The Robin Hood Tax?

[Dana431]

Does Oklahoma not still have the  non-driver's driver's licence for ID purposes?

Yes.  Instead of having a blue background, it has a red one.

[Red Arrow]

I looked it up.

http://www.dps.state.ok.us/dls/okid.htm

[Red Arrow]

Or this:
http://www.ok.gov/elections/faqs.html#c247

What can I show for proof of identity?

You may show any document issued by the United States, the State of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized tribal government if it includes your name, a photograph of you, and an expiration date that is later than the election in which you are voting. For example, the following documents meet these requirements:
   Oklahoma driver license
   Oklahoma Identification Card
   United States passport
   United States military identification
The law provides only two exceptions to these requirements:
1. An Oklahoma Identification Card issued to a person who is 65 years old or older is valid as proof of identity for voting even though it does not have an expiration date.
2. The Voter Identification Card issued by the County Election Board is valid as proof of identity even though it does not include a photograph or an expiration date. The law also requires that your name on your proof of identity must match your name in the Precinct Registry.

[AquaMan]

Does Oklahoma not still have the  non-driver's driver's licence for ID purposes?

That makes some assumptions. When the elderly or infirm decide, or their family decides for them, not to drive, they aren't aware that failing to renew or change their license means they can't vote. The two have never been connected. Lots of college students in the south don't drive and don't obtain drivers licenses. I think I heard yesterday that some 650,000 people across the south don't have DL's. Most are students or elderly. Lots of rural people find no need for a DL and have voted for years since they are recognizable.

Then there are those who fear their government is too intrusive and suspect the motives in requiring a DL. They already have a SS# which in spite of its declaration is still used as ID for everything, except voting. They may have evaded their taxes, are wanted on warrants or fear scam voting booths set up to catch them. Maybe they don't deserve the privilege but...there it is.

Then there are those who simply rely on mass trans, bicycles, their legs and their friends. They aren't aware of changes in voting requirements. The motives of this new round of barriers to voting is pretty obvious thru the South. They don't want Obama back, they don't want what they view as undeserving people voting, and they fear groups like TP's and OWS from upsetting things.

I have no problem with requiring identification. I think it ought to be gradually instituted in stages with lots of public service notice to avoid being seen as unfairly discriminatory. There should also be multiple acceptable forms of identification like OK does.

[Townsend]

Or this:
http://www.ok.gov/elections/faqs.html#c247

What can I show for proof of identity?

You may show any document issued by the United States, the State of Oklahoma, or a federally recognized tribal government if it includes your name, a photograph of you, and an expiration date that is later than the election in which you are voting. For example, the following documents meet these requirements:
   Oklahoma driver license
   Oklahoma Identification Card
   United States passport
   United States military identification
The law provides only two exceptions to these requirements:
1. An Oklahoma Identification Card issued to a person who is 65 years old or older is valid as proof of identity for voting even though it does not have an expiration date.
2. The Voter Identification Card issued by the County Election Board is valid as proof of identity even though it does not include a photograph or an expiration date. The law also requires that your name on your proof of identity must match your name in the Precinct Registry.

That's Oklahoma though.  What's this have to do with national elections?  Nationally, it makes no difference how we vote here.

[Red Arrow]

I have no problem with requiring identification. I think it ought to be gradually instituted in stages with lots of public service notice to avoid being seen as unfairly discriminatory. There should also be multiple acceptable forms of identification like OK does.

How long is gradual and how many steps?  I thought the attention the media gave it in Oklahoma was more than adequate.   I did not pay too much attention to other states.

[nathanm]

That's Oklahoma though.  What's this have to do with national elections?  Nationally, it makes no difference how we vote here.

Oklahoma is participating in a largely nationwide trend, at least in states with Republicans in power. I wouldn't find it so ridiculous if the law made an exception for people personally known to the poll workers. That one facet provides me a pretty strong indication there's an ulterior motive involved. And the states that don't let you use your voter registration card? Sick, and not in the sense the kids use.

[Red Arrow]

Aside from having to pay for those ID's...

Would you consider the cost of getting to a registration office, the price of a postage stamp etc a poll tax?

[Red Arrow]

And the states that don't let you use your voter registration card? Sick, and not in the sense the kids use.

I'll agree with that.

[Townsend]

Would you consider the cost of getting to a registration office, the price of a postage stamp etc a poll tax?

Every time you make something harder to do...

[Red Arrow]

Every time you make something harder to do...

What about the fact that you have to go to the poll to vote?  Talk about hard to do.  Want to vote at home? Need the state/city to provide you with a computer and internet connection free of charge to vote.  I guess you and I draw the line in different places.

[nathanm]

What about the fact that you have to go to the poll to vote?  Talk about hard to do.  Want to vote at home? Need the state/city to provide you with a computer and internet connection free of charge to vote.  I guess you and I draw the line in different places.

Absentee ballot.

[AquaMan]

How long is gradual and how many steps?  I thought the attention the media gave it in Oklahoma was more than adequate.   I did not pay too much attention to other states.

At least as much attention as we paid to seat belt laws, smoking restrictions, water conservation, domestic violence, etc. Billboards, public service announcements, public relations through organizations, churches and the fair. You are a college graduate who is politically savvy and pretty well informed. You would be surprised at how many people don't subcribe to a newspaper, watch the local news or follow anything but their religion, their sports and their talk radio.  I spoke to the lady at our voter precinct this last vote who told me that several people had been denied a ballot and sent home for identification even though they recognized them. Of course they were angry.

[Red Arrow]

Absentee ballot.

Postage stamp.

[Townsend]

What about the fact that you have to go to the poll to vote?  Talk about hard to do. 

What about it?  That's a new step everyone has to take too?  I said "harder" not "the same".