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> In the United States, getting an ID is expensive and time-consuming and is often inaccessible to many people, particularly those who don’t speak English, are

by 0x457 1y ago

> In the United States, getting an ID is expensive and time-consuming and is often inaccessible to many people, particularly those who don’t speak English, are poor, or work service jobs. No to all of that? Passport book (which you don't need unless you travel internationally) cost 165 USD per 10 years. Time-consuming...it's a one short trip to local-ish post office (not every post office has passport services). Sure, it's appointment only and only M-F, but you need to do it once every 10 years. Non-English speakers... You have to pass a basic English test for naturalization, and if you're born here, you probably should speak at least basic English. It's one form as you have to fill out online. Objectively, it's easier for a service worker to get shit done during the workweek than for 9-5 salaried. Anyway, California got it right: applied for Real ID? Want to register to vote or update your registration while you're at it? And it cost like $40 (depending on state) IDs are cheap and easy to get, and I wouldn't want a person who can't figure something that simple to have any voice on the federal level.

acdha 1y ago
Yes to all of that. Your experience is not universally shared, and the people who are affected disproportionately belong to specific groups which have been discriminated against in the past (e.g. Native Americans on a reservation are more likely not to have a short trip to a local post office). Here’s a summary from 2012 by people who study this professionally: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voter-identification https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/vote... I would also note that in theory, this is a fixable problem and no election security expert I’ve heard of opposes doing it in the right order (make ID universally available before disenfranchising anyone), they’re just quick to note that there’s absolutely no evidence that it would make a difference in outcomes despite the high cost.
- 0x457 1y ago
  > (e.g. Native Americans on a reservation are more likely not to have a short trip to a local post office). People that choose to live on a reservation required to take a slightly longer trip once in 10 years. The horror.
tzs 1y ago
> No to all of that? Passport book (which you don't need unless you travel internationally) cost 165 USD per 10 years. This won't work for people who don't have a government issued photo ID because you need a government issued photo ID to get a passport. If you can get a passport then you've already got what you need to vote in the states with voter ID laws.
- 0x457 1y ago
  I'm aware. I'm saying getting a passport (or any state id...) in the US is not some epic battle against the system: it's a few bucks and reading comprehension to understand which documents to bring or someone to tell you what to bring. Not only that, but I went from having zero photo IDs that aren't expired as a foreigner in the US to Real ID really quick without even making a DMV appointment.
  - tzs 1y ago
    > I'm saying getting a passport (or any state id...) in the US is not some epic battle against the system It is for many people. There are a bunch of relevant links in this comment [1]. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42116609 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42116609

by 0x457 1y ago

acdha 1y ago

Yes to all of that. Your experience is not universally shared, and the people who are affected disproportionately belong to specific groups which have been discriminated against in the past (e.g. Native Americans on a reservation are more likely not to have a short trip to a local post office). Here’s a summary from 2012 by people who study this professionally: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voter-identification https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/vote... I would also note that in theory, this is a fixable problem and no election security expert I’ve heard of opposes doing it in the right order (make ID universally available before disenfranchising anyone), they’re just quick to note that there’s absolutely no evidence that it would make a difference in outcomes despite the high cost.

0x457 1y ago
> (e.g. Native Americans on a reservation are more likely not to have a short trip to a local post office). People that choose to live on a reservation required to take a slightly longer trip once in 10 years. The horror.

tzs 1y ago

> No to all of that? Passport book (which you don't need unless you travel internationally) cost 165 USD per 10 years. This won't work for people who don't have a government issued photo ID because you need a government issued photo ID to get a passport. If you can get a passport then you've already got what you need to vote in the states with voter ID laws.

0x457 1y ago
I'm aware. I'm saying getting a passport (or any state id...) in the US is not some epic battle against the system: it's a few bucks and reading comprehension to understand which documents to bring or someone to tell you what to bring. Not only that, but I went from having zero photo IDs that aren't expired as a foreigner in the US to Real ID really quick without even making a DMV appointment.
- tzs 1y ago
  > I'm saying getting a passport (or any state id...) in the US is not some epic battle against the system It is for many people. There are a bunch of relevant links in this comment [1]. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42116609 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42116609