Once upon a time in America, only land-owning men could vote. But then we decided that wasn't quite fair, so we eventually made voting the right of every citizen 18 years and older. But that's not the end of the story.
Ever since crooked politicians figured out that certain people seem to vote certain ways, they've been coming up with cockamamie laws that get in the way of those certain people from voting at all. Then they started telling us a big, fat LIE: They call it "ballot security" but it's really voter suppression. Voter fraud is nearly non-existent. And yet, an estimated five million would-be voters will be disenfranchised this year thanks to voter ID laws.
Here, let comedian Sarah Silverman explain it to you. NSFW WARNING: This video is sooooo Not Safe For Work. Put in your headphones.
Sarah's got a potty mouth, but she's right. We shouldn't let these assholes steal Americans' votes. If you or your Nana plan on voting in the following states, make sure you check out the voter ID laws there: PA, IN, FL, TN, MI, SD, ID, LA, KS, NH, or GA. Then do what you gotta do so you can vote. Check out LetMyPeopleVote2012.com for more information.
Still don't buy it? Let's hear PA State Senator Mike Turzai spell it out again.
Thanks Senator Turzai! I think you've made the purpose of these voter ID laws crystal clear. They're so NOT about voter fraud. Voter fraud is a problem that DOES NOT EXIST.
The end. I mean, what else is there to say? This is cheating. And I'm shouting it from the rooftops. Voter ID Laws Are Cheating! Don't let these guys, you know, metaphorically perform anal sex on you, as Sarah put it. Get informed and spread the word.
Do you know if you have the proper ID to vote -- as is your right?
Image via Sarah Silverman/YouTube
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Comments 30
Here's how it's TRYING to work (or rather NOT) in my state. You can change your address With the DMV (your state issued ID) without a charge. To get a NEW ID with your new address on it, you have to pay a fee, waste time, and this may be difficult to impossible for MANY Elderly folks. Now they want to match your Voter Registration card to your Picture ID, but because you have to pay a CHARGE to get your new picture ID with your New address, for elderly people in fixed income situations, who have a hard time getting to the DMV anyway, it's extra hard. And since Voter Fraud makes up less than a one hundredth of a percentage point, yet these programs and the government time and money spent on them cost Tens of thousands, they do nothing but make life harder for citizens who have the legal right to vote, institute a poll tax for ID for voters who may be exceptionally poor or on a fixed income, and target low income, elderly, and minority voters more. That's why these are wrong.
Also, these laws are being "enforced" by volunteers at your voting stations, and that's a BIG part of the deal, because there is no way to enforce it across the board or prevent abuses and biases on the parts of the volunteers. Last presidential election, we had moved two weeks before. My new Voter ID card had not arrived, and we'd changed precincts. Because my ID had my old address, (because the DMV said it wouldn't affect anything to just change it in the system), even though I had my lease and all else on hand, I wasn't allowed to vote in my new precinct, and because I was now registered to my new precinct, I wasn't allowed to vote in my old precinct either, even though the DMV had assured me it was okay to keep my old address on my ID, and the voter registration office assured me my card would be there in time, or I could just use my lease and utilities contract as proof of residence.
Thanks for the info, Guest. I didn't know how it was done prior to this, so it's hard to form an opinion when reading about the changes. We still vote using a pencil and a paper ballot (third world Canada ha, ha, ha...see, even I can make fun of my country sometimes) and we are required to bring our registration card and one form of ID or two if you don't have the registration card.
It should be noted that in my state all adults are required to carry an ID when in public.
Arizona? That doesn't seem like freedom to me if you can be detained for not carrying ID.
@truthrowan - I agree with your comment. There are many stories of elderly citizens (Vets even), who have voted in every election since their 18th birthday, being denied the right to vote this year because they've either lost their ID, the state has changed the rules about what kind of ID is needed or they're required to produce a long ago lost birth certificate in order to get ID. I would like to know if the proportions of those being denied are equal among Democrats and Republicans, but I think we all know the answer to that one.
Freaking rediculous! NO ID is BS.. you need one for eveything else so why should it be an issue to have one to vote with? NOT buying it!! SUPER LAME!
"It should be noted that in my state all adults are required to carry an ID when in public.
Arizona?"
No, not Arizona. Which is why the notion that they are strictly forbidden to take any steps what so ever to enforce immigration law, not even so much as checking the ID of someone who has committed a crime, is just mind blowing.
" I think we all know the answer to that one."
You "think" no such thing. That assertion is not only not supported by the facts, but is absolutely contradicted by the facts. Therefore is is not a conclusion that can be arrived at by "thought".
I ended up using a mail in ballot, but I VOTED. I didn't depend on an unreliable system to push my information through at the last minute to make sure I could vote. Seriously- how many times have you ever heard people praise the effeciency of the DMV? The Postal Service? The Voter Registration office? YOU have to take the initiative to make your vote count. It is YOUR right. They don't give two shits if it makes it through-
As for this disenfranchisement bullshit... I've ALWAYS had to present an ID when I vote, in ANY election. And, I've ALWAYS had to carry an ID to pretty much to anything. And yes, as Guest stated, for voting purposes- when you register to vote, you are given a voter ID card (or receipt and a card is mailed to you), free of charge. That is not a financial burden-