How do you feel about the new photo ID requirement to vote? Do you even care?

I will give you a good example of how easy it is to bypass the no-ID rule. Our son grew up in the township and registered to vote, He voted a few times before he left the area after college. When my wife and I went to the polls, his name remained next to ours for years, five years at least, most likely longer. All I needed to do was go to the poll, sign the register, vote, and leave. Then, when new poll workers staff the station, I return, claim his name, sign, vote, and leave. This is one example of a very obvious way to vote twice in the same election, without having to show an ID.

Stop already with the hardship reasoning! Getting a photo ID seems like an extremely small price to pay for the right of voting. I am baffled why it is taken so long for the change. And, I see many other states are imposing the same provisions (regardless of what Eric Holder tells Texas - never stand up).

[posted previously at CM Patch]

Roger... Then why didn't you use your son's voter registration to cast a second ballot?

Mike, not right to do so -- no more complex, no simpler.

However, it always struck me as being a large hole in the system when I went to vote. Had I been required to produce an ID, any ill-intended action would not have been possible. Oh yes, ... I guess I could have had false ID as well. Even third-world countries use a hand stamp to insure that nobody votes twice. We just get a sticker, "I voted."

Maybe you just solved the problem, Roger. Why not just dip our fingers in purple ink like the Iraqis did? In fact, that probably was our idea.

I think the one safety net to the current system is our wonderful poll workers. They know me and I know them. I'm sure someone would recognize me if I returned later to vote again.

The poor and ethnic argument seems kind of flimsy. A Pennsylvania State ID is currently $13.50, whether acquiring it for the first time or renewing/replacing. I believe that like a driver's license it is replaced every 4 years. That breaks down to less than 29 cents per month over the card's validity period. It just doesn't seem to fit together. Are we concerned, perhaps, about restricting voting to legal US citizens? Or is it that we need to create a government subsidy and sliding fee scale for state ID cards now too? I thought voting had rules for a reason...

Mike, I think you have built the case FOR the ID. EVERYBODY should know where their birth certificate resides, where the Social Security card resides, and the other documents you mention. The implementation of the voter ID law can serve a very good purpose, if only to get people to get their important documents located. Having these documents in hand is an important part of being a responsible citizen, and for the sake of heirs should somebody pass.

I do believe that seniors must supply their Social Security card, and birth certificate in order to sign up for Medicare and benefits. So, these should be in hand from other recent needs.

Roger... Birth certificates and Social Security cards are assigned at birth. So what happens if your parents aren't so careful to keep them? What happens if you lose them? The point of this legislation is not that illegals vote, but that people aren't voting more than once. Medicare, credit cards, flying, driving and drinking aren't written into the Constitution. They aren't rights. But voting is.

Tom W... You don't need to be work to vote. Since you lost your SS card, can you post information here about how to obtain a new SS card for those who might not have one?

MIke, just for the record, the time of assigning a Social Security at birth is a relatively recent provision. I think I was 18 when I got mine. Perhaps it was acquired when I registered for the draft, I don't remember for certain.

Still believing that voter fraud and potential voter fraud does not exist?

http://townhall.com/columnists/byronyork/2012/08/13/when_1099_felons_vote_in_a_race_won_by_312_ballots/page/full/

Lets get our head out of the sand and find out how many true unaddressed hardship cases that actually exist- and then help those poor folks out- in the meantime- lets clean up the voter roles and preserve the sanctity of OUR vote.

Here is my thinking- and i am glad to see that you are now accepting of the decision.
I do not believe in the approach of admitting that there are holes in the system- but lets do nothing about it until we have verifiable, substantial data that numerous cases have occurred. (Which has happened)
If i know that there is a breach in our defense system that will easily allow nuclear suitcase bombs entering the US- I certainly do not want to wait until one decimates a metro area until I will react.
There are NUMEROUS cases of voter fraud on numerous levels and avenues. (see example above for one).
I am all for vigilance and protection of the vote at all levels- from registration through counting.
With all of the garbage ACORN and other taxpayer funded anti american organizations have pulled (again- more convictions)- I want a process in place that is vigilant- not wide open invitations for for fraud.

All the hysterics over Florida trying to purge 2 million invalids from the roles really made me sick.
I want MY verified vote to be protected and as worthy as all others.