Bill for voters to prove citizenship debated

A House panel will resume debate Wednesday on requiring residents to prove citizenship when they register to vote.

The bill requires a person to present a valid passport, birth certificate or naturalization papers when they register.

Proponents argued Tuesday the measure will help ensure illegal immigrants do not vote although they knew of no incidences in the state where that had occurred.

Opponents say the bill adds new barriers to voting, particularly for minority, rural and low income residents.

Comments

[wtf]

Yes, lets pass laws for things that don't happen and only worse case scenario. By that logic, everyone should have to pass a breathlyzer before driving their car every day just in case someone might be drunk.

Despicable Republican vote caging.

For shame.

[Dee Cromer]

It is too late to lock the barn door after the cow is out. Sounds like a good move to stop future election fraud.
No other country would allow non citizens to vote in any type of election.

[Tim Ho]

How idiotic. Totally impossible to implement. To ask those POOR volunteers who man the voting booths to verify citizenship? Guess how many law suits can be generated over denial of right to vote?

[Tim Ho]

How idiotic. Totally impossible to implement. To ask those POOR volunteers who man the voting booths to verify citizenship? Guess how many law suits can be generated over denial of right to vote?

[Elizabeth]

A better way to assure voting accuracy is to have a paper trail not just electronic machines which can be programmed to falsify voting results.

[Rick Rosado]

I have a great idea . If you are not in this country LEGALLY , then you should be DEPORTED !

[Tom]

I don't buy all the too poor to get this information crap. How hard is it to get a ride into town if you are rural? Everyone knows someone with a vehicle. This is just a scapegoat.

Low/minority voters likely wouldn't be needing a passport anyway so the high costs of this form of I.D. is a wash. How hard is it to go down to the nearest DMV and get a $5 state I.D. card?

Birth certificates are about $15 from the county courthouse in the county of one's birth. If $15 sounds high, it, like the $5 state I.D. is a one time fee!

Blaming this on low income is just insulting to people. If you have $5 for a carton of smokes or a tin of skoal, you have money for a state I.D. card or other form of I.D. described above.

As for the naturalization papers, its like the old saying goes, if you are innocent you have nothing to fear-- (in getting these necessary documents)-that is of course they exist.

This is just more "poll tax" politically correct B.S. everyone has pocket change, everyone has a few dollars lying around that they could use for proper identification. If you can't "afford" $5-15 maybe you shouldn't be voting anyway.

If you truly don't have the money, borrow it, pool it together so at least someone can vote.

Excuses, excuses. This is a GREAT and necessary idea.

[Susie]

The bill requires a person to present a valid passport, birth certificate or naturalization papers when they register.

To ask those POOR volunteers who man the voting booths to verify citizenship?

If you would read this bill, it states when they register to vote NOT when voting, and before you make a point about something you need to read it.
I for one think it's a great idea!
THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR OUR NEXT PRESDENT

[Debra]

The $5 state ID card is the same as a driver's license, you just can't drive with it. Both require proof of citizenship or "legal" immigrant status to obtain them. So why won't people be able to show a driver's license as valid ID instead of a passport or birth certificate?

[CH Muller]

Has there been an influx of illegal aliens trying to vote? I'd think not because that surely would draw attention to themselves and I'd think they would want to stay under the radar.....