Federal Bill Would Require ID at Ballot Box

[jolinar of malkshor]

It is about time. They should take it one step further and require everyone to obtain a voters registration card. Hell you need some kind of card to take a **** now a days why note a card showing you can vote? Or have a little thing on ones drivers licence showing they are eligible to vote?

http://www.cfra.com/headlines/index.asp?cat=2&nid=43926

[Winsor_Pilates]

Don't you already have to take your registration card? I thought I did.
Anyways, makes sense to me. You should need ID.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Don't you already have to take your registration card? I thought I did.
Anyways, makes sense to me. You should need ID.

I know before all you had to do was tell them your name and if you were on the list you where able to vote. No ID required.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Hmmm... Not really a fan, I guess. Why add a barrier to voting? Is voter fraud really a bigger problem than dropping voter turnout? I don't know. What's wrong with having people sign an affidavit saying they are who they are?

I guess I don't have that much problem with them asking for ID at the polling station--but there should be an option for those who don't have any. In the past, they've had commissioners for oaths on hand in case people aren't on the list of electors--they could do something similar to that, I guess.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

Hmmm... Not really a fan, I guess. Why add a barrier to voting? Is voter fraud really a bigger problem than dropping voter turnout? I don't know. What's wrong with having people sign an affidavit saying they are who they are?

Going through the rigmarole of signing an affidavit would be even worse than just bringing your wallet or your passport or even the voting card you get in the mail so it could be even a bigger barrier to voting than just doing it the easy way.

I would think that pretty much everyone interested in voting has at least one piece of valid ID.

[Red Mile Style]

Yeah, but what about transients? A majority probably do not have a passport, drivers licence, or a permanent home address to recieve a card in the mail.

I scrutineered during the last federal election in downtown Toronto (Trinity-Spadina) in the middle of the projects, so I know that this can affect people.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Red Mile Style

Yeah, but what about transients? A majority probably do not have a passport, drivers licence, or a permanent home address to recieve a card in the mail.

I would think the transients would benefit from this. Many don't have a passport of driver's license because those pieces of ID cost money. As for a home address; allow the person to pick up the card when it is ready.

[Red Mile Style]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I would think the transients would benefit from this. Many don't have a passport of driver's license because those pieces of ID cost money. As for a home address; allow the person to pick up the card when it is ready.

Yeah, but that's the point. This new bill would make photo ID necessary to vote, or two pieces of ID establishing an address.I know that currently, homeless people can use shelters etc. for their address, but they certainly will not have two pieces confirming this address.

This bill will ensure transient people can not vote.

[JohnnyFlame]

Your word should be good enough.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Going through the rigmarole of signing an affidavit would be even worse than just bringing your wallet or your passport or even the voting card you get in the mail so it could be even a bigger barrier to voting than just doing it the easy way.

That's a good point. I guess I just think whatever is the simplest system that provides the most universal access is probably also the best one.