In one of the states where they're trying to make voting harder, the state admits that it's really hard to get one of the new free photo IDs that let you vote if don't have a license. Mississippi's Secretary of State tells the Jackson Free-Press that yes, there's an infinite loop. From the JFP:
One of the requirements to get the free voter ID cards is a birth certificate, but in order to receive a certified copy of your birth certificate in Mississippi, you must have a photo ID. Not having the photo ID is why most people need the voter ID in the first place.
Mississippi is trying to persuade the federal Department of Justice to approve the new law. Part of that was making voter IDs free to avoid creating a poll tax. The state still lists birth certificates as costing $15, in addition to needing a photo ID. In the first two weeks of trying to get would-be voters to sign up for a free ID, the JFP says the state has had just 35 requests.
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"Catch-22 states that agents enforcing Catch-22 need not prove that Catch-22 actually contains whatever provision the accused violator is accused of violating."
"Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing."
-Joseph Heller, 1961
"That's some catch, that Catch-22."
-Yossarian
"'It's the best there is,' Doc Daneeka agreed."
When these same states refuse federal aid from the ACA, this groundwork for disenfranchisement will be immensely helpful.
Only they won't technically refuse the money. Five Republican governors went on record refusing the then "bailout" money from the Feds in 2009, but they all signed certificates of receipt for that money. The five were Palin of AK, Jindal of LA, Perry of TX, Sanford of SC and Haley of MS. Jindal and Perry will do/are doing the same thing with ACA money.
a poll tax
is a poll tax
is a poll tax
no matter what they call it.
Many older black Mississippians never had birth certificates. The state couldn't be bothered. We finally enabled my 94 year old mother in law to vote for Obama by getting her a US passport.
I do not have to have a voter I.D. in my state. But if one does not drive, one need not have an I.D. If one has finances in cash, there may be circumstances where a person depends on the spouse, yet they never moved, always vote, no need to get an I.D. This is indeed making it harder to vote for legitimate registered voters to pass a test and likely to cost money.
In my state, the DMV charges from $7.00 (if qualified for reduced fee) up to $27.00 for an original I.D. card. But we seem to trust our county election board and State officials to verify registrations without going through all this stuff that reeks of voter suppression.
Many older black Mississippians never got birth certificates. And these people know that. Out in the country the state couldn't be bothered. We finally enabled my 94 year old MS-born mother in law to vote for Barack Obama in '08 by getting her a US passport.
If I may? I would like to change the subject to the attacks on Supreme Court Justice Judge John Robrts. Despite what his critics say about him, his name has made it into the history books in a very positive way. Something they will never do.
Congradulations Judge Roberts
Please have Rachel follow some of these people in Mississippi and Pennsylvania as they try to get their voter id cards.
What can be done to help the citizens who have voted ever since they could legally do so, and are now not going to be able to because they (1) don't have a drivers licence (photo ID) or maybe were born in a farm house and have no birth certificate.. is there any way to challenge this that people can afford????
The same thing is happening in Georgia under their new Secure ID law that went into effect on July 1st. They implemented it as part of the new immigration law -- because you know all those illegal immigrants are coming here and then risking deportation in order to rush down to the DMV to get a driver's license -- but it's really nothing but voter suppression. It sickens me.
Maybe a "Citizens United for Voting" organization would be set up to encourage anonymous wealthy patriotic Americans to support citizens needing finding for ID's, Birth Certificates, or Pass Ports. It has a catchy name, but do we have any "anonymous wealthy patriotic Americans" who need to remain anonymous. Or maybe we can get some offshore bank accounts to route finding to this super Pac, there may be one or two countries to would like to see America remain a free democracy. Oh, Oh, my mistake the other side has already taken that idea, using super Pac to assure that voters don't get to the polls.
There's no way out, Americans citizens will need to work constantly, from now to the election, selling tee shirts, placing signs to voting locations, holding yard sales, subscribing to walk-a-thons, serving lunch to the unemployed, job raffles, donating junk cars, having outdoor concerts, raffle off cash $1,000 prizes at events, collecting with high school band donating concerts. Collecting bottles for the deposit money, having metal scrap drives. Having young people stage a flash mob, spelling VOTE, at locations to attract attention, voting by phone, wearing voting wrist bands.
Too bad we cannot find one "anonymous wealthy patriotic American" who believes in voting.
Quoting my old friend Phil Ochs:
"Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of!"
Pwchem i have friends who have same issues with not havkng birth certificate in colorado. Can you share your experience?? Not having any cooperation here with legal authorities. Indeed catch 22!!!! Not fair!!
If voting is such an important right to exercise, then people should get an I.D.. If somebody really wants to get something done, they will find a way to get it done.