Conservatives advocate for voter ID laws whereas liberals argue that conservatives suppress voters by selectively requiring ID types that they know Democrats tend to lack. So what I often propose to conservatives is that America adopt a national ID card that every citizen by law must have, and which is the only ID needed to vote in any election. Everyone gets this card at government expense without condition. This is normal in many European countries. In Belgium, we have to present our national ID card when we go to vote, and that’s fine because everyone has one and it’s the only card required.
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Conservatives advocate for voter ID laws whereas liberals argue that conservatives suppress voters by selectively requiring ID types that they know Democrats tend to lack. So what I often propose to conservatives is that America adopt a national ID card that every citizen by law must have, and which is the only ID needed to vote in any election. Everyone gets this card at government expense without condition. This is normal in many European countries. In Belgium, we have to present our national ID card when we go to vote, and that’s fine because everyone has one and it’s the only card required.
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Our elections are run by states.
>This is normal in many European countries.
Yes, which is a big part of the reason we don’t have a national ID card. We are not a European country. Americans generally don’t like the idea of being mandated to have “papers” that the government can then demand they show.
Where I live, we are identified when we register to vote. And when we go to vote we sign our name in a book of our signatures where our registered signature is listed upside down so the administrator can compare. That is sufficient. You don’t actually need to show ID to verify your identity, what a concept.
Why? Any proof of ID should be sufficient. Tax dollars to get this into law, paper to sign forms, polycarbonate to make the cards, C02 emissions to deliver the cards, is a waste of time and resources. We technically already have one via social security. (I know not really.. But it KINDA is).
I actually think that when the moment is right, Democrats should propose a federal ID card that can be used for voting under terms we approve. One that cannot be fucked with by Republicans in order to suppress vote.
This is a losing issue for us because most Americans cannot understand the idea that there are people who might not be able to obtain a voter ID and they don’t really understand how Republicans have consistently used any law possible to suppress votes.
I think the better strategy would be to go around that problem and just solve it once and for all
For the love of god yes. We should have a national ID and national drivers license it’s fucking absurd we have 51+ different agencies doing the exact same thing across the country. Insane amount of inefficiency and insane amount of dysfunction are the result.
>Should America have a national ID card?
>Conservatives advocate for voter ID laws…
Here’s a wrinkle: Most of our IDs don’t establish citizenship
…and you need citizenship to vote. So, let’s just make the requirement: You need to present an ID that establishes citizenship to vote.
(Of course, the only ID we have that establishes citizenship is a passport — and people with passports are less likely to vote for Republicans — but I’m sure that Republicans will be true to their principles and favor an ID that establishes citizenship /s)
No, I don’t want a national ID. It will just be used as a weapon against minorities every time right wingers are in power. Let’s keep it at the state level.
I do think there should be. For a few main reasons.
A national ID card could replace social security cards for national identification. It would probably reduce identity theft by a ton if just there was some kind of multi-factor authentication built into a national ID card.
Not everyone has easy access to other “standard” id cards like Drivers Licenses, Passports. Yes, I know many states have alternatives for everyone, but those are not all that well known about.
As u/ButGravityAlwaysWins has correctly pointed out, it could stand in as a voter ID. Which, I kind of agree with. I’ve never hated the basic idea of Voter ID, just how states implement them to disenfranchise voters. a National ID card could remove that political barrier.
It would immensely help people who are moving states. It’s a pain in the ass when your previous home state or new home state is being a cuntlizard and not cooperating, doesn’t accept, or makes things intentionally difficult for you to actually move. A national ID card could help with getting some of the necessary documents and update your information much quicker and easier.
This this is not complete btw.
Yes.
These are all massive benefits. The first is a glaring constitutional hole in our system, the second costs Americans literally billions every year, and the third is a major source of frustration with people dealing with their local DMVs.
The counter arguments are:
Of those, the lattermost is the only actual reasoned criticism. However, the abuses that are claimed to be a feature of a national system are happening now with our inefficient stage run system.
Look at how GOP states are requiring state ID to view porn websites, which many object to over grounds that the state shouldn’t have access to informational that private and that it could be used for blackmail.
If a state based system doesn’t protect us, all it does is expose us to inefficiency and fraud.
I want a national ID just so we can ditch using your social security number as the key to your bank, credit, taxes, wages and medical records. It’s a terrible number not meant for identification, with no built-in security (either to the number or the literal unlaminated piece of paper it’s on by default)
Any application to travel or voting is secondary to patching up that gaping hole
Probably, but Republicans would just fuck it up.
They’re the primary reason why we can’t have nice things. They’re aggressively opposed to any sort of functional government programs.