Texas is holding a statewide election on November 5 for various ballot measures, and early voting is in process. According to this story, Sandra Watts, an elected local judge, was forced to cast a provisional ballot when she tried to vote. The name on her voter registration record is her first name, the middle name she was given at birth, and her surname, which is also her husband’s surname. But her Texas drivers license shows her maiden name as her middle name. When she married in 1964, Texas law required women to list their maiden name as their middle name.
She has had the same name on her voter registration record for almost half a century, and she has not moved in over twenty years, but because the name on her drivers license is not a perfect match with her name on the voter registration records, the Texas photo-ID law prevented her from casting a normal ballot. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
It would be so much easier if we simply adopted the Republican Party’s preferred method of voter qualification and require those wanting to vote to produce a copy of a 1040 return that shows adjusted gross income of $250,000 or more.
And no 1040A forms! These people don’t like anything in “short” form, remember.
“but because the name on her drivers license is not a perfect match with her name on the voter registration records, the Texas photo-ID law prevented her from casting a normal ballot.”
This is not true. If the name on the ID is substantially similar to the name on the voting roll, the voter may sign an affidavit indicating that they are the person on the voting roll.
In fact the story you linked to said precisely that:
“So imagine her surprise when she was told by voting officials that she would have to sign a “voters affidavit” affirming she was who she said she was.”
You may have noted that “voters affidavit” was in quotes and meant that it was very scary. In fact the “affidavit” is nothing more than a box on the voter roll.
If a voter’s ID matches his name on the roll, he signs in saying that I am that person. If the ID is only “substantially” similar, the election judge checks the “substantially similar” column, and the voter signs their name, and initials a matching box.
Given that Sandra Watts is the mother of Mikal Watts, I’d be suspicious of the whole story.
Mikal Watts parents were divorced about the time he graduated from high school (and he didn’t get to go to Yale). That matches the time frame she claims for her last change of residence. I’m wondering whether she didn’t choose to start using her maiden name at that time.
Jimbo –
Amazing reporting! Kudos!
I wonder, in Geraldo Rivera-like investigative work, have you uncovered have any hard evidence to support the apparent conclusion that voters who intend to vote in two states only change addresses in the months of September or October? If this process is so vital to ensuring clean elections, why do Republicans such as yourself seem only to decide it’s necessary to conduct it just weeks before the election and not one or even two years beforehand? Is it some sort of ethnic or gender predilection, this apparent need to move only in the fall?
By the way, you never told us how much you pay in A.L.E.C. dues. Or maybe they waive them based on some minimum number of blog posts by you in support of caging efforts by other Republicans?
BS,
I simply read what the article actually said, and noticed a familiar name.
Why has Sandra Watts name on her drivers license remained the same for 52 years, yet she was married in 1964? How old is she?
ca-ching! Another week of in-kind dues paid.
That’s not the issue and wouldn’t be a problem except for the voter restriction laws being passed in Texas and other states in “response” to non-existent voter fraud.
As one North Carolina Republican admitted, these laws really have nothing to do with fraud, but are designed to stop Democrats from voting.
Not true!
Jimbo Riley can cite dozens of cases in which Democratic-controlled legislatures have passed voter ID laws.
Right Jimbo?
Jimbo –
I’m so sorry. I meant to say “one or two” cases.
Feel free to share, you magnificent Republican tool…