4 ms·

Such cars could also probably be used as voter IDs, no? And there wouldn't be any issue of "restricting certain people from voting" because the federal governm

by mtgx 9y ago

Such cars could also probably be used as voter IDs, no? And there wouldn't be any issue of "restricting certain people from voting" because the federal government would have to provide everyone with one anyway. It could also lead to safer and more verifiable voting on voting machines (even though I still believe nothing beats pen and paper at this).

muninn_ 9y ago
Any you know why this won't happen? Republicans don't want a national ID and Democrats don't want to anger their base. I am not a huge fan of the idea (from the Republican side although I'm not a Republican) but at this point I don't even care because companies cannot be trusted to handle this.
balabaster 9y ago
This assumes that the version of democracy wanted in the U.S. is a version that allows everyone equal access to voting. You also make the mistake of assuming that the version of democracy that the people want is the same version that the government wants.
corpMaverick 9y ago
Yes, a key point will be that they must be free.
- mcny 9y ago
  Yes, that is a necessary condition but it is not sufficient. Accessibility is another issue. * Do replacements cost money? * Do I have to go somewhere in person to get the card? Is it within walking distance? * What are the days and the hours that this place is open? * ... (there are so many more questions but most importantly) * How do we pay for it?
  - untog 9y ago
    Yes, this stuff is crucial. In the US, many people say "what's wrong with requiring a specific ID for voting?" and in theory there isn't, except when you have to trek for half a day on public transit to get to a place where you can actually apply for ID. And you need ID in order to verify you are eligible for the ID! Not everyone has a driving license. If it were done benevolently and with the best of intentions, it could work. But it isn't.
    - danudey 9y ago
      > Not everyone has a driving license. I'm a 30-something middle-class white male who works in tech in a large Canadian city with excellent public transit. I don't have a driver's license, and I'm constantly running into idiotic barriers because I don't have one. People and processes seem to assume that I do and when confronted with the contrary, a lot of people don't really know what to do.
      - seretogis 9y ago
        I work in the same city and am in a similar situation, but there are non-drivers-license options[1] which you can use. I use my CareCard and US Passport Card until I'm able to get an enhanced ID/BCID. [1] http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Pages/Apply-for-an-enhanced-licence-ID-or-BCID.aspx http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Pages/...

by mtgx 9y ago

muninn_ 9y ago

Any you know why this won't happen? Republicans don't want a national ID and Democrats don't want to anger their base. I am not a huge fan of the idea (from the Republican side although I'm not a Republican) but at this point I don't even care because companies cannot be trusted to handle this.

balabaster 9y ago

This assumes that the version of democracy wanted in the U.S. is a version that allows everyone equal access to voting. You also make the mistake of assuming that the version of democracy that the people want is the same version that the government wants.

corpMaverick 9y ago

Yes, a key point will be that they must be free.

mcny 9y ago
Yes, that is a necessary condition but it is not sufficient. Accessibility is another issue. * Do replacements cost money? * Do I have to go somewhere in person to get the card? Is it within walking distance? * What are the days and the hours that this place is open? * ... (there are so many more questions but most importantly) * How do we pay for it?
- untog 9y ago
  Yes, this stuff is crucial. In the US, many people say "what's wrong with requiring a specific ID for voting?" and in theory there isn't, except when you have to trek for half a day on public transit to get to a place where you can actually apply for ID. And you need ID in order to verify you are eligible for the ID! Not everyone has a driving license. If it were done benevolently and with the best of intentions, it could work. But it isn't.
  - danudey 9y ago
    > Not everyone has a driving license. I'm a 30-something middle-class white male who works in tech in a large Canadian city with excellent public transit. I don't have a driver's license, and I'm constantly running into idiotic barriers because I don't have one. People and processes seem to assume that I do and when confronted with the contrary, a lot of people don't really know what to do.
    - seretogis 9y ago
      I work in the same city and am in a similar situation, but there are non-drivers-license options[1] which you can use. I use my CareCard and US Passport Card until I'm able to get an enhanced ID/BCID. [1] http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Pages/Apply-for-an-enhanced-licence-ID-or-BCID.aspx http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/getting-licensed/Pages/...