6 ms·

In the US practically everyone has a state issued driver's license. Good enough to fly, should be good enough to vote

by ptero 8y ago

teraflop 8y ago
One aspect of the problem is that voting involves more stringent ID checks than you might normally encounter in everyday life. You might think you have an ID that's good enough for driving or buying alcohol, but you can be turned away at the polls if it expired a few days ago and you haven't had a chance to take time off work to get it renewed. Or if you moved recently and the address on your ID doesn't match your voter registration. Or if your name changed when you got married, but your ID still shows your former name. Yes, these problems are avoidable. But the process still disproportionately disenfranchises people who are less likely to be able to spend the time on getting them resolved before it's time to actually vote.
- NullPrefix 8y ago
  >if it expired It can't be valid if it has already expired, can it?
r00fus 8y ago
Not everyone has a DL. Many many folks are either too old or poor to have the need for a DL. Voter ID laws would be great if the politicians proposing them didn't also underfund the ability to get the IDs.
- close04 8y ago
  Or physically disabled in a way that precludes them from driving without unreasonable effort.
  - Covzire 8y ago
    Anyone can get an ID card, no drivers license required.
    - close04 8y ago
      I was following up on the reply thread from someone who said that "In the US practically everyone has a state issued driver's license". Anyway, the downsides of not having a mandatory ID system was already mentioned repeatedly here.
anticensor 8y ago
Why not repurpose passport (the card one) into national ID?
- walshemj 8y ago
  Why is this a good idea ?
  - anticensor 8y ago
    US Passport Card is an internal passport used to travel to dependencies of US, and more people than full passport holders have that. It is nationally issued.
- pseudalopex 8y ago
  About half of Americans don't have a passport, and many oppose a national ID card.
monocasa 8y ago
You don't need an ID to fly.
- exegete 8y ago
  Since when? You actually need a REAL ID approved by the federal government. If it's a federally regulated aircraft, you need a federally-approved ID. https://www.dhs.gov/real-id https://www.dhs.gov/real-id Edit: It's not completely enforced yet (the REAL ID aspect). Some states are still working toward compliant. You still need an ID though.
  - monocasa 8y ago
    Since forever. https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2013/04/09/tsa-travel-tips-tuesday-can-you-fly-without-id https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2013/04/09/tsa-travel-tips-tuesday-...
    - exegete 8y ago
      The intent here is if you lost your ID, but I guess if you're willing to have additional screening and waste your time, go for it. It's also a risk that they can't confirm your identity. "If we can confirm your identity, you’ll be cleared to go through security, and you may or may not have to go through some additional screening." That's also just the TSA. You'll still have to convince the carrier to let you board without an ID. Edit: Your link is 5 years old, and I don't think is up to date. Here's the current policy: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification "Adult passengers 18 and over must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel." They do so you "may" be able to travel if you forgot your ID.
      - monocasa 8y ago
        I've personally dealt with this a couple years ago. My wallet was stolen while traveling. All that happened was they searched my bags harder. Lol, "randomly selected for additional screening". Sure, whatever. Just because someone starts off asking you for an ID doesn't mean that they don't have a process for no ID.
dan-robertson 8y ago
How many people never fly anywhere because they can’t afford the flight or time off from work? How many don’t have an up-to-date drivers license because they don’t have the time to go to the dmv to get it reviewed? How many people don’t have a drivers license because they can’t drive because they are old or blind or otherwise disabled and unable or unwilling to drive? Most people may have valid drivers licenses but voting must work for all people.
HarryHirsch 8y ago
If we can trust Politifact (we can) 1 of 10 white citizens and 1 out of 4 black citizens do not have a driving license: https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2012/jul/11/eric-holder/eric-holder-says-recent-studies-show-25-percent-af/ https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2012/jul/11/eric... There is the additional complication that in some states they'll yank your license for unpaid traffic fines or for uninsured driving. It's fair that you can't drive but it isn't fair that traffic scofflaws can't go to the polls.
- ravenstine 8y ago
  Make ID cards free.

In the US practically everyone has a state issued driver's license. Good enough to fly, should be good enough to vote

by ptero 8y ago

In the US practically everyone has a state issued driver's license. Good enough to fly, should be good enough to vote

One aspect of the problem is that voting involves more stringent ID checks than you might normally encounter in everyday life. You might think you have an ID that's good enough for driving or buying alcohol, but you can be turned away at the polls if it expired a few days ago and you haven't had a chance to take time off work to get it renewed. Or if you moved recently and the address on your ID doesn't match your voter registration. Or if your name changed when you got married, but your ID still shows your former name. Yes, these problems are avoidable. But the process still disproportionately disenfranchises people who are less likely to be able to spend the time on getting them resolved before it's time to actually vote.

NullPrefix 8y ago
>if it expired It can't be valid if it has already expired, can it?

r00fus 8y ago

Not everyone has a DL. Many many folks are either too old or poor to have the need for a DL. Voter ID laws would be great if the politicians proposing them didn't also underfund the ability to get the IDs.

close04 8y ago
Or physically disabled in a way that precludes them from driving without unreasonable effort.
- Covzire 8y ago
  Anyone can get an ID card, no drivers license required.
  - close04 8y ago
    I was following up on the reply thread from someone who said that "In the US practically everyone has a state issued driver's license". Anyway, the downsides of not having a mandatory ID system was already mentioned repeatedly here.

anticensor 8y ago

Why not repurpose passport (the card one) into national ID?

walshemj 8y ago
Why is this a good idea ?
- anticensor 8y ago
  US Passport Card is an internal passport used to travel to dependencies of US, and more people than full passport holders have that. It is nationally issued.
pseudalopex 8y ago
About half of Americans don't have a passport, and many oppose a national ID card.

monocasa 8y ago

You don't need an ID to fly.

exegete 8y ago
Since when? You actually need a REAL ID approved by the federal government. If it's a federally regulated aircraft, you need a federally-approved ID. https://www.dhs.gov/real-id https://www.dhs.gov/real-id Edit: It's not completely enforced yet (the REAL ID aspect). Some states are still working toward compliant. You still need an ID though.
- monocasa 8y ago
  Since forever. https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2013/04/09/tsa-travel-tips-tuesday-can-you-fly-without-id https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2013/04/09/tsa-travel-tips-tuesday-...
  - exegete 8y ago
    The intent here is if you lost your ID, but I guess if you're willing to have additional screening and waste your time, go for it. It's also a risk that they can't confirm your identity. "If we can confirm your identity, you’ll be cleared to go through security, and you may or may not have to go through some additional screening." That's also just the TSA. You'll still have to convince the carrier to let you board without an ID. Edit: Your link is 5 years old, and I don't think is up to date. Here's the current policy: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification "Adult passengers 18 and over must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel." They do so you "may" be able to travel if you forgot your ID.
    - monocasa 8y ago
      I've personally dealt with this a couple years ago. My wallet was stolen while traveling. All that happened was they searched my bags harder. Lol, "randomly selected for additional screening". Sure, whatever. Just because someone starts off asking you for an ID doesn't mean that they don't have a process for no ID.

dan-robertson 8y ago

How many people never fly anywhere because they can’t afford the flight or time off from work? How many don’t have an up-to-date drivers license because they don’t have the time to go to the dmv to get it reviewed? How many people don’t have a drivers license because they can’t drive because they are old or blind or otherwise disabled and unable or unwilling to drive? Most people may have valid drivers licenses but voting must work for all people.

HarryHirsch 8y ago

If we can trust Politifact (we can) 1 of 10 white citizens and 1 out of 4 black citizens do not have a driving license: https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2012/jul/11/eric-holder/eric-holder-says-recent-studies-show-25-percent-af/ https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2012/jul/11/eric... There is the additional complication that in some states they'll yank your license for unpaid traffic fines or for uninsured driving. It's fair that you can't drive but it isn't fair that traffic scofflaws can't go to the polls.

ravenstine 8y ago
Make ID cards free.