Splitting the baby in half
The State Elections Board tried to play Solomon and cut the baby in half on Wednesday, but forgot that he didn't actually do it.
Threatened with a federal lawsuit backed by Reps. Mark Green and F. Jim Sensenbrenner over what kind of ID to require at the polls, the Elections Board tried a compromise. The JS reports:
Madison - In an attempt to settle a political battle about how Wisconsin will comply with federal voting regulations, the State Elections Board decided Wednesday to require those registering on election day to provide a driver's license number if they have one.OK, so you show up at the polls without your driver's license. Who knows why? You left it at home on the piano.
Those without their driver's licenses or the license numbers with them at the polls may cast a provisional ballot. They then would have to supply the number by the end of the day after the election, the board determined. Voters who haven't been issued driver's licenses would be able to show either state-issued ID cards or to provide the last four digits of their Social Security numbers.
So they let you vote, but put your ballot in an envelope, mark it "provisional" and tell you they won't count it unless you come to City Hall tomorrow and show an elections clerk your driver's license.
You read the paper the next morning, find out your candidates won or lost by a lot more than one vote.
Why would you go show someone your driver's license?
Preduction: If that rule stays in place, very few provisional votes will end up being counted.
By the way, Green is still not happy with the compromise. He doesn't even want the provisional ballot option. No license, no vote, he says.
UPDATE: K. Carpenter at Stepping Right Up asks:
Has Wisconsin election laws adhered the Help America Vote Act?I give up. Is our children learning?
posted by xoff @ 1:43 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
here's the deal:
I can see the negative aspects of voter ID: I imagine many unfortunate lower class people probably don't have a drivers license, etc.
Also, one thing that never dawned on my before is that if someone gets a drunk driving arrest or similar, say 3 weeks before the election: until they settle it and get an occupational license or equivalent, the police physically take the person's license as a deposit, and then that guy can't vote.
There has to be a way, though, to solidly ensure that people are who they say they are, and are good to vote that doesn't impact these things, damned if I know the answer.
Some have suggested that voter ID would be ok if the state gave everyone a free state photo id. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth, sorta smacks of "national id cards" and the like.
I don't know, but I think this should probably go back to the drawing board for the time being.
This is a rediculous statement.
I am a poll worker.
To get a provisional ballot you must have either a phone or utility bill, a current one! Phone and utility bills are easily be verified by the County Clerks as to the persons name and address; or, have another registered voter testify that you are eligible to vote.
Of course, all provisional ballots are thoughouly checked. As they should be.
Wisconsin does allow people to vote. It makes it easy to vote, but your vote won't count if you try to scam the system. it works. Wisconsin just doesn't think that jumping through hoops to vote, like in the 1960's deep south version of voters rights, is a good idea.
This posting sound like a preguel to the GOP losers, n November, to start claiming VOTER FRAUD!
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