Can someone explain why nobody asked me for my driver's license or other ID when giving me the ballot today? I was able to cast my ballot without any kind of ID check, in my area (Baltimore MD).

In fact, I went to the official Maryland board of elections site (http://www.elections.state.md.us/), I entered my personal info, and I saw this:

Do you need to show identification when you vote? NO

How is this possible? Why aren't they afraid of voter fraud!? Somebody could have mentioned my name before me and no questions would have been asked.

___________________
"The favorite American pastime is not baseball, it's moral crusades."

Thanks for mentioning this HTP, it should tell you a little something about the functionality of the system.

___________________
"The Greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." -Stephen Hawking
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak out for me." -Martin Niemöller

quote:

Originally posted by shaolin_Z Thanks for mentioning this HTP, it should tell you a little something about the functionality of the system.

holy fucking shit

___________________
"The favorite American pastime is not baseball, it's moral crusades."

quote:

Originally posted by HardTranceProd holy fucking shit

...?

I don't understand? What did I say that was so shocking?

___________________
"The Greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." -Stephen Hawking
"First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak out for me." -Martin Niemöller

quote:

Originally posted by shaolin_Z ...? I don't understand? What did I say that was so shocking?

I mean, I didn't think it was that bad...

This whole thing is a joke... how hard is it to check goddamn IDs, when they're making it out to be such a huge deal, such a responsibility, and the whole world is watching? I'm gobsmacked.

You know, Americans are the first to bitch about poor voting practices in other countries, the first to complain that this or that election wasn't fair, but in our own country, we can't guarantee the simplest kind of security??..

___________________
"The favorite American pastime is not baseball, it's moral crusades."

quote:

Originally posted by HardTranceProd I mean, I didn't think it was that bad... This whole thing is a joke... how hard is it to check goddamn IDs, when they're making it out to be such a huge deal, such a responsibility, and the whole world is watching? I'm gobsmacked. You know, Americans are the first to bitch about poor voting practices in other countries, the first to complain that this or that election wasn't fair, but in our own country, we can't guarantee the simplest kind of security??..

Voter IDs were struck down as unconstitutional in several states - a large enough segment of the population does not have driver's licenses that it is a contested practice to require people to show picture ID at the polls.

Just look at the most recent case to appear before the Supreme Court - the Indiana Voter ID case - arguing the constitutionality of a law in Indiana that effectively disenfranchised all of the nuns at Notre Dame (the most famous instance from the Primaries).

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/ma...ion/na-voterid7

___________________

NJ requires IDs. some states are just weird. the federal government needs to step in to establish standards for voting. and i still don't understand why voter registration isn't linked to the official state ID (i.e., why you aren't automatically registered, and information automatically updated, by the motor vehicle records)

quote:

Originally posted by Lebezniatnikov Voter IDs were struck down as unconstitutional in several states - a large enough segment of the population does not have driver's licenses that it is a contested practice to require people to show picture ID at the polls. Just look at the most recent case to appear before the Supreme Court - the Indiana Voter ID case - arguing the constitutionality of a law in Indiana that effectively disenfranchised all of the nuns at Notre Dame (the most famous instance from the Primaries). http://articles.latimes.com/2008/ma...ion/na-voterid7

LOL, but that doesn't mean that you should just be able to say a name out loud and have them believe you, does it?

If a person is responsible enough to vote, they should be responsible enough to make arrangements to procure some kind of identification, like a passport (not necessarily a driver's license), isn't that so?

To say I am outraged and amazed about this, in (supposedly) the top and most advanced country on earth, is to say nothing at all.

___________________
"The favorite American pastime is not baseball, it's moral crusades."

I worked in a polling station one year in UK elections, and was surprised that we didn't have to check anyone's ID. You don't even need to bring your polling card to the station, just give your name and address! At the end of the day, someone could quite easily come and give any name and address of someone in the area and they'd be given a voting slip!

I had to show my ID... It's ridiculous that you don't need to in half the states. All anyone needs to do is grab a phone book and they can place dozens of fraudulent votes without one.

We need a damn federal voting law that makes voting rules uniform throughout the country. ID required and the same voting machines everywhere.

Oh, and make election day be on a Saturday too.

quote:

Originally posted by George Smiley I worked in a polling station one year in UK elections, and was surprised that we didn't have to check anyone's ID. You don't even need to bring your polling card to the station, just give your name and address! At the end of the day, someone could quite easily come and give any name and address of someone in the area and they'd be given a voting slip!

Same in Australia actually. You just turn up to the polling station, give your name and address and have your name crossed off the list. I'd be interested to know what happens in the event that the same person has their name crossed off at two different stations? Surely they could just say they know nothing about it and there's fuck-all that could be done about it?

I think the only solution at this point is the mandatory insertion of microchips into the brain of every newborn child. Come on democracy, we can win this thing.

The United States seriously needs a fucking standardised system of voting.

What is wrong with just making an X with a pencil beside the name of the candidate you want to vote for? Why have these unreliable voting machines and irregularities from state to state, county to county, etc, etc.

I realise that Canada is a much smaller country, but our voting system is pretty much flawless. Registered voters receive a voter card weeks before the election. We take that to the polling station (a school, hall, or whatever), we show our ID to verify who we are and the elections people cross off our name to show that we voted. Then we go behind a cardboard box thing with our ballot, open it up and make a simple X with a pencil before placing the ballot in polling station box. It's really fucking simple. I'm in and out within 5 minutes every time!

Why can't the USA just adopt a universal system?

___________________
"No offense, but you're stupid"