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Playinghardball

(11,665 posts) Tue Oct 22, 2013, 01:08 PM Oct 2013

Just 0.003 Percent Of Eligible Texas Voters Have Received A Free Voter ID

Texas’s voter ID law took effect Monday, as voting in the first Texas election since five Republican justices killed a key prong of the Voting Rights Act also began this week. By conservative estimates, this voter suppression law will prevent 2 to 3 percent of registered voters from casting a ballot, with left-leaning constituencies such as women, students, low-income voters and people of color all feeling a disproportionate share of this blow.

Voter ID’s defenders often point to the fact that states that have enacted these voter suppression laws typically offer free IDs to voters who can jump through certain bureaucratic hoops necessary to obtain one as evidence that the laws will not actually have a significant negative impact on voters, but the data in Texas suggests that these free IDs will do little to mitigate the impact of the law. Despite an estimated 1.4 million voters in Texas who lack a photo ID, Texas has issued only 41 free ID cards since last week.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/10/22/2812371/just-0003-percent-eligible-texas-voters-received-free-voter/

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9 replies

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Just 0.003 Percent Of Eligible Texas Voters Have Received A Free Voter ID (Original Post) Playinghardball Oct 2013 OP

This should be the number one flamingdem Oct 2013 #1

And TX takes it a step further, where woman must have original documents for their current full name johnnyrocket Oct 2013 #2

Just mailed my absentee ballot request. Downwinder Oct 2013 #3

The DPS is not doing a good job here Gothmog Oct 2013 #5

I calculate that my absentee ballot costs an extra $20 Downwinder Oct 2013 #7

It is going to get worse for the State of Texas Gothmog Oct 2013 #8

Repubs send out a preprinted absentee request Downwinder Oct 2013 #9

DPS and the GOP are worried Gothmog Oct 2013 #4

I almost worked the election, but not this one. texanwitch Oct 2013 #6

flamingdem

(39,313 posts)

1. This should be the number one

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 01:10 PM

Oct 2013

political story. It's so messy people tune it out, especially if it doesn't directly impact them

johnnyrocket

(1,773 posts)

2. And TX takes it a step further, where woman must have original documents for their current full name

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 01:19 PM

Oct 2013

...this is hinder woman who changed their name for marriage.

Truly deplorable.

Downwinder

(12,869 posts)

3. Just mailed my absentee ballot request.

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 04:42 PM

Oct 2013

Where are the mobile picture units? Not in Grayson County.

Gothmog

(145,313 posts)

5. The DPS is not doing a good job here

Reply to Downwinder (Reply #3)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 04:56 PM

Oct 2013

I know that my county party has been sending out notices to people about these mobile units in our county and Battleground Texas has been telling people about them. We need to do more to make sure that people know about these units

Downwinder

(12,869 posts)

7. I calculate that my absentee ballot costs an extra $20

Reply to Gothmog (Reply #5)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 05:14 PM

Oct 2013

Have to do the same for city and school.
Next year that will mean an extra $100 expense. Charge it up to Voter ID.

Gothmog

(145,313 posts)

8. It is going to get worse for the State of Texas

Reply to Downwinder (Reply #7)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 05:39 PM

Oct 2013

There are plans to send applications for vote by mail to all hard "Ds" for the 2014 election cycle and to get as many Democrats as possible to vote by mail. Vote by mail are not subject to the voter id and it is hoped that an active vote by mail campaign will lessen the effect of the Texas voter suppression/voter id law.

Downwinder

(12,869 posts)

9. Repubs send out a preprinted absentee request

Reply to Gothmog (Reply #8)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 05:47 PM

Oct 2013

to anyone who voted absentee in their primary. Water Texas is sending out preprinted absentee requests. With the money they are spending on printing it should be postage paid.

Gothmog

(145,313 posts)

4. DPS and the GOP are worried

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 04:54 PM

Oct 2013

The State of Texas is being sued by both the DOJ and a couple of groups of plaintiffs on the voter id law. Texas and the Department of Public Safety are evidently nervous in that the are now allowing mobile stations to issue voter ids http://www.news-journal.com/news/local/handful-of-residents-use-voter-id-mobile-unit/article_34947410-0a29-5ffd-969e-2840a86fc41a.html and have increased the hours of operations for many DPS stations to help issue voter ids. http://www.keyetv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/dps-offices-open-saturdays-voter-id-cards-13066.shtml Back when the voter id law was first adopted, the DPS told Congressman Al Green at a townhall that the DPS would not increase hours of operation or use mobile units to issue ids. Since then the DOJ has sued and now the DPS and Greg Abbott are worried

texanwitch

(18,705 posts)

6. I almost worked the election, but not this one.

Reply to Playinghardball (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 05:05 PM

Oct 2013

Pity the poor election workers telling women they can't vote.

Next year I hope this is fixed.

Early voting might be the best way to vote.

I have worked early voting for years, problems can be fixed at early voting.

Not so easy on election day.

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