Very early Saturday morning, October 18, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to interfere with the recent decision of the Fifth Circuit that reinstated the Texas requirement that voters at the polls show a particular form of government photo-I.D. Apparently the order appeared between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. See this Scotusblog news story. Thanks to Jim Riley for the news.
The vote was either 5-3 or 6-3. There are three dissents, but no listed vote for the action itself. However, the action could not have occurred without the votes of at least five justices.
Mayor races in Texas should not be affected here by the ID requirement. To my knowledge, there is only one statewide race of major importance – the gubernatorial race – and the Democratic nominee’s campaign has shot her chances in the foot with the very insensitive ad ran against GOP Gregg Abbott being in a wheelchair. But I guess when you’re desperate and behind in the polls, some politicians will stop at nothing.
When FDR ran for president, not even the media made mention of his restriction to a wheel chair, though he could stand up and walk for short distances with braces.
Still, if only 1 illegal vote is cast, it is 1 too many. Our elections should be sacred in the sense that men and women have died on battlefields across the globe to keep us a republic based on democratic principles. And one of those principles is that the candidate the majority who received the majority of the votes (and this includes the majority of the Electoral Votes in Presidential Elections)is the one who should win.
If it is no big deal that 1 illegal vote is cast in an election, then it should be no big deal if 10,000 illegal votes are cast in an election. A Principle is a Principle.
Government photo-ID laws do not guarantee that no ineligible voters cast a vote. Do you know how many phony drivers licenses are in existence? Furthermore if an illegal alien wants to cast a vote, it is far easier for that illegal alien to get a job in a nursing home where there are semi-senile people who receive mail absentee ballots, and for that illegal alien to influence how that semi-senile voter marks the ballot. There is no such thing as an ironclad guarantee that no illegal votes will ever be cast.
AI – So the “problem,” as you see it, is that ONE person might vote illegally, and the “solution” is to require photo ID.
Please give evidence to support the contention that requiring photo ID will NOT create a sufficient burden to effectively prevent ANY ONE citizen of legal age from voting…legally.
Let’s start with veterans, people who have put their lives on the line in defense of our right to vote in a democratic nation.
http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/03/portage_county_veteran_86_turn.html
There were many among our Founding Fathers who didn’t think the commoner could be entrusted with the right to vote in certain elections (one of the reasons the Electoral College was created, by the way). They also didn’t think black people, or women, or people who did not own property, should have been allowed to vote. Do you share those beliefs?
Please don’t drape the reasons for voter ID laws under such phony camouflage. These laws are designed to make it harder for LEGAL voters, American citizens, to vote in numbers much greater than 10,000, because as a group they are more likely to vote Democratic than Republican.
And THAT my friend is decidedly, and shamefully, unAmerican.
The Communist Donkeys and the Fascist Elephants are in a WAR struggle to the DEATH for permanent control of the USA gerrymander system — esp. since 1929-1933.
More battles to come in the WAR.
—-
P.R. and nonpartisan App.V. — OR —
get ready for Civil WAR II.
Richard:
I agree that even a photo ID of any kind will not guarantee an illegal vote being cast. And yes, there are unscrupulous people doing as you illustrated.
I hate to think of such ever happening, and don’t know if I would support such, but the day may come when all voters much re-register and this time their fingerprints will be used to electronic identify them when they vote.
But even then, there will always be that unscrupulous person who will find a way around the process. This is why people who knowingly cast an illegal vote, or who assist someone to cast a vote against that person’s will for a candidate or position on an issue, if caught and convicted, should serve no less than 20 years in prison. That might cut down on some of it.
Demo Rep:
Not arguing against the many good points you make and truths you remind us of. But if our election process as a whole, and our individual vote is to have integrity, then it becomes necessary to make the “Right To Vote” for those who believe in such even harder to accomplish.
An enlightened person, who understands there are those who would cheapen the right to vote, should be willing to sacrifice a little more to make sure their vote is one which is cast with conviction and intelligence regarding the candidate(s) or the issue(s). I am one who is willing to make those sacrifices. Are You?
When we make the right to vote as easy as flipping the channels on one’s television set, then we invite mischief. You know as well as I, there are people who vote for a candidate because of factors other that the candidate’s qualifications. And there are also, intelligent voters, who vote for a certain party ticket without knowing anything about any of the candidates on the ticket.
I often think of Richard Nixon’s admonition to Wallace supporters in 1968 when he in essence said: “Do you want to make a point or do you want to make a change?” Well, we know the “change” which resulted, don’t we?
Demo Rep:
“The Communist Donkeys and the Fascist Elephants are in a WAR struggle to the DEATH for permanent control of the USA gerrymander system — esp. since 1929-1933.”
There is more to this battle than a gerrymandered electoral system. There is a battle for the soul of this nation.
I am not a Republican, as it is obvious by my many replies to various posts. However, the GOP will lose this battle (and I wonder if they have any real desire to win) and it will be the Democratic Party which does win.
They are the ones who are promoting Top Two, as they know this will eventually lead to a One Party Nation.
Do we know of other One Party Nations that recently existed or still exist?
Nazi Germany
Fascist Italy
Imperial Japan
Communist Russia
Communist China
Communist North Korea
Communist Cuba.
Have I left out any?
1. A person is or is not a USA citizen.
2. Any such citizen is or is not a qualified Elector-Voter in his/her precinct [residence] — some NOTS in many areas – convicted Felons [traitors, killers, etc.], mentally ill, etc.
3. Any such citizen is or is not registered [in Elector registration areas].
IF there is NO L-A-W, then the LAWLESS WILL TAKE CONTROL.
4. How many election results determined by ONE vote ???
See the chaos in Florida in Bush v. Gore 2000.
1. Super EASY to be an EVIL jealous COMMUNIST with the income and assets of OTHER folks — think Tax Slaves. See that first reported MURDER in that old book – the Cain and Abel event.
2. Super EASY to an EVIL jealous FASCIST with all income and assets — think actual Slaves.
P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.
3. How many election law cases will be filed the instant that the various gerrymander election results are certified after 2014 election day ???
My apologies, TruFoe. Thought it was Demo Rep who had replied, but my answer to him would have pretty much been the same to you.
Will comment further on your reply. No, I do not think black people or women, or people who do not own property should not be allowed to vote. Do you think because I live in Alabama I might hold such beliefs?
Apparently, you have not read many of my replies to the various posts over the recent weeks/months. I have made it perfectly clear that I am a Independent politically, and a populist philosophically. One who hold these positions would hardly hold the views you seem to think I might hold.
My position on issues are based on what I feel is best for the city, county, state, or nation. One can read into this what they think.
This is the beauty and blessing of being Independent politically, and a populist philosophically.
http://www.birtherreport.com/2014/10/report-masquerade-presidency-obama.html
http://www.orlytaitzesq.com/pree-release-more-information-and-pleadings-submitted-for-for-october-29-2014-hearing-seeking-to-ban-all-travel-from-ebola-affected-countries/
Demo Rep:
Even if we had non-gerrymandered election districts, Proportional Representation, and Nonpartisan Elections, we would still have “EVIL jealous COMMUNISTS” and “EVIL jealous FASCISTS.”
As long as there are people with MONEY, and who don’t mind spending it, we will always have those who desire to control people and enforce their doctrines upon them.
While I am a Independent, the political party is the only lawful organization within which we might oppose those who would like to dominate and control us.
http://www.birtherreport.com/2014/10/shock-video-obama-talks-id-fraud.html
You missed my point entirely.
TruFoe:
I went back and read the online article. Here, is a case of the election officials not using common sense. The two pieces of ID provided by the Vet should have proven to them he was who he said he was.
But “common sense” is something which has appeared to disappear in this country. Election officials should have immediate access to a phone and call the Driver’s License Bureau or the VA, or whatever agency, and verify whatever information is needed.
I still believe in some sort of Voter ID. But I also believe the Election Officials should be given the tools so hopefully they can use common sense to resolve an issue with a voter such as what happened with this Veteran.