What is the best argument against having an ID card to vote?..who dosen't have SOME sort of ID?
831750
The most common answer I've heard from people who don't have a form of ID is that it's just the "government's way to keep track of you."  To be quite honest, that's a pretty lame excuse to me.  You don't need to have an ID to be able to be found and kept track of.  I understand the need for an ID when voting, or for anything rather.  It protects your identity and doesn't allow others to do things in your name.  When showing an ID before voting, it ensures the people there that no one else is using your name to cast a ballot (i.e., people who want to vote more than once or people who aren't registered at all).  \n\nIDs are pretty necessary to do much of anything lately...open bank accounts, fly somewhere, even accepting new job positions in a lot of cases.  Most think of "Drivers License" when they hear ID, but you can have a state ID as well, which don't require tests or anything.  With so much identity theft going on in the world today, it's better to have an ID than to go without.
755095
In the US there is no federal law (unless you are a legal alien), but some states and cities have laws requiring people to carry ID.
951581
Oh noes! Looks like you'll have to get a fake ID
1168101
right now it seems, none of us... for instance in Florida, we have new computerized voting machines with NO paper trail.  why?  when you purchase something at a store don't you want a receipt?  but for an election there is no proof that i even voted.  wake up america.
791690
That's too funny--- hope your state allows you to register and vote at the same time.\n\ncheck your state's secrectary of states web site--- I'm sure ID and proof of address is necessary.
299326
I vote, but I live in the U.S.  In my opinion voting is definitely important.  I also think that people that don't vote should not run their mouths about who is currently in office because had they taken the time to go vote they may have been able to sway the outcome of the election.
744503
The arguments put forward in favour of ID cards are largely a blind. There's little or no reason to believe that these would have a significant impact in fighting terrorism or dealing with illegal immigration and benefit fraud. I've been involved in this kind of area and there is no document that cannot be forged, given the will, money and technology. Terrorists and criminals running major fraud operations are the very people with the will and means to do this. And so they will. Sure ID cards might have an impact on, say, your more opportunist benefit fraud but to nothing like the extent necessary to justify such enormous expense. And don't for a moment believe that even the several billion pound cost presently projected won't rise to a still more astronomical number - this invariably happens with government IT contracts.\n\nSo ID cards will be hugely expensive and of marginal value in fighting serious organised crime. Exactly what does justify the cost ? It's all speculation really but best bet is probably a national database, storing large amounts of data for each of us. Does sound very 'big brother' I know but then we've now reached the point where chips in bins to check we're disposing of rubbish correctly are becoming a reality - bets are off, I'd say.\n\nThe interesting thing about a national database is what would be included ? Name, address, date of birth, place of birth, blood group, driver or not - maybe. But how about criminal record, relationship history, medical history, sexual orientation, employment, income ? How about more commercial information, useful to the private sector. If that sounds ridiculous just think about the ever growing amount of private sector involvement in the public services - cleaning hospitals badly, running prisons for profit. This might be alarmist and wrong but, think about it, what else justifies the cost ?
848748
Oh yeah....great idea.  Why reward the lazy and ill informed with same day registration?  That is akin to giving some one a driver's license without giving them a driving test.\n\nBesides, the Democrats have been pushing this concept for years along with Motor Voter Registration.  If you aren't familiar with this; it would allow peole to register to vote at the DMV when they apply for a license or filling out a Change of Address Card. The Dems/Libs claim that having people register to vote at City Hall, the Post Office or locations other than the Dept. of Motor Vehicles penalizes the poor and people who don't drive.  If they don't drive why on earth would they go to the DMV...except to get a state ID.  And really, how many people do you know that have a state ID?  My mom had a California state ID because she never learned to drive.  But she went to city hall to register (my dad drove her)...and she was a Democrat!\n\nNext the Dems and other groups will be pushing legislation to allow people to register to vote at Gas Stations, Liquior stores, Unemployment offices and video rental stores.  I kid you not...I have read articles supporting the concept to have people be allowed to register to vote at Unemployment Offices, Welfare Departments and homeless shelters.\n\nI am all for people (legal US citizens) being allowed and able to vote.  But most people seem to forget that voting is a privialge and NOT a right.  People need to make some effort to be allowed to vote.  Besides, if people are allowed to just show up at the polling/voting place to register and vote on the day of the election...how can the election officials be able to verify these "walk-ins" are citizen and ensure they are who they claim to be?\n\nSome Pro Same Day websites...I list these to show how bias some of these groups are, some of the obvious propoganda in the information and to show that even though I oppose SDR  (Same Day Registration) and the HAVA (Help America Vote Act), I have read and reviewed both sides of the argument.\n\nwww.the americanmind.com\nThis site reviews and discusses how Wisconsin already allows SDR.  To register on voting day all you have to show is that you have been a resident of the state for 10 days and show identification with your first and last name.  You DO NOT need to provide a photo ID...you can use a credit card, library card, check cashing card or even a gas, electric or telephone bill.  Gee...no opportunity for fraud with this system!\n\nwww.demos.org\nIn its attempt to support SDR, this Democratic website points out multiple reasons for not allowing SDR.\n\nGood luck with your essay.
961270
I don't know about Ohio but I used to live in Florida and I voted when Kerry ran against Bush and I didn't have to show my passport; all i needed was my drivers license (picture id).
1156097
yeah.. bcoz it DOES NOT exist. Get the damn point..or get the ID right, my friend!
810859
i personally always vote. most non-voters don't vote because they do not like either canidate, or they are just un-informed and do not know who to vote for. most people my age ( i am 20) are not even registered because they just don't care. i dont think it is pressed on younger people as much the importance of voting. most of my friends say "why bother, i won't make a difference anyway" which sometimes is true. i live in MD which tends to be a democratic state, so if you were to vote republican it would basically be worthless. i have also found that a lot of people that don't vote complain about who has been elected. which i find humorus. because if you didnt try to change it why should you have an opinion?
749092
fake id. you can go through the desert with alota water and get through it in a few days instead of paying the billion dollar fake id fine.
797080
Voting & a paper trail is all good but for total verification we will need to eliminate all secretcy retain a genuine ballot leaving the polls! Publically post this same exact copy on your county website! Plus be able trace anyone's accountability when transmitted numerically open to the public no hiding in secret! So like how you manage a bank account you can moniter all functions through every level of accountability! People against this don't like it cause cheating is easier carried out from the start if you have no means of verification! Having everything accessable to all is to keep it all honest & put more responsability on the individual to tract his or her vote from start to finish ending in the numeric statistics etc. If it can not be resolved soon i would support the revolution hopefully to inact a true Democracy with complete rule & control by the legal majority of citizens!
954034
Each state sets it own requirments. I live in North Dakota, all we have to do is show proper ID at the correct polling location. They check it against the previous voter list. If you have moved since the last election, they add you to the list. This is different than most states, but it works here.
752822
It is illegal.  Will they call the cops?  Most won't.  Especially, if you're like "forgot it at home, sorry."  Some places are anal about allowing you inside without checking your ID, but most don't care.  But I don't know about where you live but in my hometown, sometimes cops would be there to bust underagers.
626196
People dont vote for many reasons.  I am a deputy registrar and am surprised when prople wont even register to vote. Some dont vote because they are afraid they will get called for jury duty, others because they dont feel there are any honest candidates.  I vote in every election, every time.
899275
If you ordered a new one, did you get a "paper" temporary copy? It's not a card, but it will suffice for a driver's license. You should inquire about getting a Non-Driver ID card.