports U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., is lending assistance to a statewide referendum to overturn the law.

Supporters of the proposition must get 366,000 signatures certified before the first of the year to delay implementation of the law until the November election.

The paper cited a field poll reported by the San Jose Mercury News stating 59 percent of Californians oppose licensing illegals, compared with 34 percent who support it.

Other states are considering allowing illegals to obtain driver's licenses, following Democrat Gov. Gray Davis' signing of California's legislation Sept. 5.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, also a Democrat, said earlier this month she too would sign a similar bill if one reached her desk, a position that put her at odds with leading Republicans in the state.

[JohnHuang2]

Tuesday, September 30, 2003

Quote of the Day by walford

[Flyer]

We should add a requirement that males of draft age show their Selective Service registration.

[Texasforever]

The article is just a bit misleading. While the drivers license may allow an illegal alien to vote, it does not make it legal for the illegal alien to vote much less a "right". It will take a constitutional amendment for that to happen. Is a driver’s license a bad idea for illegal aliens? Yes. But it does not serve the writer well to make such a rhetorical blunder of facts.

[Solamente]

How about a mandatory 10 or 20 years in the slammer if an illegal alien gets caught voting? Enact and print that on drivers license applications...

[Flyer]

We should add a requirement that males of draft age show their Selective Service registration.

Well, I did not know this. Illegal aliens are required to register.

Who Must Register

[calcowgirl]

Help stop this idiocy:

From SaveOurLicense.com

"Save Our License" is a grassroots campaign sponsored by the California Republican Assembly to place a referendum on the ballot to repeal SB 60, the law giving driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.

We only have until December 7th to collect roughly 375,000 valid signatures, and we’re mailing out petitions as fast as we can afford to. We need your financial support too!

Support the Referendum Effort

[4Freedom]

Bush signed a law that will effectively allow anyone with a valid driver's license to vote.

It's a bad law and Bush signed it.

Makes you wonder if Bush ever had a lick of common sense.

[Waco]

But then, I also read of a couple of states that flatly REFUSE to I.D. anyone voting??? (Demo/commiecrat state, I guess.

[freeangel]

I guess we could put a big, red "I" on their drivers license but that may make them feel, well, singled out as an ILLEGAL "immigrant.".

[North Coast Conservative]

This is insane. Plus, they have to be registered to vote, not just show up on election day. In order to register, you must have a SSN. (unless we are giving those out to illegals too).

Once they are identified as illegal, why can't they be put on a bus, truck, taxi, plane etc and sent back to whatever God forsaken country they came from?

…..Semper Fi

[wai-ming]

We should add a requirement that males of draft age show their Selective Service registration.

What about females?

[Flyer]

What about females?

They aren't required to register, but that's another thread in itself.

[RightOnGOP]

I have a historical question. Name other countries, where neighboring residents "relocated" to the new country, and were assimilated into the new country. Also, include any procedures undertaken to credential the new residents.

[Puppage]

Illegal aliens who soon will be able to obtain legal driver's licenses in California may also be able to vote in federal elections under terms of a new law set to take effect in January

Hmm, a rat plan working to perfection, perhaps?

[truthandlife]

Sickening

The Party of Death vs. The Party of Slow Suicide

[Gritty]

You want proof to allow anybody to vote?

Make everybody who shows up produce their U.S. Passport!

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[Luis Gonzalez]

There's nothing wrong with the law signed by Bush, it requires a verification of identity other than the voter's registration prior to voting. There's a whole lot wrong with issuing legal driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, which is something you would normally be wailing about, bit the opportunity to side with the left in a bit of Bush bashing was just too tempting to pass up.

But, don't let the facts get in the way of your need to bash Bush...and BTW, if you spend your day listening to Dean, Kerry, Clark, and the rest, you'll pick up lots and lots of talking points to use.

[KC_for_Freedom]

it requires a verification of identity other than the voter's registration prior to voting.

In California, the requirement to verify identity is handled by having the prospective voter sign his/her name. There is not other verification, all you need do is register. Actually showing proof of identity is a good idea. (Now should illegals be given such proof?) Well, taking their fingerprints and names and getting them registered will make it hard for them to vote more than onec, and may lead to their being easier to locate? The new California law may not net very many applicants as the illegals tend to avoid such things as leaving a fingerprint.

[4Freedom]

"...requires a verification of identity..."

Sure it does, but with ID that is easy to get thanks to the continued pandering of Liberal Democrats and RINOs and misguided laws like this.

Or does this mean that Luis Gonzalez is on record as saying that no illegal aliens will be voting in future elections?

[sergeantdave]

We're being set up for a biometric national ID card. Learn how to say "Moooo!"

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Or does this mean that Luis Gonzalez is on record as saying that no illegal aliens will be voting in future elections?"

Luis Gonzalez said exactly what was posted on the response, what you should be doing is trying to rein in the State legislators, they are the ones that passed the bad law issuing legal documents to illegal aliens.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Actually showing proof of identity is a good idea." (Bush=good idea)

"Now should illegals be given such proof?" (California legislators=bad idea)

[gubamyster]

ping

[KC_for_Freedom]

The California legislators have not had a good idea since they got elected. That poor state.

[christynsoldier]

correct and California is one of those states!

[Attillathehon]

How about a mandatory 10 or 20 years in the slammer if an illegal alien gets caught voting? Enact and print that on drivers license applications...

How about immediate deportation without a hearing - it's cheaper.

[RightWhale]

It appears that we like the Mexicans and want them here. Considering that Mexico is the 10th wealthiest nation on earth, one might wonder if the strategic Core plan applies to Mexico, and this was a question that came to mind this morning while feeding the dogs.

One might think that since Mexico is doing well, there would be little real need for so many of its citizens to emigrate to greener pastures. However, the Core plan is to bleed off the restless youth from Gap countries and move them to Core countries to avoid disruption in Gap countries, to keep the peace. True, Mexico is not a Gap country now, but would it still be not a Gap country if all those emigres were sent home?

It is entirely possible that Mexico would become Gap and immediately slide into revolution and civil war. If this happened, the US would be affected and fighting could spread into the US.

It's possible that this is the thinking. And maybe we actually do like the Mexicans.

[Pontiac]

Plus, they have to be registered to vote, not just show up on election day. In order to register, you must have a SSN. (unless we are giving those out to illegals too).

Actually, unless things have changed it is not that hard to get a SSN. All you need is a US birth certificate.

And all you have to do to get a US birth certificate is go to a county recorder’s office and ask for the birth certificate of a child that died shortly after birth (and therefore was never issued a SSN) who would be about your age.

The requirements to get a SSN may have changed so I may be wrong but this is the way it was twenty years ago.

Of course today Children are issued SSN’s at birth so our government has made it even easier, all the illegals will have to do in the future is request a replacement card.

[janetgreen]

How about a mandatory 10 or 20 years in the slammer if an illegal alien gets caught voting?

Try and find them! Most of them have false documents with ten different names so they can't be traced. CA doesn't require any ID to be able to vote anyway. There's a book, and if your name is in it because you're registered, you can vote. The registration card asks if you're a citizen, but this is never checked out. All they have to do is check "yes", and bingo, they're registered voters who can vote for all the liberal causes, and in this day and age, "compassionate conservative" causes (same thing).

[VU4G10]

yeah yeah .. whatever

[Dante3]

Sounds like the first step in nantional suicide.

[4Freedom]

Bush signed a law that does absolutely nothing to ensure that only U.S. citizens vote in our elections.

The fact that we need to get after our state legislators, too doesn't let Bush off the hook for his inability to do anything meaningful to prevent future vote fraud on a national level.

Bush is supposedly the President and ultimately accountable for what he puts his signature to. What's he think his power of Presidential veto is for?

Has he ever vetoed anything?

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Bush signed a law that does absolutely nothing to ensure that only U.S. citizens vote in our elections."

That's neither his job, nor is he constitutionally empowered to sign such a law. Read the U.S. Constitution once in a while, the States are charged with the "time, place, and manner" of holding elections. So, once again, if there are in fact illegal immigrants voting in elections, all fault lies squarely on the shoulder of the State, County, or District officials.

Your problem is that you want to find a dark cloud behind every silver lining when it comes to Bush, it’s so transparent.

Bush just put into place a law that, used correctly, and if idiot legislators at the State level quit legitimizing illegal aliens, would reduce the chances of voter fraud. It’s a good law in spite of all your braying.

”What's he think his power of Presidential veto is for?”

So, what you are saying is that Bush should have vetoed a law which requires people to prove their identity before voting?

And you think that would be a good thing?

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[4Freedom]

Firstly, the crappy law that Bush signed doesn't "prove" anyone's identity prior to their voting.

Secondly, and most importantly, it doesn't "prove" anyone's citizenship!!! Maybe you haven't been in the country long enough to know that only CITIZENS are allowed to vote in U.S. elections.

This seems to be a foreign concept to both you and your buddy Bush.

[Lizavetta]

Under the requirements of the "Help America Vote Act," passed in the wake of the 2000 presidential election recount debacle, states are now required to implement new standardized voting regulations, which include verifying voter identity,

How is this a bad thing? California has been without madatory IDing of voters for years.

That illegals can use drivers licenses to vote is a separate issue - they shouldn't have licenses, period - but requiring ID is a step in the right direction.

[vikingcelt]

"Makes you wonder if Bush ever had a lick of common sense."

UH OH!!! They'll be after you now. I found out yesterday that you must not ever say anything negative about Bush. I guess he's above reproach or something (even though our country is being invaded daily by hordes of intruders and we will soon be a third world cess pool and the rule of law no longer exists in this country...and he could put a stop to all of that if he had the backbone to do it). I got told off for criticizing him yesterday. My opinion is simply that he is preparing us and our country for "the new world order" and in order to do that the middle class must be decimated and the standard of living of all of us must be lowered and the freedoms that we now enjoy must be curtailed. In short, the demise of this country is eminent.

[4Freedom]

It doesn't prove citizenship. It's more worthless RINO 'smoke and mirrors'.

[4Freedom]

I call 'em as I see 'em. Let them come.

If these Bushbots are so easily conned into believing that "proving" identity is the same as "proving" citizenship, for the purposes of voting, how challenging could it be to debate them?

What could there possibly be to fear from these poor, gullible, RINO dupes?

[Luis Gonzalez]

Only citizens can vote...that's already a law, so Congress does not have to pass any laws to that effect, and Bush doesn’t have to sign anything of the sort.

You can't register to vote unless you are a citizen...that's already a law, so Congress does not need to pass any laws to that effect, and Bush doesn’t have to sign anything of the sort.

The U.S. Constitution lays the responsibility for conducting elections on the States, so it’s up to the States to make certain that everything stated in the first two paragraphs occurs according to the law, so, if the States were doing their job, as proscribed by the U.S. Constitution, there would be no non-citizens voting.

The law signed by Bush, requires the State poll workers to ask for a second government-issued identification to make certain that the name on the voter’s registration matches the name on at least one more legal document, either a Social Security card, or a Driver’s License…neither of which should be issued to an illegal immigrant.

There are currently no laws authorizing the issuance of Social Security cards to illegal aliens, California however, is issuing Driver’s Licenses to illegal immigrants, a problem compounded by their passage of the Motor Voter law.

A driver's license is the only official document needed to register to vote, according to the Registrar of Voters office in Los Angeles County, California.

If there is a problem with illegal immigrants voting, it is a State problem because conducting legal elections is a State’s responsibility under the U.S. Constitution.

Bush had nothing to do with either the Motor Voter law, or the law recently signed by Davis granting Driver's Licenses to illegal aliens, so your rant is not only uninformed, but laughable.

Perhaps, if you understood the issues and the U.S. Constitution, you would be a better citizen.

[4Freedom]

It's as easy for an illegal alien to get a driver's license and social security card as it is for them to get a Costco or Sam's Club card. It has been for years and Bush knows it.

Bush might as well have signed a law that requires a voter to produce one of those.

This is absolutely meaningless RINO 'smoke and mirrors' that does nothing to prevent non-U.S. citizens from voting in U.S. elections.

This is more worthless legislation from the leadership??? of the 'stupid' Party that continues to pursue the Hispanic vote by attempting to out-pander the Democrat Party.

What do you think about requiring a U.S. citizen to show a U.S. passport in order to vote?