Voter Registration Controversy Intensified as Elections Approach
I once lived in a town where citizens did not have to show identification to vote. But they did have to show an ID with a current address in order to dispose of grass clippings at the city dump. I’m not making this up.
With the midterm elections just days away, the topic of voter registration is heating up again. Big time.
To generalize, Republicans want all voters to prove through a government-issued ID that they are registered to vote in that district, in an effort to prevent voter fraud.
Democrats do not want that restriction imposed on voters. That’s because among those who don’t have IDs showing their current address, most tend to vote for Democrats.
Divided Along Party Lines
It’s easy to see why both parties want their voter registration agendas pushed through.
And with the midterm elections on November 6, this battle is becoming larger and louder.
In fact, civil rights groups in Georgia are suing Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp over the issue.
Approximately 53,000 people in the state have registrations that have been put “on hold.” Why? Because of mismatches on their driver’s licenses or other forms of ID. Those discrepancies violate the state’s “exact match” requirement.
Natives Americans are P.O.’d
A similar problem is occurring elsewhere, including North Dakota. Native American tribes are required to have an ID that includes a current street address.
Many of them live on reservations or in rural areas that don’t have street addresses.
They only have P.O. boxes. They are concerned they might not be able to vote.
Other areas where voter registration battles are ongoing include Texas. It has a strict voter ID law. And North Carolina, where restrictions were placed on early voting.
Supreme Court Rules in Ohio
In most cases, voter registration disagreements have been local in nature. That was also the case in Ohio… until it reached the Supreme Court.
In June of this year, the highest court in the land upheld the state’s “use-it-or-lose-it” voting law.
The law gives the state the right to take voters off the registration rolls. But only if they fail to return a mailed address confirmation form and then don’t vote for the next four years.
Some believe that Ohio’s law violates the National Voter Registration Act. But the Supreme Court disagreed.
Republicans Cite Voter Fraud
Why are Republicans concerned about voter fraud? One of the reasons is a recent study by the Pew Center. Here are three of its findings:
- Approximately 24 million voter registrations in the U.S. – about one in eight – are either invalid or inaccurate.
- More than 1.8 million deceased individuals are listed as current voters.
- Approximately 2.75 million people have voter registrations in more than one state.
Races Are Tight, Stakes Are High
One of the reasons tensions are so high is that these upcoming elections will determine which party controls the House and Senate for the next two years.
The U.S. Senate elections in particular are full of tight races. All the polls seem to be telling us that.
Right now, Republicans hold a 51 to 49 majority of seats in the upper chamber of Congress.
But if a few seats flip, the Democrats will take control. They could then become more effective at blocking Republican initiatives. It won’t be easy for them. They face a challenging map.
There are roughly equal numbers of voters who consider themselves Republicans or Democrats. So, the elections will come down to two things. Which party convinces more people to get out and vote, and how Independents vote.
What Do You Think?
Once again, the country is deeply divided over a political issue. And hanging in the balance could be the results of upcoming local and national elections.
I’d love to hear what you think about this controversial issue.
In order to vote in a national or local election, should a citizen be required to show an ID that includes a current address?
If so, should there be any exceptions to this rule? What should those exceptions be?
And if not, why should citizens be allowed to vote without that type of ID?
If you’d like to participate in our reader poll, please leave a comment below.
As always, let’s be civil with our comments.
I’m also a Bill Woodcock, so my doppelgänger caught my attention.
Is there some pretense that this is anything other than an attempt to get Democrats to not vote? Because there’s no actual problem of voter fraud: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/12/01/0-000002-percent-of-all-the-ballots-cast-in-the-2016-election-were-fraudulent/
Only a tiny number of cases, and they were pro-Trump fraudsters in any case.
I gotta say, it’s been very odd to me to see the Republican party so quickly align itself with the Russians. Back in the Reagan era, Republicans were the ones _against_ the Russians.
Yes I do believe that we need to have a voters ID card along with your Drivers License for ID purposes as a minimum proof. Extra Military proof id of various sources including your VA card would be one. Your active or reserved would be another. And now available branch of Service Id would be best of all. Showing time you served and branch and Honorable discharge at time of separation. I agree with both Richard and Bill Woodcock. Voter Registration card alone is not enough for true US citizen properly allowed in our United States. Navy here.
No person who loves his country would be against a valid I.D. I would love to believe that everyone who votes has the right to vote i.e. a USA citizen. Since the current ways can’t differ one legit from one who is not. What about finger printing, that way we know the person who votes is the “real” person be Native American, a new Citizen or whomever. A vote is no joke, a vote decides the future of Our Country, it is time for all of us I don’t care what party, to take it seriously.
Interesting thought, Sarah, thanks.
Voter ID is a must
Why would any country want illegals to vote?
Why do we let voter fraud/dead people voting?
Why do we let people vote more than once?
The America I was born into still had many of the foundational principles that our Founding Fathers established. To start with, America was a republic, not a democracy and was never intended to be. The difference between the two has been totally lost on many Americans today. What’s the difference? A republic is where the people elect leaders to do the bidding of the majority of the people. A democracy is where the people elect leaders who rule and dictate over them. A republic is a free nation whereas a democracy is the first step towards socialism.
The 2nd Amendment is needed to protect ourselves from tyranny !!!
Unite & vote in 2018; President Trump/Pence still needs our support !!! Trump 2020 !!!
I have been a registered voter for 50 years, and I have always had to have my voter registration card and/ or current, valid Drivers Licence. If voting is important to an individual, he or she should be sure there papers are in order in advance to do so. Waiting until time to vote and making a stink about not being allowed to vote because your ID papers were not correct is only a trick to stir up trouble. Waiting until your candidate doesn’t win, to start looking for people who were prevented from voting, or conversely, incorrectly allowed to vote, depending on what candidate you backed, is either short-sighted or intentional, The election commission rules and procedures in national elections should be the same from state to state.
I agree fully.
I believe with you also. This is a minimum requirement.
TO BAD….WHAT IS THE USE…..
This is not the world i grew up in….To much college education….They dont have real life ….Reality……