Texas cannot enforce it's discriminatory voter ID law

[Aglaopheme]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/23/us/federal-judge-rejects-a-revised-voter-id-law-in-texas.html

HOUSTON — A federal judge blocked Texas from enforcing its revamped voter identification law on Wednesday, ruling that the State Legislature’s attempt to loosen the law did not go far enough and perpetuated discrimination against black and Hispanic voters.

Because those who lack the accepted forms of identification were “subjected to separate voting obstacles and procedures,” Judge Ramos wrote, “S.B. 5’s methodology remains discriminatory because it imposes burdens disproportionately on blacks and Latinos.”

“Judge Ramos’s decision recognizes that a state cannot escape the consequences of its pernicious conduct without completely eliminating all vestiges of discrimination,” said Kristen Clarke, the president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, whose group was one of several that sued Texas.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

The state should just issue Voter IDs. Not sure why that is a big thing. Process them through the RMV the same way you do a driver's licence. Put criteria for identity management. "Voter only" IDs should be free.

Why is that so difficult?

 

[pointless]

rmv? oh, massachusetts. thanks google.

 

[richard_daily]

The state should just issue Voter IDs. Not sure why that is a big thing. Process them through the RMV the same way you do a driver's licence. Put criteria for identity management. "Voter only" IDs should be free.

Why is that so difficult?

Because this law was never about safety, it's about social control, which is what the right wing always wants.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

Because this law was never about safety, it's about social control, which is what the right wing always wants.

I get it. I was more thinking about a reasonable approach. Or said differently - is there a moderate or left leaning voter ID policy position that the right would not be able to dispute and the left would not call discriminatory?

 

[Rightguide]

Likely to win on appeal.

 

[richard_daily]

I get it. I was more thinking about a reasonable approach. Or said differently - is there a moderate or left leaning voter ID policy position that the right would not be able to dispute and the left would not call discriminatory?

You're talking about fixing a problem that doesn't exist.

Do you want to buy some monster repellent? If you buy it, I promise you won't get attacked by a monster.

This is snake oil, plain and simple.

 

[Aglaopheme]

I get it. I was more thinking about a reasonable approach. Or said differently - is there a moderate or left leaning voter ID policy position that the right would not be able to dispute and the left would not call discriminatory?

Yes, not requiring an ID to vote.

I can walk to my polling place to vote. They are open from 7-8, I also (still) have the option to vote early. I am unable to walk to my local DMV, and they are only open Mon-Fri from 8:30-4:45. Not only did the severely cut the hours back at serveral DMVs, they also closed ten of them all together after the voter ID law was passed here.

 

[Aglaopheme]

You're talking about fixing a problem that doesn't exist.

Do you want to buy some monster repellent? If you buy it, I promise you won't get attacked by a monster.

This is snake oil, plain and simple.

Well said.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

You're talking about fixing a problem that doesn't exist.

Do you want to buy some monster repellent? If you buy it, I promise you won't get attacked by a monster.

This is snake oil, plain and simple.

Yes, not requiring an ID to vote.

I can walk to my polling place to vote. They are open from 7-8, I also (still) have the option to vote early. I am unable to walk to my local DMV, and they are only open Mon-Fri from 8:30-4:45. Not only did the severely cut the hours back at serveral DMVs, they also closed ten of them all together after the voter ID law was passed here.

Ok so even if you are right it does not matter. Unless you want the RightGuides of the world to keep fighting to use this as a wedge issue and push it so their view of how to implement it such that it is completely discriminatory you have to engage with it as a public policy issue. Because to date "not an issue" does not fly with a lot of the country.

Neuter them by implementing good Voter ID policy the removes their argument.

 

[BotanyBoy]

Because this law was never about safety, it's about social control, which is what the right wing always wants.

They aren't the only ones....it's just a different kind of social control you don't like.

You're talking about fixing a problem that doesn't exist.

This is snake oil, plain and simple.

Irrelevant, the people of Texas want it, down side to that whole democracy bit.

 

[Aglaopheme]

Do you think that any steps taken will ever stop their endless actions to suppress the vote? Why is it our obligation to give any credence to their blatantly racist agenda?

 

[BotanyBoy]

Do you think that any steps taken will ever stop their endless actions to suppress the vote?

Not anymore than the lefts endless actions to suppress my ability to make a living for myself.

Why is it our obligation to give any credence to their blatantly racist agenda?

ID laws are not racist if the law applies to all the same.

Is the requirement to have a DL in order to drive racist?

Is ID to buy booze, mouthwash, markers, getting a job or enrolling into a public school racist?

No.


Racist has a meaning and it's not "Shit social Justice Democrats don't like." .

 

[adrina]

The courts have determined several of these voter ID laws to be designed to target specific racial groups and as appropriate have stricken them down.

 

[jaF0]

I really don't understand the issue here. You need ID for everything ion life from driving to medical care to buying cancer sticks or alcohol. Everyone should carry ID at all times. If you don't and you fall ill in public, how will authorities know who to notify?

Why is it a problem to show ID at a polling place? Our state has such a law and no one never questions it. There was an exception at one time in cases where the polling place volunteers might know the voter personally; they could vouch for you.

In most places, some form of photo ID is available free, even if it's a library card or buss pass or from a Senior/Community center.

So, can someone explain how this is a power issue or means of restricting voting?

All I can see is that it verifies you are eligible to vote and you're at the proper polling place based on where you live. I don't see how that's any kind of unfair restriction.

 

[BotanyBoy]

The courts have determined several of these voter ID laws to be designed to target specific racial groups and as appropriate have stricken them down.

That means that specific law was written in a poor manner which reflected racist things....allegedly.

That doesn't make ID laws racist.

I'm willing to bet those judges were just (D) hacks who were scared that thought they might not get re-elected or have their political protection anymore if their favored voters might be reduced or eliminated all together by requiring voter ID.

I really don't understand the issue here. You need ID for everything ion life from driving to medical care to buying cancer sticks or alcohol. Everyone should carry ID at all times.

That would constitute a certain degree of personal responsibility that (D)s find Nazish and racist.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

The courts have determined several of these voter ID laws to be designed to target specific racial groups and as appropriate have stricken them down.

And the subsequent contorted extrapolation of that fact is the assumption by some that the entire concept of a voter ID requirement is itself discriminatory and illegal.

Sheer nonsense.

 

[cfuhrer]

I really don't understand the issue here. You need ID for everything ion life from driving to medical care to buying cancer sticks or alcohol. Everyone should carry ID at all times. If you don't and you fall ill in public, how will authorities know who to notify?

Why is it a problem to show ID at a polling place? Our state has such a law and no one never questions it. There was an exception at one time in cases where the polling place volunteers might know the voter personally; they could vouch for you.

In most places, some form of photo ID is available free, even if it's a library card or buss pass or from a Senior/Community center.

So, can someone explain how this is a power issue or means of restricting voting?

All I can see is that it verifies you are eligible to vote and you're at the proper polling place based on where you live. I don't see how that's any kind of unfair restriction.

We seriously need a "like" button.

 

[Que]

It is?

 

[Colonel Hogan]

We seriously need a "like" button.

Got one.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

Do you think that any steps taken will ever stop their endless actions to suppress the vote? Why is it our obligation to give any credence to their blatantly racist agenda?

Because they have a blatantly racist agenda and you have three options:

- go along
- do nothing (which is the same as saying there is no issue and they enact their racist version of voter ID like in TC, NC, etc)
- Preempt them with good public policy

I wish we could sit in our Blue State ivory Towers and tell the deplorables how to act but that is never going to work. The loss of 1K Stat seats, the House, Senate, Governorships and of course, 45, proves that.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

The courts have determined several of these voter ID laws to be designed to target specific racial groups and as appropriate have stricken them down.

And now they are taking over the courts. We cannot keep retreating.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

I really don't understand the issue here. You need ID for everything ion life from driving to medical care to buying cancer sticks or alcohol. Everyone should carry ID at all times. If you don't and you fall ill in public, how will authorities know who to notify?

Why is it a problem to show ID at a polling place? Our state has such a law and no one never questions it. There was an exception at one time in cases where the polling place volunteers might know the voter personally; they could vouch for you.

In most places, some form of photo ID is available free, even if it's a library card or buss pass or from a Senior/Community center.

So, can someone explain how this is a power issue or means of restricting voting?

All I can see is that it verifies you are eligible to vote and you're at the proper polling place based on where you live. I don't see how that's any kind of unfair restriction.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Case in point why there needs to be centrist to left-leaning public policy made on this issue.

 

[adrina]

That means that specific law was written in a poor manner which reflected racist things....allegedly.

That doesn't make ID laws racist.

I'm willing to bet those judges were just (D) hacks who were scared that thought they might not get re-elected or have their political protection anymore if their favored voters might be reduced or eliminated all together by requiring voter ID.

Too fucking funny.

And the subsequent contorted extrapolation of that fact is the assumption by some that the entire concept of a voter ID requirement is itself discriminatory and illegal.

Sheer nonsense.

The laws that try to suppress the minority vote using voter ID restrictions are racist. This isn't rocket science. And they have been - and should be - struck down.

Have a voter ID but don't use it to pinpoint minorities in an effort to cheat the vote and game the system.

 

[Hypoxia]

IF a state requires IDs for specific purposes
THEN the state must ensure that all eligible are issued such IDs
ELSE the state is arbitrarily discriminating against the excluded.

Not all state-sanctioned interests are equal. The state can legitimately license weapons, motor vehicles, drivers, businesses, etc -- these all have physical manifestations. Voting differs. Gov't supposedly rules with "the consent of the governed" and you can't consent if you can't vote. All eligible voters must have the opportunity to vote. Suppression is the ultimate evil in a democracy.