Think Progress has this interesting story by Carimah Townes about the new Texas law requiring voters at the polls to show government photo-ID. Because the Texas law is so restrictive about documents, one consequence is that newly-married women who take their husband’s surname face extra barriers. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
Ballot Access News
Edited By Richard Winger
That ThinkProgress article is based on two false claims.
The claim that “constituents must now provide a photo ID with their most up-to-date, legally-recognized name at the polls” is completely false. The requirement is to show ID with a name that matches the name on the roll of registered voters. A woman who has updated neither ID nor registration (or updated both) can vote with no problems. The law has a provision to vote after signing an identity affidavit if the ID and registration names are “substantially similar”, which is explicitly defined to include “former name” (see item 7 in link below).
Even if poll workers deny the affidavit option those without ID can vote on a provisional ballot and they have 6 days to present proof of identity to local voting officials and have their vote counted (see item 4).
http://votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/need-id/
The claim that “66 percent of voting-age women with ready access to any proof of citizenship have a document with [their] current legal name” is also false. It cites a Brennan Center study whose actual finding is that only 66% of women have a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or passport in their current name. Someone establishing proof of identity after a name change doesn’t use just the birth/naturalization certificate – they need additional material documenting their name change.
What documents are necessary in order to receive a marriage license?
Jimbo –
Do you consider all married women to be chattel, or just the ones who intend to vote against Republican candidates?