Can You Prove Who You Are?
Georgia’s Legislature has passed a bill that, if signed by the Governor, will require anyone registering to vote to present a passport or a birth certificate to prove that they are a U.S. citizen.
It makes me think about two different subjects.
First, if you don’t have a passport, and I don’t, do you have your birth certificate? Again, I don’t. I’m sure I can figure out how to get it; but, it would be a pain in the butt. It probably isn’t enough of a pain that I wouldn’t do it: but, I have a feeling that is enough of a pain that a lot of people wouldn’t do it and thus wouldn’t vote. Sound like a Republican plan? It is.
Second, just what would it prove? It would prove that I’d paid a fee to Washtenaw County, Michigan to get a piece of paper that attested to the birth of Dave at St. Joseph’s Hospital some years back. Getting a passport is apparently just as easy according to the CNN article I just read. A GAO investigator got four of them with counterfeit documents.
So, I go and get a birth certificate that isn’t mine and use it to get a passport. Doing so would prove that I’m industrious, not that I'm a citizen. Maybe I and anyone willing to make the effort should be able to vote and those that don't shouldn't. What is that? A modern day poll tax, which is exactly what the bill is meant to be.
13 comments:
I had to get my birth certificate to get my passport last year to go to France. If the office of vital records in Philadelphia is typical, no one with a low IQ will vote.
Not sure if that's a bad thing ;)
And that's the purpose of legislation of that ilk -to eliminate the poor people and those of not possibly the highest IQ. However, how does that prove citizenship, exactly? And, what about naturalized citizens too? True, they should have naturalization papers but then again, perhaps they have been misplaced, lost, etc. and if it requires an extra step in the voting process, one that some who aren't all that voter conscientious will probably not care to take.
Elimination -pure and simple -and a way to stack the voting rolls. I thought stuff like that was illegal all across the country but I guess not, huh?
Spot on, Dave. The poll tax is illegal, so those who have a vested interest in making sure they stay in power have to come up with other means of limiting turnout - like this one.
WF
This may be unconstitutional.
Dave - When I found out I was preg with Lucy the doctors office filled out all this paper work for DCFS so I could get some sort of medicaid for preg women (despite the fact that I worked for the state and had my own health insurance) and I had to order a copy of my birth certificate (and pay $8) for it (more then my co-pay with my insurance) and when I tried to buck the process of getting this medicaid I was informed it was MANDITORY by DCFS and I had to comply or I would face ramifications after the birth of my child. Was that legal? And to add insult to pregnancy (injury) I was paying taxes for myself to have medicaid that I didn't want!
What I am saying is that the state breaks laws in regards to taxiation EVERYDAY and gets away with it, should this be a big suprise?
Much of what my state does in the way of social engineering is unconstitutional. A regular part of the legislative session is fixing what the courts have found to be so in the previous year.
A regular part of the legislative session is fixing what the courts have found to be so in the previous year.
Texas functions much the same way. But more to the point...get that passport! You never know when you're going to need an escape route.
They're about to add similar laws here in Texas. Republicans are behind that one, too.
They say it's to prevent voter fraud, but I don't believe it. I bet you could count on one hand the number of people convicted of voting illegally in the last ten years.
I wonder what percentage of Georgia citizens have a passport? There won't be too many of those presented, most likely...
Some research has been done on illegal voting. It is extremely rare, so rare that it's not worth the cost to control.
However, for republicans, it's worth the cost for the state to enforce a law that will tend to reduce the participation of blacks in elections.
Efficiency and efficacy mean different things to different people, don't they now?
In Phoenix laws have changed to prove citizenship the same way, and yes, it immediately brought to mind how Blacks were harrassed when it came time for them to vote.
If it stinks back then, it's certainly more rotten now!
I had to get a birth certificate from TN a few years back so that i could obtain a passport.
After about 20 mins online, i ghad ordered the birth certificate and it arrived a few days later.
Perhaps we should have kept the photo ID law?
I'm surprised that you don't have a copy of your birth certificate. It is such a basic record to have. And not really robust proof of who you are, in my opinion. Just something you have to have a copy of to get other forms of ID.
I agree with Doc that this requirement may be unconstitutional.
For that matter - how many Georgians have left the city they were born in needless to say the state or have a need for a passport
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