Relax, Everything is Going to be Okay!

[Irrelevant]

This is assuming this 10% either wouldn't go get a valid ID or can't for some reason. Might very well require some folks to do something they have not had to do in the past.

As I quoted earlier, the quick review I did said that only about 1% don't have an ID, but that up to 10% don't have one that currently matches where they live or has been renewed or whatever, thus making them ineligible. I know there was a time when I was working six 12's out of town, and simply couldn't renew my license. I got pulled over for speeding and damn near arrested. I wasn't intentional, but life happens, shit happens. Maybe that means I shouldn't have been allowed to vote for those few months, but a helluva lot of people have died over the years to ensure that I can vote. Seems rather trite to withhold that right over my inability to tell work to piss off.

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

Would you seve a life sentence, or your wife serve a life sentence to make someone safer who you’ve never met or known? Would you sacrifice all of your firearms to prevent a loss of life?

I love a good game of hypothetical.

 

[Irrelevant]

Would you seve a life sentence, or your wife serve a life sentence to make someone safer who you’ve never met or known? Would you sacrifice all of your firearms to prevent a loss of life?

The answer is no. And if someone can't honestly answer that. They're lost to intelligent discourse.

 

[Handlebar]

b) Documentary proof of United States citizenship.—As used in this Act, the term ‘documentary proof of United States citizenship’ means, with respect to an applicant for voter registration, any of the following:
“(1) A form of identification issued consistent with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States.
“(2) A valid United States passport.
From the text of the SAFE Act version that passed the house, so yeah, a Real ID like your driver's license would suffice,

 

[sapperJ24]

Seems rather trite to withhold that right over my inability to tell work to piss off.

Even more so when work is tied to healthcare benefits. For some insignificant portion of citizens, a missed day at work could jeopardize the wellness of their family.

 

[mevertsen]

b) Documentary proof of United States citizenship.—As used in this Act, the term ‘documentary proof of United States citizenship’ means, with respect to an applicant for voter registration, any of the following:
“(1) A form of identification issued consistent with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States.
“(2) A valid United States passport.
From the text of the SAFE Act version that passed the house, so yeah, a Real ID like your driver's license would suffice,

I know of at least two people (my wife included) who has had significant struggles getting a REAL ID, for various reasons.

One a military VET.

Some older Native Americans may not even have birth certificates.

I'm not sure how that would effect ones ability to comply with the SAFE act via other means, but I just know the REAL ID has been a royal pain for some people.

 

[BigHornRam]

This is assuming this 10% either wouldn't go get a valid ID or can't for some reason. Might very well require some folks to do something they have not had to do in the past.

50% or more don't bother to vote. Most of the 10% are likely in that 50%.

 

[SAJ-99]

Bringing it back to Voter ID laws, I think most Americans don’t believe it is too much to ask for someone to provide a Govt issued ID to vote. YMMV. You have to provide ID to buy beer, buy a gun, operate a motor vehicle, etc. But as is always the case, how the law is written and applied makes a huge difference, it could be reasonable or onerous.

As has been pointed out, the general American can support the concept of voter ID, but that is because the general American has an ID in their wallet, is mobile, and has flexibility in their day. The problem is that a significant portion of the population might not be in that same position. And in the end, it is a "solution" to a made up problem of voter fraud. Voter fraud is very rare but if you can knock out 10% of the potential voters on voter ID laws, particularly in large urban centers, it can change the game.

If we are just going to go with what most Americans think is reasonable then let's include universal background checks and gun registration. You might be able to get some bipartisanship on requiring an a single ID that shows you can vote, own a gun, operate a vehicle, etc.

 

[sapperJ24]

b) Documentary proof of United States citizenship.—As used in this Act, the term ‘documentary proof of United States citizenship’ means, with respect to an applicant for voter registration, any of the following:
“(1) A form of identification issued consistent with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005 that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States.
“(2) A valid United States passport.
From the text of the SAFE Act version that passed the house, so yeah, a Real ID like your driver's license would suffice,

For what it is worth, an initial passport costs $165 for an adult. Maybe not much money for folks on this forum, but for people scraping to get by and with no plan to travel internationally, probably not insignificant.

Not sure where you are located, but Montana Senator Steve Daines has long been opposed to to the REAL ID Act. Just a quick 10 years ago, “Montanans have spoken loud and clear: we don’t want REAL ID and we don’t want the federal government infringing on our personal privacy,” Daines stated. “The Repeal ID Act ensures Montanans’ voices are heard and will help strike the right balance that protects our security while also safeguarding Montanans’ civil liberties.” And according to a Daines spokesperson more recently, "“Senator Daines supports Montanans’ freedom to choose whether or not they participate in Real ID."

There's increased difficulty for women who changed their name when getting married in securing a Real ID as they need both the certified birth certificate and certified marriage license. If you don't have one handy, it can take months to get certified copies.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

As I quoted earlier, the quick review I did said that only about 1% don't have an ID, but that up to 10% don't have one that currently matches where they live or has been renewed or whatever, thus making them ineligible. I know there was a time when I was working six 12's out of town, and simply couldn't renew my license. I got pulled over for speeding and damn near arrested. I wasn't intentional, but life happens, shit happens. Maybe that means I shouldn't have been allowed to vote for those few months, but a helluva lot of people have died over the years to ensure that I can vote. Seems rather trite to withhold that right over my inability to tell work to piss off.

Not sure how many of the 10% simply work too many hours to get a valid ID, but let's just say for sake of argument its all of them. Maybe we could just include a federal requirement for employers to provide leave time for voting and obtaining valid ID. Most states already have the requirement of voting time just add the ID acquisition time so you and the other 30 million hard working US citizens don't have to tell work to piss off.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

50% or more don't bother to vote. Most of the 10% are likely in that 50%.

Would be interesting to know.

 

[mevertsen]

There's increased difficulty for women who changed their name when getting married in securing a Real ID as they need both the certified birth certificate and certified marriage license. If you don't have one handy, it can take months to get certified copies.

this was the problem for my wife.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Trump the Nazi, who's controlled by... Isn't it Ironic?

Meanwhile, lets go start a war with Iran. I'm sure that's driven by US interests.

World is coming unhinged. The idea that the last two presidents are anything more than actors/puppets is hard to believe right now.

 

[mevertsen]

50% or more don't bother to vote. Most of the 10% are likely in that 50%

1.5 percent was the difference between Trump and Harris.

If we got to 7 percent in the no vote camp and 3 percent in the vote camp, it gets really tight really fast.

 

[Handlebar]

For what it is worth, an initial passport costs $165 for an adult. Maybe not much money for folks on this forum, but for people scraping to get by and with no plan to travel internationally, probably not insignificant.

Not sure where you are located, but Montana Senator Steve Daines has long been opposed to to the REAL ID Act. Just a quick 10 years ago, “Montanans have spoken loud and clear: we don’t want REAL ID and we don’t want the federal government infringing on our personal privacy,” Daines stated. “The Repeal ID Act ensures Montanans’ voices are heard and will help strike the right balance that protects our security while also safeguarding Montanans’ civil liberties.” And according to a Daines spokesperson more recently, "“Senator Daines supports Montanans’ freedom to choose whether or not they participate in Real ID."

There's increased difficulty for women who changed their name when getting married in securing a Real ID as they need both the certified birth certificate and certified marriage license. If you don't have one handy, it can take months to get certified copies.

South Dakota in a little town of less than 100 and I show my ID to poll worker behind the desk who babysat my son. Along with Senator Daines I support the rights of people who choose not to participate in the election process that is their choice. The same organizations who conduct get out the vote drives could surely help the very small percentage of people that do not have an id.

 

[Dave N]

I just know the REAL ID has been a royal pain for some people.

When I tried to get mine it was discovered that they had spelled our last name wrong, leaving off one letter. I had some pretty good hoops to jump through to get enough paperwork to prove who I was, including needing some papers that were over 20 years old.

 

[BigHornRam]

1.5 percent was the difference between Trump and Harris.

If we got to 7 percent in the no vote camp and 3 percent in the vote camp, it gets really tight really fast.

?

 

[jimh406]

Fwiw, I find the Real ID more convenient than carrying a passport. However, the process to get one needs work. At my local licensing office, they wouldn't accept my RealID and Passport as proof of who I am. Of course, that's a bit ridiculous. They weren't following policy.

To serve as a voting ID, it would be handy since you'd only have to show your RealID to prove you are a citizen. Note: I'd say all, but I haven't checked, but almost all countries require ID to vote. They also don't allow mail-in voting or digital voting since they found it's to easy to cheat. Paper ballots mean there is a paper trail.

Let's say you think there is never any cheating (in spite of documented cases of multiple political parties cheating), wouldn't it be good to just end the argument by voting by paper ballot and requiring ID? Then, we could move onto something else.

 

[sapperJ24]

South Dakota in a little town of less than 100 and I show my ID to poll worker behind the desk who babysat my son. Along with Senator Daines I support the rights of people who choose not to participate in the election process that is their choice. The same organizations who conduct get out the vote drives could surely help the very small percentage of people that do not have an id.

Sure people can choose not to vote if they want.

The point was that Daines opposed the Real ID Act for 20 years for whatever reason. According to Montana DOJ, as of late 2025, 58% of driver's licenses are not Real ID compliant. That will be a pretty big lift for those organizations. And probably costly for individuals.

I haven't been to a voting booth in over a decade, hopefully I can continue to vote by mail.

 

[BigHornRam]

It's seems odd to villify her testimony as an act in a place where our senators, representatives, reporters and dare I say president do much worse with much more nefarious reasons each day.

All without having been assaulted. Maybe we should call out all the performances?

The old saying that politics is for perfomative artists that are unattractive is going out the window, thanks to social media.





I can think of a number of "unatractive perfomative artists" that have been assaulted in the past 10 years, including the President.