Well if I have to show a original certified birth certificate or passport and two bills that show my home billing address to get my drivers license renewed, whats the problem with showing some type of ID to vote.
A photo ID is required in many aspects of life. To enter an office building. To cash a check (sometimes a fingerprint is also required). To board a plane, etc. So why when we have to show ID's to do these everyday things is it such a problem to do when it comes to voting?

I'm with you on this one Jerry. For things so much less important, we have to show ID. I would rather invest the money in making sure everybody has the correct ID - incorporate it in a voter registration drive if necessary. Surely if you're collecting social security they don't just give it out to anyone who applies. I want my ID checked when I'm cashing a check or using a credit card - it is for my own protection. I would expect nothing less when I apply for social security or if I ever have to apply for any disability. I don't want anyone else to be able to do it in my name fraudulently. I feel the same way about the vote. As an immigrant, it took me 10 years from when I first applied to immigrate to America to earn the right to vote. I value that right.

You have to show an ID to get on the government owned AMTRACK! You have to show an ID to enter the government owned White House! But there are folks out there that think we shouldn't have to show an ID to choose the leaders of our Republic?

There is no Constitutional RIGHT to vote! Only Constitutional protections of certain classifications of people! If you want to vote, you need to be willing to prove you're legally eligible to vote!

I have concerns that voting isn't a right, but setting that aside... Long gone, sadly, are the days where the word of mankind means anything. My mother, who raised me, does not even qualify as a witness to me being an American. She's not even asked to point me out in a line-up. I guess you're "reborn" when you turn 18 and start making your own personal governmental paper trail? Apparently you can live in America your whole life and family not mean much of anything at all, especially after turning 18, outside of individual internal family-group opinions.

Contributing to this sad path is this whole Gov't ID stuff. It changes us from members of our family to members of the public, even (erroneously) on private property. We used to be identified as living souls, now we're persona's. I can hold up an inanimate object (a Driver's License) and say this material is ME or that I am this card? lol We live in a day where you can not prove your existence without these paper checkpoints. "Papers Please"? I think it's just all sad, but a sign of the times.

I wonder how we managed to exist for so long without so much paper BEFORE the great paper trail. Signed family Bibles served as marriage certificates for a very long time for example.

But lets reverse for a second. Do you know anything about the ppl counting votes or the test results of the voting machines? Why aren't these things publically posted on paper for all to see? The untrusted are so trusting, how funny.

I don't understand the argument that it is too difficult to obtain a valid photo ID. Anyone who doesn't already have one of the six acceptable forms of ID required to vote can obtain a free voter identification card at any county registrar's office or Department of Driver Services Office, according to the Georgia Secretary of State's Office. http://sos.georgia.gov/gaphotoid/

I've been out campaigning with a friend, and let me tell you, those elderly people have got it going on, at least in Walton County! lol But like Stephanie said, most states that are requiring this are asking their local civic organizations to help all get what they need. Doesn't sound like disenfranchising to me. It has been proven that some states have had problems with multiple voting due to no way to identify.

Oh, please....if the NAACP required media to have a government issued ID to see Eric Holder speak about efforts to stop government issued voter ID laws...can we say ridiculous? I just read where you need a govt. issued ID to view 10,000 rare African American PICTURES recently put on exhibit at Emory. But we shouldn't be required to have a picture ID to VOTE? C'mon. The argument that they are difficult to obtain is a moot point. It just isn't so.

Voters should have to take a test to quallify to Vote, along with proper ID, You have to take a test to get a Driver License, Contractors license, Medical License, Dental License, Pass the Bar Exam, and on & on

AMEN@ Ben!

How about the immigration test? True immigrants to our country have to know welll more than the average American on the street currently knows about our government and laws.
Recently there was a man on the street interview and one of the recipients asked, "What's a founding father?" Too many i-pods and telephones in public schools and not enough support for discipline in the classroom so that kids can focus on learning these things? lol

What is Water's World?

It's a shame the Democrats are resorting to this tactic to make sure the illegal Mexicans get to vote for their party. This essentially is their goal. It makes commom sense to verify that the voters are valid....as mentioned above, proof of ID is an everyday event....using a credit card, obtaining a drivers license, boarding a flight, etc. Let's get real Democrats and do what is right for American....not what is right for your Party!

R - I don't have cable so don't get to see a lot of this stuff. It was probably a part of a newscast somewhere and I saw it. Thing is, I have personal experience with (young) and older people who don't know how our country got started, simple political parties or even who is the Vice President. Part of what I do for a living includes interviews and talking to people, so I wasn't surprised at all to see that segment. :)

If there's one thing Republicans hate worse than the American worker it's democracy. The fact is we've never been required to show ID in order to vote. Voter impersonation is a non existent problem. This is a blatant attempt by Republicans to steal another election. I hope the DOJ won't let them get away with it.

Republicans don't care much for cheaters either. Brian that's a pretty blanket statement that it's NEVER been a problem. I'll give you some exaggerations, but non-existent? That works for democrats talking to uninformed people, but won’t work here where people actually do their homework. Back in the day, it may not have been a problem (well, actually some arrests were made is 1962 Chicago), but it seems since 'hanging chads" we've had to go to extra precautions because democrats get desperate when losing. It wasn't Republicans that were desperate. Think back. Here are a few news articles to refresh your memory (from Chicago Tribune no less). Let’s not forget ACORN, dead people voting or the famous senate race where there were more votes than people in the area of voters.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-12/news/ct-oped-0612-byrne-md-20120612_1_voter-fraud-voter-registration-registration-rolls

http://www.8newsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=2421595

http://spectator.org/blog/2011/08/10/acorn-fined-maximum-in-nevada

http://www.servicemembers-lawcenter.org/LAW_REVIEW_109.html

I deliberately threw out anything that resembled Fox News btw…

To piggyback on R- I've been showing my ID since 1982. Just sayin'.

http://voices.yahoo.com/al-franken-may-been-elected-senate-voter-6386348.html

Ooooooh yeeeeahh....the Al Franken fun lolol

I suppose I'll just expect chirping crickets at this point, so I'll move on. I was hoping to have a factual discussion, but you can't when liberals are given truth, they can't rebut it without redirecting to things that have nothing to do with the subject. Oh well. this conversation is over. :(

That's why you won't hear back from him. that was a stretch even for Brian. Non -existent? Hardly.

There are several columns that will say that it doesn't exist, but that doesn't make it so. I noted the sources on most of those as i was doing my research.

I agree w/Ben on one thing... one of the most dangerous things that this country faces are one of those people who don't care to show interest in 'politics' enough to stay on top of what's going on and who's doing what, but yet does their 'duty' by voting is the scariest thing I've ever feared when it comes to elections. No wonder we keep getting the wrong people in at the wrong times. People don't even know enough about a topic to form an opinion, but will turn around and vote? *gasp* So yes, I think THAT's more important than this ID thing.

But, once again, since the Government can't seem to be held accountable enough to do what it takes to protect our borders from an immigrational invasion, so it keeps falling on the people to make their adjustments instead.

So far, every person I know that ever worked for the ballot counting, have refused to ever vote again but none of them will ever say why. Did they sign some sort of non-disclosure agreement or something? lol They just said they didn't like what they saw and caused them to lose faith in doing it altogether. Same story, different places and times.

I am not opposed to proving who you are to vote. People should only vote once, and it should be the right individual doing it. However, my argument probably goes to another article, because I do not like how there's no proof of existence w/o your gov't docs. It's just too spooky for me. We've existed for centuries w/o such things.

How about fingerprints? If they are electronically scanned, then the machine will throw out anyone that is trying to vote more than once. Iraqis had purple fingers after they voted. Another thought. ;)

I'm nearly 50 years old, have lived on both coasts and up North, visited many places and now live in the best place ever, Oconee County. I have never met anyone without an ID of some kind except for people who have a nefarious reason for not having one.
Everybody should have an ID for their own sake. Is voter fraud real or not? I don't know, I just don't know. However, all Americans should be guaranteed security while they exercise their responsibility to vote. I believe requiring people to have an ID goes a long way toward providing that security.