4 ms·
> Voter ID cards are historically used to make it harder to vote Is that the case in the numerous other countries that require voter ID? I find it funny how w
by xienze 8y ago
> Voter ID cards are historically used to make it harder to vote
Is that the case in the numerous other countries that require voter ID? I find it funny how we always use “but every other country does it!” when talking about things the US should adopt (e.g., the metric system, socialized healthcare), but that’s apparently not a good reason when talking about voter ID. Even countries with far poorer populations than our own seem to think being able to provide proof of who you are at the time of voting is a good idea, why can’t we?
- devmunchies 8y agoI have no idea why this has become a right vs left, polarized issue.
- untog 8y agoThis might be my political bubble speaking, but the vast, vast majority of voter suppression stories I've seen have been Republican legislatures trying to deprive the Democratic party of votes. But even if that's not the case, it stands to reason it'll end up being a left/right thing, because it's the right trying to deprive the left of a vote, or vice versa. The two party system guarantees it.
- jadedhacker 8y agoIt's because the right benefits from low turnout. The left, representing the interests of the proletarian majority, benefits from large turnout. The Democratic party, a center left or center right party depending on who you talk to, has co-opted the left voter base and thereby depends on higher turnout during general elections. As a centrist party, they intentionally suppress turnout during primary elections (e.g. by not advertising the date in my community) to restrict ideological choices.
- prolikewh0a 8y ago>The left, representing the interests of the proletarian majority. No party is currently doing this unless you include third parties. The American left works for business too.
- jadedhacker 8y agoAgreed. These are all symptoms of capitalist dominance.
- prolikewh0a 8y agoThere's so much tribalism happening now. Getting legal Americans to vote and vote easily should be an issue for everyone to care about, regardless of party affiliation.
- jasonwatkinspdx 8y agoIt's been that way since the civil rights movement and the republican southern strategy. Minorities, with very good reason, tend to vote against the republicans. This means someone holding household level demographic data knows exactly which neighborhoods to target if they're willing to use suppression tactics. And that's exactly what we've seen happening.
- Mediterraneo10 8y ago"Is that the case in the numerous other countries that require voter ID?" Other countries that require ID to vote generally have an ID card system separate from the driving of vehicles, and more people hold passports. Consequently, a larger percentage of the population has a state ID readily at hand. Yes, in the USA states might offer an non-driver’s-license ID card, but the system is that this is a choice, not a must, while in other countries everyone needs to carry some form of ID at all time.