Miami Herald - Rigid voter law still being enforced

[Ron2Win]

"About 14,000 people have not been able to register because of Florida's ''no match'' law that requires a citizen's name on a voter registration form be matched with a Social Security number or driver's license number. The law has been challenged by the NAACP and a Miami-based Haitian group that say the law unfairly blocks blacks and Hispanics from being able to register to vote."

Full Article - http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/352001.html

 

[WillInMiami]

"About 14,000 people have not been able to register because of Florida's ''no match'' law that requires a citizen's name on a voter registration form be matched with a Social Security number or driver's license number. The law has been challenged by the NAACP and a Miami-based Haitian group that say the law unfairly blocks blacks and Hispanics from being able to register to vote."

Full Article - http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/352001.html

I agree with the law. I think that people should have to PROVE citizenship to vote. Voting is a right protected under the Constitution. The Constitution provides for the protection of rights for US CITIZENS. There have been way too many non-citizens voting all over the country for too long - it must end.

 

[Mark Rushmore]

I agree with the law. I think that people should have to PROVE citizenship to vote. Voting is a right protected under the Constitution. The Constitution provides for the protection of rights for US CITIZENS. There have been way too many non-citizens voting all over the country for too long - it must end.

And do you further believe that to be a US citizen you must subject yourself to some form of numbering or licensing? Do citizens make the state, or does the state make the citizens?

 

[Ron2Win]

I agree also.

As long as it is enforced correctly not to bar the current surge in registrations...

 

[Fyretrohl]

And do you further believe that to be a US citizen you must subject yourself to some form of numbering or licensing? Do citizens make the state, or does the state make the citizens?

So, how does the government protect our rights to vote? This is one of those, is there a 'right' way to do it questions, I believe.

 

[Mark Rushmore]

So, how does the government protect our rights to vote? This is one of those, is there a 'right' way to do it questions, I believe.

How about requiring proof of citizenship? Proof of citizenship to join the database of voters. That's one database. No need to force voters to also be members of separate database which exist in no way, shape, or form for that purpose. Disenfranchising people who refuse to have social security numbers or drivers licenses is not a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Jobarra]

I think the question is... how do you PROVE your citizenship. I'm actually curious too. Is the only proof that you're a citizen that you hold a SSN? How did people PROVE they were citizens before the Social Security Administration. I understand not wanting illegal immigrants to vote, but how do you prove you have lived here all your life or that you legally immigrated? I can't think of one thing that would prove I lived here other than filing tax returns and maybe some medical records that prove I was born here.

 

[JDeVriese]

It was must easier when it was just property owners who could vote, but that's another story. Now that the voting process has been opened up, finding a way to see who is allowed to vote without putting them in some sort of database is tough.

 

[Fyretrohl]

That is my point...Proof somehow. If there was a valid way to prove citizenship that could be verified...Remember, Birth Certificates don't have photos. What type of system do we have or need that would allow citizenship to be proven without the other issues?

 

[Mark Rushmore]

Quite the dilemma indeed. But in all such cases, I default towards denying the government more intrusive and regulatory powers - even when they claim to require it to 'solve a problem'. That's how most of the things Ron Paul opposes came about in the first place.

I'd rather have a million illegals voting in elections than 300 million Americans being tracked in centralized databases via a unifying "Citizen ID" that eventually blends into CC#'s, passports and such, to allow monitoring of all purchasing and travel, etc...

In such a system, if the slogan is "No Citizen ID - No Vote", I'd be quite annoyed. So I speak up against anything that moves us in that direction.

 

[tesseract]

That is my point...Proof somehow. If there was a valid way to prove citizenship that could be verified...Remember, Birth Certificates don't have photos. What type of system do we have or need that would allow citizenship to be proven without the other issues?

Birth certificates may not have photos, but they are valid proof of citizenship. In fact when you go to get a driver's license, state ID, or passport in the first place, a birth certificate is what you have to show in order to prove age and citizenship. It seems like a birth cert should therefore be good enough for voter registration...

Unfortunately if you don't already have your birth certificate (as many of these people probably don't) it often costs money to have the county clerk (or whatever official handles such things in your state) to make an official copy for you.

 

[videogeek]

Two ways: birth certificate or citizenship certificate. A driver's license is a poor way to judge citizenship. My mother became a citizen last year, and a month later when she renewed her DL, the lady at the DMV asked her if she wanted to register to vote. Mom said yes (in her somewhat heavy German accent), expecting that the woman would ask for proof of citizenship, but she never did.

 

[videogeek]

But in all such cases, I default towards denying the government more intrusive and regulatory powers - even when they claim to require it to 'solve a problem'.

AMEN!

 

[Fyretrohl]

Ahhh...But, here is the rub. I am demanding that the Government do its job and ensure that my rights as a US Citizen are protected. No, I don't have an easy answer either and I am not suggesting it is a perfect world. But, as far as I know, it IS a government responsibility to protect my right to vote and the right of my voice to be heard. To minimize that voice by allowing non citizens to vote is a disservice as well.

And, I am on the fence on this one. I want a good system to protect it. And, I think it needs to be protected now, in our current flawed system as well.

 

[robert4rp08]

I think the question is... how do you PROVE your citizenship. I'm actually curious too. Is the only proof that you're a citizen that you hold a SSN? How did people PROVE they were citizens before the Social Security Administration. I understand not wanting illegal immigrants to vote, but how do you prove you have lived here all your life or that you legally immigrated? I can't think of one thing that would prove I lived here other than filing tax returns and maybe some medical records that prove I was born here.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole concept of citizenship, but there is a difference between national (U.S.) citizenship and state citizenship. You voluntarily become a U.S. citizen when you enroll in the social security program and get a SS card... this is also the time when you VOLUNTEER to pay a federal income tax. When you become a U.S. citizen, you became the fed's slave.

http://usofavus.com/political-union-or-chaos.htm
http://www.hevanet.com/kort/CITIZEN1.HTM
http://travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_776.html

 

[Mark Rushmore]

Ahhh...But, here is the rub. I am demanding that the Government do its job and ensure that my rights as a US Citizen are protected.

I know what you are trying to say, but I'd point out that that is precisely how it will be framed every time. Nearly every court decision unconstitutionally empowering the government and abridging freedoms or local control has been justified by the 'overbearing need to protect rights and/or liberties'.

FWIW

 

[robert4rp08]

........ duplicate post