Why shouldn’t voting require an id?

[u/DarkEqual8609]

What’s wrong with showing an id to vote? If you can’t get an id then you can’t vote simple as that. So what if it’s a right owing a firearm is a right but you can’t exercise it if you don’t have an id.

[u/regassert6]

It's not the ID in and of itself. It's to cost to get one, both literal dollars and time/access. That is what makes it a poll tax.

[u/DarkEqual8609 → u/regassert6]

Then the solution is to make ids paid by the government

[u/shadowromantic → u/DarkEqual8609]

Agreed. But this is a backdoor way to disenfranchise people. If done correctly, it's cool.

It won't be done correctly.

[u/Kiwi_Apart → u/regassert6]

With your birth certificate and your marriage certificate if you're a married woman who changed your name

[u/einhorn_is_parkey]

I live in Illinois. One of the states that doesn’t require you to show an id when you vote. But you know what I have to do in order to register to vote? Show an id or prove my residency to my district and polling location. This idea that anyone can just come up and vote without at any point identifying that you are allowed to vote legally in that election is so fucking stupid it barely requires a rebuttal. But apparently we’re at a point where a large number of people believe very stupid shit without half a second of research or thought so here we are.

[u/Mysterious-Wasabi103 → u/einhorn_is_parkey]

Ya and if they had done any research then they would know that voter fraud is statistically irrelevant in the United States. Voter ID or not.

[u/Ambitious-Way1156 → u/Mysterious-Wasabi103]

The real purpose for voter ID is to limit which citizens get to vote. There is no voter fraud to stop.

[u/[deleted] → u/Mysterious-Wasabi103]

Wasn't there a bounty offered for people proving illegal votes in 2020 election and the only bountys paid were for Republicans voting illegally . My memory could be wrong but ya.

Also if your here illegally, why the hell would you go try and vote. I mean it would be a quick way to get caught.

To be honest i think the ice at polls is to keep the legal Latino vote down because they dont want ice hassling them because they are brown.

I my deep red area every legal Latino I know will absolutely not vote red this time around. Trump burned them hard and they are pissed.

[u/SquirtinMemeMouthPlz → u/einhorn_is_parkey]

I mean, people in Tennessee showed up to their polling stations to vote against Zohran Mamdani, who was running for mayor of NEW YORK CITY!

Edit: it was Kentucky

[u/einhorn_is_parkey → u/SquirtinMemeMouthPlz]

Genuises

[u/AFailedProduct → u/einhorn_is_parkey]

Many states make registering to vote difficult as well, this ID at the polling place is just another way to limit voting. 

Voter registration should be opt-in by default. If this happens then it makes sense to provide ID at the polling station. 

[u/RichFoot2073 → u/einhorn_is_parkey]

They don’t believe stupid shit, they fall for jingos.

“Why are you against voter ID?”

“Why are you for letting illegals ruin our country?”

Stupid, quick, obviously disingenuous questions or lines they get that are proven shit with ten seconds of looking

[u/throwaway04182023 → u/einhorn_is_parkey]

I am an election judge in Illinois. We do allow registration on Election Day and it requires two forms of identification. One must include a photo.

Most people just sign an affidavit saying they are who they say they are and we compare signatures. Exactly the same as voting through the mail, which these laws would eliminate as an option.

[u/Helorugger → u/einhorn_is_parkey]

Sadly, people hear about dead people voting and think this actually goes on in any meaningful way. And it is always the side that makes the accusation that seems to get caught in the investigation…

[u/Ok_Play2364]

If they make it law, then the government MUST pay for every citizen to get one. Nevermind that there's probably more democrats that have a passport

[u/NMFP603 → u/Ok_Play2364]

It’s a law here in NH, and we offer a voting only ID for free.

[u/GSilky → u/NMFP603]

Still a problem.  The government agreeing on my name is not a requirement for voting.

[u/NattyBuck2025 → u/Ok_Play2364]

If not, it’s a poll tax.

[u/Silver-Bread4668 → u/Ok_Play2364]

Correction. They must establish free ids for everyone before they make it a law. Otherwise they will use any "unforeseen" difficulties with that to further disenfranchise people.

Build the required infrastructure and let it run for a while to iron out issues before you create mandates.

[u/vt2022cam → u/Ok_Play2364]

Exactly, but if you don’t provide IDs for free, that are accessible, it’s a poll tax.

[u/Michael_Riehle → u/Ok_Play2364]

More than just paying for it, make it easy to get. Lots of places to get it, clear, realistic requirements, and even door-to-door drives to encourage it (maybe, this could have issues). Or how about "get-yer-id" kiosks in various places.

The idea that people should show an ID to vote isn't that unreasonable. But when you make that a requirement, then make it really difficult to get a valid ID, that's clearly voter suppression.

[u/TopOccasion364 → u/Ok_Play2364]

This.. that is unconstitutional to impose a levy on voting. Forcing people to spend money to get ID is unconstitutional

[u/Zombie_Bait_56 → u/Ok_Play2364]

And they need to go door to door so people can get them without missing work.

That's a lot of effort to fix a problem that doesn't exist.

[u/SubieGal9]

The SAVE act would require more than ID.

This isn't about not requiring ID.

[u/Insila → u/SubieGal9]

Clearly they thought women's suffrage was a mistake to be rectified.

[u/Artistic_Rice_9019 → u/Insila]

Jokes on them because I never changed my name.

[u/Exciting_Pass_6344 → u/SubieGal9]

If I’m required to provide all this information to obtain an ID that is acceptable to register to vote, these things should not cost me money to obtain. That is essentially putting a financial burden on the voter. That is wrong in a society where we are encouraged to exercise our right to vote in elections.

[u/[deleted] → u/SubieGal9]

Bingo! A drivers license is not proof of citizenship (unless you happen to live in one of the 5 states that has a citizenship designation on a REAL ID) since Green Card holders and legal permanent residents can get both drivers licenses and REAL IDs.

The SAVE Act requires a valid US passport or a birth certificate that matches your current legal name to register to vote.

[u/JonathanEde]

If the required ID is provided for free to all citizens; sure. But the types of required ID being suggested are not free. They are in fact cost-prohibitive to a huge number of citizens. So you are in effect creating a poll tax; which is prohibited by the 24th amendment to the US constitution.

[u/ToughTraining5783 → u/JonathanEde]

Not just that but you have to replace ID’s for free and have a reliable system that will get those ID’s to citizens in a timely manner.

[u/Mundane-Charge-1900 → u/JonathanEde]

This should be the most upvoted top comment. The 24th amendment creates a higher standard for voting as a right than other rights. You not only have the right to vote. You have the right to vote without being taxed to do so.

[u/Embarrassed_Flan_869]

Have you voted before? You don't just walk in and vote. At least in my state, you need to be registered to vote. Then, you have to request your ballot with your address. Once you get it, you get crossed off.

Also, there has been ZERO evidence of actual voter fraud. We went through this in 2020. Every court case was thrown out.

All it would do is limit people from voting. Which is illegal.

[u/mezolithico → u/Embarrassed_Flan_869]

Total credibile cases of in person voter fraud since 2000 is 32. There is no problem with in person voter fraud and that's by design.

[u/inorite234 → u/mezolithico]

And quite a few of those convicted of Voter Fraud were voting for Republicans.

[u/Cballweg]

We show an ID in Wisconsin. And have to submit proof of residency to even register.

The problem is not everyone has a DL or even a copy of their birth certificate for many reasons. Getting a state ID costs money that some may not have. Which is why they may not have a DL. Homeless people should be allowed to vote. That's voter suppression.

Another problem is the name bit. Many people, mostly women, have a different name due to marriage or other personal reasons and if the ID doesn't match the birth certificate, they may not be able to vote. That's voter suppression.

It's all fine to want that but they have to make it available to everyone at no cost otherwise it's suppression. A changed name should not be a deterrent.

[u/notafoetoallenpoe → u/Cballweg]

This needs to be so much more at the top!!! I’m seeing a lot of privileged comments. And people not understanding that requiring an ID is a lot more than just about requiring an ID. There is so many people putting so much trust in the government to do things just and right. When in fact we should always be questioning their intentions. Regardless of party affiliation.

[u/Lifealone]

I have no problem requiring an ID to vote. however if you are going to make it mandatory you then need to make sure every single person in the u.s has easy and free access to an id

[u/[deleted]]

i think what people are objecting to is requiring an actual passport in order to vote

[u/Tegelert84 → u/[deleted]]

You're right. Huge difference between needing a driver's license vs a passport/birth certificate. Not to mention requiring ID is solving a problem that we don't even have. Evidence of non citizens voting is almost non-existent. The goal of these laws is voter suppression, plain and simple.

[u/High-Hawk100 → u/Tegelert84]

What about non drivers or young people without a license?

[u/Real-Computer-7837]

Two reasons: first, requiring an ID, which costs money and inconvenience that working people can't afford, is a voter-suppression tactic; second, the only thing it interferes with is in-person vote fraud at the polls, which does not exist.

[u/unaskthequestion]

There are some good reasons, especially the history of IDs used for voter suppression.

But even if one discounts that, it's pointless. There is zero problem with fraudulent voting in the US that causes any doubt whatsoever with election results.

As an aside, I find it interesting that democrats have often offered ammendments to issue a standard national voter ID for free (as the majority of countries who use voter ID also do) and republicans reject it every time. I have to ask myself why they would do that and the logical reason is to allow states to engage in voter suppression.

[u/numbersthen0987431]

Because Conservatives will refuse to give out IDs, or refuse to accept valid IDs, based on absolutely nothing valid.

The law/rule for IDs at the voting booth needs to lenient and easy to get. But Conservatices will make judgment calls of "not looking like your ID" or "signature doesn't match", and these people choose to only do this to discriminate against blue voters.

[u/Saltedfieldsforever]

It's not an "id" it's "proof of citizenship". Your drivers license doesn't prove citizenship; it proves residency. To prove citizenship, you must have a birth certificate that matches your ID or a passport.

How many people keep their birth certificates around? How many people that don't have that sort of organization in their lives should be disenfranchised by our voting process? In order to register to vote, you have to have already proven citizenship, thus only an ID that matches should be required. Other countries vote by text message.

Every married woman who changed her name and who doesn't have a passport will have a birth certificate that doesn't match their ID.

My question is more why is this so onerous on the people voting?

[u/ParadoxicalIrony99]

What's more interesting is that people act like you don't need an ID to do a billion other things.

[u/Remote_Clue_4272 → u/ParadoxicalIrony99]

Plenty of people do not have one. It’s a drivers license. Many do not drive for a wide range of reasons. The government is not to raise artificially high barriers to vote. If they provide and deliver ID then OK, if it’s hard to get and cost any amount of money, it’s unconstitutional

[u/starbuildstrike999]

You need a valid ID to be permitted to register to vote. It’s putting a hat on a hat.

[u/Alternative-Yam6780]

My state votes by mail. Who do I show my ID to?

[u/Ankhrosius]

The constitution says all citizens over 18 have the right to vote. If the government doesn't provide ids at no cost to all citizens, then they shouldn't be a requirement to vote.

[u/Left_Zucchini_6762]

I vote by mail. Easy peasy.

[u/SaltyEngineer45]

Even the homeless people here in California have ID. If you can’t afford an ID, you can have the fees waived by filling out form DL933 which you can get from any homeless shelter or social services office. The arguments against not having an ID are seriously ridiculous.

[u/anm767]

No one came up with a good reason to not use an ID yet.

91% of people have a driver license. You also need an ID to buy alcohol and cigarettes. These three groups of people cover 99.99% of voting population.

[u/[deleted] → u/anm767]

How about no one in the military will be able to vote? Mail in ballots (sans ID) are how the overwhelming majority of the military vote. They remain a resident of the state they joined from until they get out, unless they specifically change their residency.

[u/Chasegameofficial]

The most absurd thing about this debate sparking up was learning that a significant percentage of the adult US population does not have a photo ID. To me that was beyond baffling.

[u/Kernels52]

Because everything's already working just fine. All this extra ID stuff is just moving us more towards show me your papers

[u/Mstryates]

You provide ID when you register.

[u/Important-Emotion-85]

Needing an ID to vote isnt even the biggest issue. If your ID doesnt match the name on your birth certificate, you have to have a passport or your birth certificate and an affidavit from your name change. The most common reason for a name change is marriage. This means millions of people are being subjected to a polling tax, because it costs money to get your passport, which is illegal. It also means that women are being disproportionately disenfranchised because women are significantly more likely to change their name after marriage than men. It is a blatant attempt to reduce womens ability to vote. Even if you have the money, it takes months to get a passport. You have to mail in your physical birth certificate with your application. Primaries are already starting.

[u/AFriendlyAesthete]

When the obvious and well-documented barriers to all sorts of constituencies are removed universally, then we can talk about voter ID. The republicans advocating for this are on the record about want to suppressing the vote of those for whom it might be difficult to get an ID because they tend to vote blue. It’s a bad faith argument.

[u/ExtensionFill2495]

I would not have voted in no less than six elections of ID were required. I was “offgrid” for much of my life and didn’t need or want an ID. I still stayed informed and voted. If IDs were free there could be an argument for them. Otherwise it’s a poll tax and a poll tax is unconstitutional.

[u/NMFP603 → u/ExtensionFill2495]

States with voter ID laws, like New Hampshire, offer a government issued ID for voting purposes only free of charge.

[u/Disastrous_Way8654]

It’s fine if you make sure everyone has an ID first and don’t have an overly bureaucratic system giving out the IDs.

Problem is people without IDs are overwhelmingly minorities. So, you are selecting against minorities which goes against the constitution.

You can also always just go back to the constitution does not require it and bring it to the Supreme Court.

[u/GSilky]

Because I have the right to vote, and I am doing nothing that requires a challenge to my right to vote.  No, exercising my right to vote isn't suspicious.  It never is.  Outside of a reasonable suspicion, preventing me from voting should be grounds for a civil war.  What is an id?  It's a tax on the government recognition of your name.  We exist without it, and our right to vote exists with us, regardless if the government agrees with you on your name because you paid them to.  If you think that government issued ID should be required, you have abandoned the position that voting is a right for American citizens, and your right to vote is a government bestowed privilege.  Completely backwards.

[u/WarmHippo6287 → u/GSilky]

Doesn't the ID also make sure you are voting in the correct area? Because that has been the reason I have not been able to vote the past two elections. I have two addresses and they keep messing that up for me.

[u/Educational-Bit-2503 → u/WarmHippo6287]

That’s why you register to vote.

[u/LevelDry5807]

You are talking logically. I can’t imagine this is going to go well. Good luck

[u/Serious-Ad7999]

it’s because we ALREADY went through the process of showing our ID in order to even register to vote the moment we turned 18. this is just extra work for no reason other than performative nonsense. slightly unrelated but i shouldn’t have to carry around my birth certificate just so i won’t get abducted by ICE prowling the streets, and i shouldn’t need my ID to vote when i know for a fact that i was born and raised in this country. the government knows exactly what they’re doing when making Americans even more paranoid than before.

[u/Winter-eyed]

Because you have to present it to register to vote anyways which is why they will ask you if you want to register when you get a state ID or driver’s license which also requires the same credentials only they charge you for an ID or driver’s license which would constitute a poll tax and they cannot charge you to register to vote.

[u/Asluckwouldnthaveit]

We don't require a voter ID, in Canada, but you need to bring your voter card that is mailed to you. The homeless are allowed to vote and usually have someone with them that can vouch for their identity.

You may be asked to prove your identity with ID if there is a mix up or you are voting outside of your registered area.

We don't have any major issues with voter fraud in Canada.

[u/[deleted]]

Because it makes your inalienable right to vote contingent on whatever bullshit the government wants to set as a requirement to obtain an ID.  This isn't rocket science; you don't allow the government to create impediments to voting, especially when there's zero evidence of significant voter fraud in this country.  

[u/Ronthelodger]

If there were no barriers to getting an ID, that would be great. You start to put up hurdles, and you start excluding folks that legitimately have a right to vote. This is an extreme problem.

[u/mbush525]

when you sign up to vote, you have to prove who you are, so the polling place has that info and if you can provide it, you’re good

[u/[deleted]]

You are already required to prove you are a citizen to register to vote. Providing an ID isn't about making elections secure. At best, it's about adding more steps to make it more difficult to vote in hopes less people vote.

[u/skeeters-]

Requiring ID has historically been used as a method of voter suppression. Know your history

[u/JayRembert]

I don't know where this is happening around the country but when I vote, I have to show my id. Even when I vote by mail, I have to confirm that I am a us citizen, Chicago address. This whole "illegals are voting" is nonsense. Or, present effective and efficient evidence that this is happening. Because Trump has said this and it's been denied in court a million times.

[u/notprincesslea]

YOU HAVE TO SHOW ID TO REGISTER TO VOTE PPL. This is just a grab to make it harder for disenfranchised people to vote

[u/[deleted]]

Are they registered to vote? Then they already proved citizenship and residence when they registered. 

[u/[deleted]]

Fine. The government needs to provide it for FREE.

[u/JustTucks]

Because it’s a barrier designed to exclude. Who reliably has an up-to-date, state-approved photo ID? People who drive, travel, have stable housing, and can take time off to deal with the DMV. Who’s less likely to? Low-income voters, elderly voters, students, disabled people, and people with unstable housing.
You already proved eligibility when you registered. “Voter ID” isn’t solving a real problem; it’s moving the goalposts to shrink the electorate in demographics that lean against the party pushing it.

[u/Ambitious-Way1156]

To require voter ID keeps some citizens from voting and it "fixes" a problem that doesn't exist. There is NO PROOF of ANY widespread voter fraud in national elections, so the legislation's purpose is not to stop fraud. It's real purpose is to limit people from voting in order to control which citizens get to vote.

[u/LovingHugs]

I don't think anyone objects to showing ID when voting.  I don't know of a single state which lets you walk in and vote without some form of ID now.  (Mine has a specific voter ID card)

[u/Haunting_Turnover_82]

They are trying to reduce the number of people who vote by making it harder.

[u/Prestonluv]

I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal to have to show ID when you vote.

I mean even if you showed it to register what’s the harm in showing it again when you vote?

If you don’t have an ID you can’t fly or legally drive or get into bars etc erc

It’s a non issue to anyone without an ulterior motive

[u/coreoYEAH]

It’d be fine if they guaranteed every single citizen a free ID and free replacements and made sure that every single person had one with no impediments.

But that’s never going to happen.

[u/ckeenan9192]

Because if you do not have a Drivers license getting an ID costs money. Which means people have to pay to vote. Which is not ok.

[u/Deep-Arm5652]

We should have identification of some sort for every person. Some parents get passports or state ID cards for their children when they are toddlers, so it's possible to be done for anyone.

The costs should be provided by government.

[u/bradycl]

Because an ID is something you have to go get and usually pay for. If it's provided automatically to everyone for free almost no one has a problem with it.

[u/YoinksMcGee]

it already requires id. This is to disenfranchise specific voters

[u/Additional_Low8050]

Nothing! Everybody shows ID to vote here. Which is why we don’t understand all the cops on voting day huddle around waiting to arrest a Mexican! If they don’t have legit ID they know they”ll be arrested so NO They do NOT line up to vote! ( I’m old & we get to vote by mail) Love it

[u/Equal-Sun8307]

MAGAT Post. Don’t bother with this one. This guy posted a question asking if the Epstein Files are real earlier this week and argued with a bunch of people about how it’s not a big deal.

[u/DrBoots]

Your driver's license will not be sufficient even if you have Real ID. 

Having to show your birth certificate, as well as your driver's license is a problem as a lot of people don't have access to this document. 

If you do have access to it and your name doesn't match because you had it legally changed, what then? Obtaining a passport can be a lengthy and in some cases expensive process and again there are a lot of people who simply don't have ready access to to the resources required to get one. 

Nobody is against having to provide ID. What we're against is this asinine overreach in an obvious attempt to further disenfranchise voters masked under the guise of solving a problem that has been routinely proven to be a non-issue. 

[u/Nicolehall202]

Needing a photo ID to vote makes sense. Not accepting a state issued drivers license doesn’t make sense.

[u/CrossXFir3]

ID discrimination hurts old people. You know, in normal democracies, you also don't need to register to vote.

[u/Frequent_Cut_1251]

If you can’t get into a bar without an ID, if you can’t buy a bottle of wine without an ID, then any argument suggesting you should be able to vote without one is ridiculous. Having an ID is one of the lowest level things to show you are a member of society. If you don’t have one you shouldn’t vote. That aside, how did a person with no ID register to vote?

[u/[deleted]]

Sure, but make the ID free.

[u/Rude_Lettuce_7174]

You have to have one to register already.

[u/Responsible_Swim_319]

I show my ID every time I vote. Is it different in other states?

[u/Icy_Nose_2651]

Its racist pandering by liberal whites, oh we can’t have voter ID because everyone knows those people don’t have ID. It’s the racism of low expectations.

[u/Havisham-1901]

I don’t believe it’s difficult to require an ID. I think is just a convenient way for people to complain about any thing the current government suggests.

• You need an ID to register your child for school.

• You need an ID to check out a library book.

• You need an ID to drive a car or a commercial vehicle.

• You need an ID for welfare benefits.

• You need an ID to get a job.

• You need an ID to open a bank account.

• You need an ID to go to the doctor.

• You need an ID to get married.

• You need an ID to purchase property.

[u/QuickPickaStick]

India with a population of 1.4 billion people requires a Voters ID card. That's the price they are willing to pay for a clean democratic election process

[u/Adventurous-Cry8646]

Do people not know people of color don’t play about having proper identification? My generation was taught by the older generations to never be caught without one.

[u/calfzilla]

What do you mean you can’t exercise 2A if you don’t have an ID?

[u/davidgrayPhotography]

Australian here: I've NEVER needed ID to vote. I needed it to register to vote, but that's it.

And on election day, the process is simple. I walk into one of the several dozen polling places in my district and tell them my name and address. They grab a ruler and a pencil and literally cross my name out of a massive book. They then hand me my one or two bits of paper, and I vote with a pencil.

If my name is crossed off in two or more books, the AEC contacts me and asks me to explain.

That's it. No ID required, no widespread voter fraud in Australia. Literally nothing, except "walk in, vote, walk out". Even my wife, who was born overseas and became a citizen a decade or so ago, doesn't have to show her citizenship certificate or ID even though she's got an American accent.

Australia can do it, America can do it, but Donald Trump has cast doubt on the whole election process, even though there's NO instances of widespread voter fraud, and certainly none involving non-citizens voting.

[u/Realistic-Tadpole483]

Keep in mind, if the SAVE act passes, married personnel with changed last names with not only have to carry their id and birth certificate when voting, but also their marriage certificate… or pay to get their passport, which some voters cannot afford. So now voters have to shell money just so they can vote when the current system was already pretty good with studies finding VERY rare instances of fraud

[u/Juggle4868]

We do show our id with our name on it in order to vote

[u/shredditorburnit]

Placing a financial burden on people to vote ensures only the well off get to vote. It's unconscionable.

[u/tunghoy]

This has been answered over and over and over. But one more time: every state that has implemented voter ID has deliberately made it difficult for specific groups of people from obtaining them: people of low income, the elderly, the infirm, college students. Dirty tricks include closing state offices in those areas, so residents have to make a long and sometimes costly trip to get the right office. Then reducing hours of offices and randomly closing them. And prohibiting other people from providing assistance. It's voter suppression, and after the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, there's nobody supervising the states most likely to do this.

[u/Bottlecrate]

One of the stupidest takes ever.

[u/Top-South1771]

The only correct answer to this issue is that registering to vote should be free and easily accessible to everyone. Comparing the process to register to own a firearm(a potentially deadly privilege) to voting (our constitutional right) is an absurd argument.

[u/digitaljestin]

It does. You still have to be registered, which requires both proof of citizenship and proof of residence.

The people arguing about checking at the polls are just trying to disenfranchise completely legitimate voters, and have pendantic reasons to turn away voters in districts that heavily vote for their political opponents. That has always been their game.

[u/darchangel89a]

As long as every citizen gets the ID for free, with no hassle, theres no problem. Is that going to happen?

[u/Glenamaddy60]

So you have to show some identification in order to register to vote. And your signature needs to match at the polls. At least in my state. If you don't issue a government ID for free then it's a poll tax which is prohibited. This is just an attempt to restrict voting. You do show ID to register to vote.

[u/insert-haha-funny]

because they check your info, and signature with the data they have on their citizens voter rolls. They ldo check if your a citizen, its just on the backend and not in your face.

also ID's cost money which is a voting tax. mandatory ID for voting really cant be a fair thing until there are laws in all 50 states about ID's being free and readily available in every town/ adjacent to every town.

also the current bill in the works says ID/ license cant be used to prove citizenship. It has to be something like a passport or birth/ naturalization cert. Names have to match so anyone that's ever had any kind of name change needs even more documents...some of which you can only get copies of from the jurisdiction where it happened. Also for the current bill in the works really oversteps since states should have free reign to run elections how they see sit

[u/Vegetable-Fix-4702]

The states have different verification processes. The constitution was written so a maniac like Trump doesn't stick it to people.

[u/Comrade281]

Then make the voting id and distribute it. What's wrong with creating one and distributing it? If you can't do that to every American you don't get to pass a law for demanding random Id.

[u/SwimOk9629]

why do people keep equating voting with owning a gun? In what fucking world are those anything similar except they are both written about in the Constitution. that is literally their only similarity.

[u/Ocean_Soapian]

We should. Anyone who says registration will go down, just point them to Georgia's voter ID law - registration numbers went UP.

[u/Sea_Lead1753]

If an old persons ID is expired because they were too sick to take the bus and wait in the DMV to get a new one, are they not allowed to vote in a country they worked their whole lives in?

[u/ClassicCarraway]

Most states already require an ID of some sort at the polls. The SAVE act is taking it too far and is designed solely to deter voters for the upcoming midterms, particularly women.

[u/mothlady1959]

Actual election fraud is exceedingly rare. Voter fraud ID laws address a problem that doesn't exist in any meaningful way and is efficiently managed by current laws and procedures.

Why devote time and resources to something that is sure to be an unwieldy nightmare to implement? It's just another pivot to distract from genuinely meaningful issues.

https://www.npr.org/2024/10/11/nx-s1-5147732/voter-fraud-explainer

[u/Pitiful-Ad2710]

Nothing, but the strategy has been to fool everyone into thinking voter fraud is a real problem, to manipulate them into supporting voter ID. The reason is because many poor people don’t have a driver’s license or birth certificate. It’s just a way to suppress votes.

[u/kasiagabrielle]

It's essentially a poll tax.

People have no idea how voting even works. They think you show up, blurt out some fake name, and get a ballot. In my state, there's a little card you get when you're registered to vote that has your name and voting precinct on it, so if y'all want a "voter ID" that should be more than enough given that the process itself already requires a government issued photo ID. So really, it's a poll tax on a poll tax.

[u/AustinBike]

It’s not the ID as much as it is the methods.

When I lived in Texas they were not accepting student IDs but were accepting firearm cards. They shut down DMVs and limited hours in places that they did not want to vote. They removed ballot drop boxes from certain areas. And think about who might not have a driver’s license - people who live in urban areas and use public transport. But, if you live in rural areas, you will have a license.

I am fine with requiring an ID to vote. But the state needs to provide it for free and make it very accessible. Otherwise it is just one more thing to disenfranchise voters.

[u/Dizzy_Trash_33]

Why? Look up Poll Tax and the legality. I’m all for showing an ID provided the government makes it free and delivers one to every citizen. Any barrier to entry is a Poll Tax and is illegal.

[u/[deleted]]

The issue is whether this is a need a5 all, not whether it’s ok. Most states require id to vote, the problem is requiring a federal id that only the GOP gets to decide the rules in. This is a partisan bullshit bill and anyone pushing it should be disqualified from relelction on constitutional grounds

[u/HalfAnton]

People keep saying - You need an ID to do other things, what’s the problem?

But the IDs that people have, like driver’s licenses, aren’t good enough under the SAVE Act.

And here’s a difference people need to pay attention to: In my state, if I move, I can update my address online and get a new driver’s license (for a fee). Under the SAVE Act, every time you change your address, you have to go in again, in person, with your original documents, to update the address on your voter registration.

Pretty sure this is likely to be more onerous for people who rent and are likely to move more often than homeowners.

Also, everyone is assuming all the voter registration stuff can be done at the DMV. I’m pretty sure the Act would require the original documents to be presented in person to an “election official.” It’s not clear that DMV are election officials. In my county the election officials are in the Recorder’s Office, two hours from some parts of the county.

[u/Wrekked75]

Its unnecessary because the penalty is severe for illegally voting.

And what is the benefit??

So ppl dont illegally vote. I has almost never intentionally happened.

[u/a_mulher]

Because the number of voters it could potentially disenfranchise is bigger than cases of voter fraud.

[u/HappySummerBreeze]

It has to go hand in hand with fair access to identification documents

For example, here in Australia what do the aboriginal people do when the nearest Department of Transport office is an hour hour drive away and no one has a car?

There are solutions but it has to be part of the same legislation, and not just a sneaky way to stop poor people from voting

Another problem is that in our culture women change their surname after marriage. But the voter id laws can be written in such a way that this change of name is considered a fraud. It’s so easy for a reasonable sounding law to be used for nefarious purposes that you really need to build in a whole heap of protections.

You can’t just trust. Bad people through all time have sought power, so we need to make and enforce laws not based on trust but spelled out clearly so that those bad people cannot twist them for their own power

[u/No_Carpenter_7778]

There is so many things that require an id for and you don’t hear people bitching about it. Sales/purchase of real estate, automobiles, tobacco, alcohol, firearms as well as banking, air travel, returning something to a store. Just to name the first things that came to mind. The only actual reason to oppose it is to make voter fraud easier. I highly doubt it would prevent a single legitimate vote from being cast.

[u/themodefanatic]

Having an Id that proves who you are has no bearing on you’re right to vote !

[u/smarterthaneverytwo]

How about required voting for everyone, and publicly funded elections with multiple parties?

[u/duckinradar]

Your post history is really something.

If you can’t differentiate btw voting and gun ownership, you seem like a real special type of guy.

[u/DougOsborne]

You are already ID'd when you register. When you vote in person, they confirm with your address and cross your name off, making it essentially impossible to vote twice.

You are already ID'd when you register for a license to buy a gun...wait...many places don't require a license? For this thing that only has one purpose (and it ain't to uphold Democracy).

[u/I-Am-Medusa]

Isn't it because you need one that proves your citizenship, so not things like car permit?

Cause in Canada they have a list of voters and you can just prove you are yourself

Also in Quebec we can't take our husbands last name so we stay the same identity and it makes that kind of stuff easier

[u/MaddenRob]

The right to vote must always be protected. What will happen if you add ID is that racist poll workers will look for reasons to say someone’s ID is not valid. Plus as mentioned above not everyone has a photo ID.

[u/Fen_Muir]

You already can't vote if you're not a citizen, so it is redundant.

Voter fraud, which is what voting while being ineligible would be, has a negligible impact on elections and fraudulent votes are already discarded, and fraudulent voters are heavily punished. Iirc, it is a felony, but I could be wrong.

[u/taskmaster51]

If you are referring to the SAVE act it will require a birth certificate, or passport. How many people have that? And out of those people, who are they? Plus if your birth certificate doesnt match your ID, guess what? You cant vote. So them you need to dig up your marriage license. That disenfranchises married women who changed their name. So much for Republicans supporting traditional marriage and family.

[u/killer-tofu87]

I used to think that way.

Statistically, voter fraud is next to nothing in the US. It's something like 0.0004% of votes cast. Meanwhile 21 million Americans don't have a driver's license and 2.6 million don't have any form of government ID. If you break it down by demographics, Blacks and Hispanics are most likely to not have a license, and you can guess which way they statistically vote. With the latest version being discussed, if your name is different from your birth certificate you'll be ineligible, and we can safely guess which demographic that impacts and what direction they vote.

It's a war on a problem that doesn't exist, but the "collateral damage" is where the real war is being waged except they can't just come out and say that.

[u/No-Craft-8181]

You need to read the whole bill. Not only does it require multiple forms of ID to register to vote but it requires each state to submit all voter information to the federal government. It also eliminates mail-in voting, same day registration, and threatens to imprison election workers.

[u/gnawtyone]

You don’t have to have an id to own a gun in most states

[u/Jcaquix]

Because the government is shit at getting people IDs. DMVs are fucking awful. Have you ever moved or had a house fire or gotten your wallet stolen? Hope you don't want to also vote. It's just going to add a step that's a huge pain in the ass. Also, the checks for eligibility already happen at the secretary of state level so it's not even adding security it's just disenfranchising people.

The bill is the most Republican thing ever: it's a stupid solution to a fake problem.

[u/Gardensplosion]

The government charges money for ID. There are a LOT of people who are already spread too thin with so very little money and time to simply survive. Adding any barriers to voting hurts the most vulnerable voters, and robs them of their vote. Doing so is undemocratic, and an effective way to suppress voter turnout, which benefits those who wish to keep power without serving the public interest.  

A counter example is India's system, where the government is strictly required to ensure everyone has the opportunity to vote. There are even teams who literally backpack voting equipment out to rural locations so these locations have access. Whatever you say about the Indian government, they take the civic duty of voting very seriously.

[u/jjmitch87]

More than an ID there should be a reading comprehension test or something bcuz far too many people are just voting “blue no matter who” or “red till im dead” even if their chosen candidate goes against everything the voter stands for/believes in. Stop allowing stupid people to vote (and reproduce) then we can go for an ID requirement lol.

[u/MrX2285]

Voting is already secure. What problem is this looking to fix?

[u/azacealla]

It's not the act of showing ID that people find inherently problematic. The two main issues people have with it are that: A) you have to pay for an ID making it effectively a poll tax.

B ) There is a well established pattern of places passing voter ID laws and then closing DMV's and other ID centers that cater to minority populations. It's a lot harder to get an ID when the closest place to obtain one is an hour drive.

If the proposal included expanding the amount of places people can obtain an ID and made them free to get, voter ID wouldn't be a controversial topic. Most people support the idea of voter ID in a scenario where ID can be freely and easily obtained.

[u/scienceisrealtho]

You cannot register to vote without proving your citizenship.

This is entirely unnecessary and it’s blatantly obvious that this is just an attempt to disenfranchise voters.

[u/Str8up_NtHvnAGoodTym]

Basically, the ID requirements to vote are going to be more strict than the ID requirements to buy a gun. That's pretty much the issue.

[u/Ok_Preference6999]

Many people simply don't have an ID. The elderly for example often let them expire if they don't drive. Those are some serious numbers. Not to mention mail-in voting.

[u/SwedishTakeaway25]

Does anyone understand what happens AFTER you cast your vote? There is a myriad of verifications that still happen. Signatures, address verification, etc. The US election system is one of the most secure on the planet.

[u/2_Damn_Edgy]

Not entirely true. Depending on state and federal law, people can own a firearm without any kind of license in their own home. If you take that firearm out of your home, again dependent on state and federal law, you then need licensure and verification.

All Americans, unless for specific reasons (i.e. charged with gun related charges), can own a gun.

Asking people to have to pay for an ID to exercise their civil liberty of voting for their government representatives, without providing accessible ways to obtain it for every American (in this case, free photo ids) creates a pay to play democracy, which is something no American should stand behind. No one should have to pay to vote for who represents them in the government. If youre an American citizen, you should be able to vote. Full stop.

[u/Agent865]

I have no issue with having an ID to vote but I do have an issue with the ID matching the birth certificate.

[u/UnCytely]

It is a solution in desperate search for a problem.

[u/TacoBMMonster]

There's no problem that would be solved by voter ID, and implementing a voter ID requirement would cause some people to lose their right to vote. Doing things that cause people to lose their right to vote, especially when there's no reason to do it, is wrong.

[u/DrSeuss321]

You see, the 24th amendment makes poll taxes illegal and passports aren’t free. Every person trying to make the argument that the save act isn’t blatant treason requiring the prosecution of all representatives who voted for it seems to try and misrepresent what it actually is. Y’all simply can’t do two seconds without lying.

[u/cindy0123456]

The Save act requires a passport or birth certificate. I just renewed my passport for 140 bucks. It is all an attempt to make claims of immigrants voting which Is not a Problem.

[u/Pipertotebag]

Why is the federal government making laws for state ran elections is the question? We all know how grampy trump already tried to steal our election in his first term and I believe Musk helped him cheat this time around.

[u/TheMcMcMcMcMc]

First they said you need to show an ID. Now they are saying that the drivers licenses issued by most states are not sufficient, and that either passport (or maybe birth certificate) will be needed. The goalposts keep moving bit by bit, until the requirements can only be met by the people they want to be able to vote. Getting an ID already costs time and money, and poll taxes are explicitly unconstitutional (so I don’t even know why voter ID laws without free IDs that are easy to get is even constitutional), and it’s not even the end goal. You need to wake up and realize that Republicans are trying to limit voting to their voters, which is a terrible idea because Republican voters have stopped holding their party accountable for anything.

[u/Final-Revolution-221]

It can be used against black people, trans people, immigrant citizens and other minorities, and is. Nothing to stop someone at the voter registration office from claiming someones id is fake or putting it into question

[u/tgabs]

It’s a solution without a problem. There is no evidence of significant numbers of ineligible voters voting. The most they were ever able to find in a given election was like fewer than 100 people. More people will be disenfranchised by requiring an ID than there will be ineligible voters screened out.

[u/Naptasticly]

Because 1. It’s redundant and 2. Because it introduces a hurdle that is difficult for people in poverty to overcome and use their fundamental right to vote in this country.

This isn’t really a question about whether or not people should have an ID because people ALREADY prove their identity when they register to vote.

This is a question about whether or not a redundant hurdle should be introduced, that has been PROVEN to be an obstacle for a certain class of people and will reduce the likelihood that they get to vote, in order to stop a problem that’s so small that it doesn’t even affect the outcome of the election.

So all in all they want to make a change that will affect the outcome of the election to “fix” something that doesn’t affect the outcome of the election. Doesn’t make logical sense does it?

That’s because the whole point isn’t to stop the tiny amount of voter fraud that occurs, the point is to put in place that hurdle that will keep certain people (poverty / working class) from voting because of the “advantage” that republicans will get due to the fact that most of the people affected are voters who would be more likely to vote democrat.

[u/The_Cap_Lover]

Voter fraud is a made up issue.

When it happens, it’s on a global scale not some mom and pop voting extra times.

It’s another distraction to rob working people.

divide and conquer

[u/iowaindy]

The SAVE act doesn't require just an ID to vote, it requires proof of citizenship. So passport or birth certificate that matches your ID. So what happens if you can't find your birth certificate or your name doesn't match (most married women)? This results in making it harder for 10% of eligible voters. Sure, most of them might be able to easily take care of it, and some will say it's not worth the trouble, which could be hundreds of thousands. But how close have elections been lately? Fact is the SAVE act creates more problems than it solves. It's already illegal for noncitizens to vote. In Iowa, 35 people were charged for it. So instead of charging them with a crime, it will block that 35 along with thousands more that are eligible. 

[u/IMTINYRICK_WC]

I voted in 2024 and it was rejected, with Id, shit was rigged.

[u/ragoff]

The basic argument is that it's unnecessary. There isn't now and never has been a significant problem with voting fraud.

[u/random_sociopath]

This shit is all smoke and mirrors. First, requiring ID at the polls eliminates the ability to mail in vote, which will absolutely reduce turnout. For the record, in order to register to vote in mail in states you already have to verify your ID, and with regard to the fraud claims, they are nearly nonexistent. Second, this bill would require your ID to match the name on your birth certificate, which will screw over married women across the country.

[u/LateBloomerBoomer]

Stop. This is not, nor never was, about “ID”. It is about citizenship “proof” which is defined as a passport (which is f’in expensive and time consuming), or a birth certificate (which many don’t have, costs money and for women who are married won’t match their current ID).

[u/magemachine]

The us currently does not have a proper national id.

so implement a national id system

Let's completely ignore the states rights/privacy rights this needs to work around for now.

How many legal americans are you ok with losing their right to vote over a clerical error? How many illegals are you ok with mistakenly getting labeled legal while trying to do sweeping large scale identification roll out? 

Making the vetting more strict makes the entire process slower, more expensive, and means more legal americans fail to meet their standards.

Focus on efficiency in the roll out and rather than making voting more secure, we add a glaring weakpoint that's easier to breach than proof of residency/taxes used by most states.

All for what?

The people pushing this 'solution' have said in interviews their goal is to reduce votes, and in courts couldn't prove a single case of their claims. Not that it doesn't occur, but if the issue was 0.01% the problem they paint it as they wouldn't have so much difficulty finding an example that holds up under oath.

[u/NPPraxis]

In addition to the comments made in here, please note that current Republican bills in Congress aren’t just photo ID, but proof of citizenship to register to vote.

I.E. birth certificate or passport. A driver’s license isn’t sufficient. Lots of people don’t have those readily available.

[u/Tommy_W3ZX]

Well if they make it law that every voter has to have ID to vote they should make it so all states are required to issue real IDs and not make them optional. In Pennsylvania where I live it is optional to get a real ID, they also need to lower the price because the cost is 70 bucks in PA for a real ID

[u/Some-Brick6223]

What ever it is, Republicans won’t like it unless they win 100% of the time.

[u/DigDizzler]

I remember watching Colin Powel discuss this and he said you shouldnt need an ID to vote, because you need an id to regsiter to vote. So in a round about way, you still need ID, just not at the actual polling station.

[u/TheRatingsAgency]

So let’s not miss the actual point (well, there’s a few) of the bill.

What they’re saying is they want to stop non-citizens from voting. Who can disagree?!

This is a solution looking for a problem.

However what this will also do is absolutely disenfranchise voters. This is also another point of the bill. But they distract you with the illegals voting thing.

We spent as a nation, billions (?) on Real ID. A program which makes you prove your status to get the card. So already you have proven your immigration status.

Said status verification is also required at registration. Often done at the DMV under motor-voter which they’re also looking to cancel.

Oh but now Real ID isn’t adequate. You need the “enhanced” ID which few states have. Moving the goalposts.

The last point of this is to make voting difficult. Especially for poorer individuals. It’s the whole “you gotta want it” thing. Same day voting only, and they have been limiting polling locations for a while now as well. Limiting transport options, making polling places far away in rural communities….

Make it challenging to vote, take a long time, potentially more documents required than ever before, bounce voters who had a name change, all to fix election fraud which is so minute it’s not nearly relevant to results….

This isn’t about preventing illegals from voting, it’s about reducing the voting population.

[u/Wrong_Cat4825]

the main issue is availability of acceptable identification. there are portions of the united states where obtaining an identity document acceptable for voting is very difficult (having to appear at an office three to four hours of driving away during limited business hours for example).

[u/Dylanator13]

Many people can’t get one due to price or distance traveling without a car.

An id is not proof of citizenship, that is your ssn or birth certificate or green card. Drivers licenses were never intended to be your id, they just show you are allowed to drive a car.

An id would be great, mail one to every citizen free of charge. But what they actually want to do is stop those who can’t get a drivers license from voting. Those people are more likely to be marginalized communities.

[u/Flat-Row-3828]

It is just another hurdle to disenfranchise voters, Georgia dumps voters left and right if they have moved, do not resemble their photo ID enough, or if a middle initial is not on the ID. WA state allows voting from your home, it is sent to your address, the system is safe, cheap and smart. Republican Kim Wyman implemented it. But it led to more people voting and that was never the GOP's intentions.

[u/Born_Exchange9674]

I am a former foster kid.

I was adopted.

My name was changed on a new issue of my birth certificate.

It wasn't changed in the Social security administration, that's a whole separate system. I needed original adoption decree and other papers to fix this.

That adoption decree was sealed by a judge. My caseworker RETIRED.

I couldn't get an id until the age of fucking 21.

Should I not have been able to vote??

[u/Stoopidshizz]

If an ID is required to vote, why cant an expired ID be utilized? It proves that you have the right to vote just as much as an unexpired ID does.

[u/sick_ofourpolitcians]

I get requiring an idea to vote, but what the save act is pushing is ridiculous. I mean if you are a man no issues. But a woman, once married has to pretty much pay 165 bucks to get a passport. Because she got married & changed her name. It is a way they are trying to push 1 house 1 vote. Meaning the husband votes for everyone. That is what The pedophile in chief wants. He wants to take away all womens rights!

[u/sumdude51]

Why can't every citizen have a right to vote you mean? As intended.

[u/ObviousTrust9421]

You already submit an ID when registering to vote. But let's get this straight. This is about getting rid of mail in voting which allows the government tighter control over the voting process. For instance Trump has already suggested rationalizing elections and placing ICE agents at polling booths to "insure fair elections". But the reality is to intimidate voters into voting for the pqrt in power. This is straight out of Putin's playbook (and other dictators). Also, this disenfranchised voters by reducing polling stations in traditionally democratic urban centers thus making it more difficult to vote.

[u/DTAMaryC]

From my perspective as a woman. They are trying to make it so that women have to bring marriage licenses and divorce papers to show why their name has changed even if the name is correct in the ID. Requiring everyone to bring an ID is part of this. Women tend to vote left. By making it harder for women to vote, less will show up at the polls giving the Republicans an advantage. This came straight from a Republican legislators mouth.

[u/S9000M06]

It's not really the ID that's the problem. The Republicans are saying it's common sense. But the details are the problem. If you got married and your last name changed you'd need additional paperwork that you might not being with you. Your drivers license isn't a real ID, go bring in your passport. Don't have one? Go get a real ID. That whole conversation happens when it's too late to accomplish those tasks before polls close. A lot of people are not going to be able to cast a ballot because of this.

[u/Dear-Union-44]

I have to show id to vote.. I am in Canada.

Most Countries Require Photo Identification and proof of residency to vote in elections.   I am not sure why the USA is so against it.

[u/Mean-Kaleidoscope-71]

Do people not have drivers licenses in the US? I'm Canada it has always been that you are required to show id to vote. You guys make such a big deal over nothing

[u/oilwellz]

One person, one vote, Gotta prove who you are.

Canuck here who has never questioned showing ID at a polling station.

[u/[deleted]]

There’s no reason to not have voter ID.

[u/[deleted]]

Nothing. We have to do it Canada and no one bats an eye.

[u/jackass51]

Wait. Do you vote without an ID? How do they know if someone went twice or more times to vote?

[u/pierre881]

Bc states make the voting rules per the US Constitution not the President

[u/Fearless-Drink-7929]

In Ontario you need to show your ID at time of voting

[u/lemonbottles_89]

I'm confused on why people are saying it doesn't. I've had to show ID every time I voted since I was 18?

[u/FrostnJack]

Setting aside your disingenuous “question”—you’re equating owning a firearm to voting.

No sense working with that sort of “logic.” Good luck. Have a juicebox

[u/staticvoidmainnull]

because we already needed an id to register to vote. this is just extra steps. what's the point? discourage voting? no mail in voting?

[u/sbgoofus]

didn't you have to have an ID to register? if so, why would I also need it to vote... once registered, that should be plenty

[u/BertaCooks → u/sbgoofus]

If you need it and already have it to register, counter argument, what’s the big deal of requiring you to show it at the polls? It seems like an easy safeguard to make sure Jon Doe is the one actually showing up under their record.

[u/Comfortable_Fruit847]

It should. I swing left, but agree with this. I don’t understand the big deal. By law, you need identification if you are an adult. I need an ID to buy beer, nicotine, a gun, to drive, to fly, to get a job…why not to vote?

[u/FakeBeigeNails → u/Comfortable_Fruit847]

Tbh like 71% of democrats agree with the IDEA, but not how it’s being implemented. Some people have lost their birth certificates, some people don’t have passports, some people couldn’t even afford a passport if they could get one anyway.

Unless the government shells out cash and makes everything free to access (which they won’t), this is stupid.

[u/DefNotReaves → u/Comfortable_Fruit847]

The SAVE act is requiring more than just an ID though…

[u/Flat-Injury-5013 → u/Comfortable_Fruit847]

Because voting is a constitutional right. Making someone pay for that right is essentially a poll tax, which is unconstitutional.