Important upcoming bill regarding elections.

THCTHC Posts: 525
edited September 2006 in A Moving Train
I thought i would pass along an email i received from common cause regarding a new bill up before congress that would require people to not only show ID (a great idea!)...but also have to show proof of citizenship in order to vote. Since many citizens of the U.S. do not have a passport (only 25% do) to prove this, it may essentially add up to a new poll tax (w/ only the wealthy voting).
Here is the email....it references a politician from Rhode Island where i was living recently...but I strongly urge you to contact your appropriate congresspeople/senators to try to stop this bill in its current form!!!!!!!!!

email:
(We need you to call Senator Lincoln Chafee today and express your opposition to legislation designed to suppress the vote in the next election. The House passed H.R. 4844 last week, putting onerous ID requirements on voters. Now, there's an effort to sneak this legislation through in the last days before Congress leaves to go campaign in their elections.

Please call Senator Chafee now and oppose voter ID legislation. The phone number is (202) 224-2921.

Voters will have to prove citizenship and have photo ID - but driver's licenses do not prove citizenship. Will voters have to resort to using a passport? Only 25% of Americans have a passport. The cost of a passport, now $97, would amount to a new poll tax.

We must stop the effort to push this legislation through the back door in the Senate. Please call now. Senator Chafee's phone number is (202) 224-2921.

Why is this legislation being pushed through Congress in the final two weeks before Congress goes on recess until after the election? Some Senators claim they're concerned about voter fraud. But there is no evidence anywhere that large numbers, or even small numbers of ineligible voters are trying to vote.

Thanks for all you do today and in the future for election reform.


Sincerely,

Barbara Burt
V.P., Director of Election Reform
Common Cause


P.S. Victims of Hurricane Katrina, whose government failed them so miserably, would suffer yet another insult if their inability to prove their citizenship deprived them of the right to vote. Please call Senator Chafee now at (202) 224-2921).
“Kept in a small bowl, the goldfish will remain small. With more space, the fish can grow double, triple, or quadruple its size.”
-Big Fish
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • PickrPickr Posts: 161
    Is pic ID at least mandatory now?
    Stix and Stones may break my bones, but More than Words will never hurt me.
  • THCTHC Posts: 525
    Pickr wrote:
    Is pic ID at least mandatory now?
    I wasn't asked for ID last time i voted. (but when you register you end up on a list..and you get crossed off once you come in to vote)

    I support the idea of IDing voters (it should be like that already)...but if all of a sudden...people need to show passports when they show up to vote...all hells gonna break lose because no one's gonna 1. have them or 2. have it w/ them
    “Kept in a small bowl, the goldfish will remain small. With more space, the fish can grow double, triple, or quadruple its size.”
    -Big Fish
  • PickrPickr Posts: 161
    THC wrote:
    I wasn't asked for ID last time i voted. (but when you register you end up on a list..and you get crossed off once you come in to vote)

    I support the idea of IDing voters (it should be like that already)...but if all of a sudden...people need to show passports when they show up to vote...all hells gonna break lose because no one's gonna 1. have them or 2. have it w/ them

    I can't believe you were not asked!...That is crazy...It could lead to alot of serious problems, if it hasn't already that is....
    Stix and Stones may break my bones, but More than Words will never hurt me.
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