The Battle over U.S. Ballet Integrity in TX – AZ's Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) Led with Voter I.D. requirements - Multiple States have laws in place

Ballot showing voter fraud in California – article Public Corruptionwatch




From the Austin Statesman, Headlined:” Trial over Texas voter ID law begins in Washington” speaks to the Texas voter requirement that all eligible voters show proof by providing photo identification. The lead verbiage from the Statesman’s article is “Controversial law” – which apparently applies to a multitude of states and commonwealth’s that now require voter identification at the polls.



The premise used by the detractors is voter suppression or disenfranchisement – however, in most instances, states requiring voter I.D. at the polls, issue I.D. cards at little to no cost. Acceptable forms of photo I.D. vary – but, in general a Drivers License, or general I.D. issued by the state or municipality where one is voting is sufficient. It is rare for a U.S. citizen not to have a photo I.D. as well as any other “acceptable forms” of Identification – so why call foul?



Democrats and Republican Governors and Secretary of State’s alike have signed and upheld legislation for voter integrity - and to date, although battles in the Courts are constantly waged to overturn these laws, the State’s involved have seen little to no opposition from within their state, rather it comes from outside interests.



State’s that have Voter ID Laws: Arizona, first signed into law by then Governor Janet Napolitano after the citizens of Arizona voted for proposition 200 – a voter I.D. requirement. Janet Napolitano now serves the U.S. through her work with the Obama Administration. Other states that have voter I.D. laws in place: Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indiana, and, Wisconsin.



The premise now is that voter ID laws are targeting those who are here illegally and somehow, they are “racist” as those who are suggested to be here illegally are Hispanic. This argument has been in play since Arizona became a major thoroughfare for illegal immigration once Texas and California had their borders shored up over a decade ago, and illegal immigrants began to pour into and through Arizona. However, those illegal immigrants are not solely from Mexico, or other Latin American Nations, although they may represent the bulk, there are nationals from other nations that also take the perilous journey into the U.S. – those moving human cargo over the Arizona border are now tied to the murderous Mexican Drug Cartels.



The point is that it is a privilege and a duty for every American Citizen over the age of 18 to vote for public officials – it is way in which we, as citizens, participate in the Republic style of government that is the United States of America.



Hispanic or Latino Citizens (or rather American Citizens) do not cry foul over voter I.D. requirements, but business groups that hire illegal immigrants at lower wages and under less than stellar conditions do, as well as the U.S. Government – regardless of which party is in control of which house, due to the fear of disenfranchising “Hispanics”. This blogger, who is Spanish, feels that targeting individuals who’s legally immigrated from Mexico, Spain, Guatemala, Venezuela, and other Spanish Speaking nations, are just that – Spanish American’s, Mexican American’s, Venezuelan American, no different that Irish American’s, Italian Americans, and so on – but labeled by the Government as: a race – therefore a voting bloc, and accompanied by all the stigma such a designation brings.



Therefore, the law in Texas is no more controversial than the laws in any states that are attempting to ensure voter integrity because of voter fraud, not “racism”, not in today’s society.



Why is voter integrity of import?



The simple answer is that voter integrity protects each and every eligible voter’s vote – especially in states that have been known to, in the past, have a bit of fraud going on – or the potential for fraud. For example purging voter rolls of deceased individuals and individuals who are no longer eligible to vote in a state due to the fact that they have moved. It is estimated that 1.8 million deceased voters are still on the voter rolls in many states and Commonwealths(CBS News). The States and Commonwealth’s who have not updated their voter rolls to reflect the actual registered voters – In the 2010 election, for example, Massachusetts was found to have deceased and non-resident voters on the rolls – lending to possible voter fraud, however, nothing has been done, and the Secretary of State going into the 2012 election has yet to take action and clean up the voter rolls, and most likely will not.



Therefore, if one is a registered voter, whether that person be white, black, Hispanic, a woman (the Majority, not a minority - but still paid less on a dollar than her male counterpart), Asian, or simply put a Citizen of the United States, and someone who, a part of a political party intent on remaining in power, votes twice, or is not an American citizen, regardless of their nation of origin (not race), that is taking away the vote the Citizen cast.



It is this opinion that all fifty states and Puerto Rico (our 51st state) should have voter I.D. requirements, to protect the integrity of those who are eligible to vote under the Constitution of the United States of America. Perhaps if those special interest groups are so concerned about disenfranchising legal voters, they might take the money spent lobbying or producing commercials, and find those voters that are unable to obtain Identifications Cars and donate the necessary funds to buy an I.D. or if the I.D. is free, provide education as to how to drive to City Hall and get an I.D. (o set up transportation). It seems a better use of the money and the time to this Spanish American Citizen.

Minnesota Senate Passes SF509 – Voter ID Requirements – Offers Free ID’s – The Quest for the Pure Election.

Previous Ohio Voters - image and article Sandusky Register.com

The Minnesota Senate passed SF 509 (see page 16 PDF for text), a bill requiring voters present a valid photo id prior to casting a ballot in the State of Minnesota. There was a party line vote, followed by the usual hue and cry regarding “disenfranchisement of voter”, by the mere act of asking someone to identify themselves prior to casting a ballot. The argument that many voters do not have photo identification cards has been made moot by the bill, which also requires that those without a photo id be issued one “free of charge” .

U.S. Citizens, one would think, who are of an age to vote, would have some sort of photo identification, which is required for almost everything, from high school and college ids to ids required at amusement parks, drivers licenses, and photo id’s issued for those who do not have a desire to drive or passports. Most are based on: a social security number, which, granted, can be stolen or forged, however, this may definitely be a step in the direction of fraud at the voter booth when it comes to charges of “deceased or ineligible voters (those who have moved out of state), somehow voting in certain state elections (See 116,000 plus voters on Massachusetts roles, which apparently does not concern the MA Secretary of State, Democrat William Galvin – nationwide over 16 million voters in 2010 were either deceased or had fled high tax states (editorial), with Massachusetts continuing to hold a large number on the rolls. The refusal to clear these rolls by the MA Secretary of State, is part and parcel of the “course” in the “Bluest State” (or a contender for that moniker with California, etc.), where no photo ID is required to vote, one must merely state one’s address and name, and get granted a ballot.

The fact of the matter is that when one votes, it is a right and a privilege as a citizen, and when one votes fraudulently or casts a fraudulent ballot, it makes a mockery of the system, and disenfranchises those who are actually eligible to vote. In States where political parties trump rules and the rights of the individual, regardless of party, are cast aside for the maintenance of “power”, it is a crime (literally) and, at the same time, shows no confidence in that political party by those who are in power. If one believes in their base or political ideology as perfect, then it follows that one would believe that their fellow citizens would be inclined to agree and vote a straight party ticket. That is of course, if those who have the ability to leave the dead to vote, and oppose voter id, had faith that their party would survive with an honest voting system.

Therefore, Kudos to the Minnesota House and Senate for putting together a bill that requires each vote count, while ensuring those who are said to be “disenfranchised” (or too poor to buy an identification card) receive a voter ID card, free of charge. This should be the rule in each and every one of the fifty states and those territories (Guam and Puerto Rico) which vote in general elections.

Currently out of 50 states, only 4 (previously 3) require a photo id when voting , (Pew), however, those who cannot show photo ID are allowed to cast a “provisional ballot”, which is then judged eligible or ineligible by either a board, a town clerk, or other method. It appears that Minnesota would have few “provisional ballots cast, if any, given that Free Voter Id cards would be available. This further cuts the potential for fraud.