Replies: 29 Comments

Comment #1: Hannah said on 4/23/05 @ 6:14pm ET...

If the GA government is requiring photo ID to vote, then it should be required to make sure that all registered voters, or those attempting to register, have photo ID. i.e. Drive them to the nearest DMV, pay for the ID. Otherwise the state govt should be charged with discrimination and voter suppression!

Comment #2: Sherry said on 4/23/05 @ 11:11pm ET...

Mr. Conyers,

I know my State of Ohio will not be far behind with Kenneth Blackheart at the helm. You are absolutely right! Photo ID's will not stop those determined to commit voter fraud.

I haven't heard of any instances of "voter" fraud in Ohio - plenty of Election Fraud though. If there was someone voting fraudulently, I would be inclined to believe that it was an RNC operative posing as a Democrat.

Comment #3: Torqued said on 4/24/05 @ 1:05am ET...

If there are voters committing fraud at the polls it is a well-guarded secret. I would wager that the right-wingers can't document any cases of "voter fraud". The fraud is being committed electronically and through widespread disenfranchisment using every ploy imaginable. The entire election process is forcefully controlled by the neo-con criminals in power so only one team can be committing the crimes.

Why? Republicans are not electable to reach a majority by honest means since they represent only the richest corporations, and richest citizens in America. Always have, always will! When we allowed corporations and the rich to fund our election campaigns we lost our last voice. Our vote.

Which brings us back to the same old game the extreme right has always played: Racism and Civil rights attacks on our citizen democracy, or what remains of it!

It is up to us individually to right our course. Individually. That means you and I and 280 million Americans working every day to reclaim our lost and now stolen democracy. Lets go boys and girls... It's our only hope.

Comment #4: Danny Fife said on 4/24/05 @ 5:14am ET...

It is not just our only hope, it is our rage!!!!!!! It is time to no longer put up with any of the bullshit they have pulled, and scream them back into the corner to cower in fear!!!!!!

http://www.bushcheated04.com

I have never seen such outrageous measures of a fascist state, to disenfranchise and supress all voters who they can't "hack" their vote away.

And I will not stand for this again, just look at this disgusting hegemony.

http://www.flcv.com/ohiosum.html
http://www.cronos.com/electionfraud

Have you all seen this? Its time everyone get fighting heavily, and weigh in against these cowards! Its no longer an option just to "wait"!

Organize media channels from every angle and protest, litigate, and hold full fledged election reform hearings. We must get everyone who's doing something to chain together, and broadcast the message on the new media, radio, newspapers, and all of the above.

This story right here is another example of outrage,
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33997~2830629,00.html
I mean please, impersonating the secret service and throwing men and women out of a townhall meeting?!????

John Kerry, bless his soul I believe in him but he must get angry. Really really angry, because that is how the truth comes out!!

Danny Fife

Comment #5: Lyn Wall said on 4/24/05 @ 10:02am ET...

There is a bill in the Texas legislature to do the same thing. We have been urging our legislators to oppose HB 1706.

Comment #6: Dan said on 4/24/05 @ 11:39am ET...

Georgia Gov Sonny Perdue says he doesn't understand all the fuss over the bill he just signed. He says if people have a problem with the ID they can now vote absentee without stating a reason and without ID, thanks to the very same bill.

This is so twisted it gives me a headache.

Comment #7: Duncan said on 4/24/05 @ 1:29pm ET...

Licenses cost money and (depending on the state) driving lessons. Many also don't get it unless they have a car. Unless the state decides to pay for absolutely every single individual to get a driver's license, then they are denying at least some of the poor their right to vote. Many of the poor are also minorities who traditionally vote Democrat. It's not difficult to see that this is a way of ensuring reduced Democrat votes; it just doesn't have a straight line of proof.

Comment #8: zola said on 4/24/05 @ 1:42pm ET...

The republicans have no shame. If Gov.Perdue is so interested in election reform, perhaps he should become informed to the REAL corruption in our elections and be pressured to answer why he is not demanding VERIFIABLE elections.

Comment #9: Horkus said on 4/24/05 @ 2:31pm ET...

According to Paul Lehto on Raw Radio, in Snohomish County WA, electronic voting and paper voting were used side by side. Paper votes accounted for 68% of the votes, the Democratic candidate won by +2000 votes. Touch screen voting accounted for 32% of the votes, the Republican candidate won by +8000 votes.
If that doesn't raise a red flag, I don't know what will.

Here's a good site that has a list of all the block the vote tactics and players.

Comment #10: Horkus said on 4/24/05 @ 2:33pm ET...

Clarification: Vote counts based on the 2004 Washington Governer's race.

Comment #11: Hannah said on 4/24/05 @ 4:12pm ET...

Re #7
At least in my state, one can get a photo ID that is not a drivers license, but one must get it at the DMV. I don't know about Georgia.

Comment #12: Susan said on 4/25/05 @ 1:19pm ET...

I know there is pending legislation in the Texas legislature re voter IDs. I have e-mailed the legislators involved but I do not know all the details. Rick Casey of the Houston Chronicle seems to cover these issues very well. I will try to find out what is pending when I have time.

Comment #13: Kira said on 4/25/05 @ 3:08pm ET...

Any legal folks know if it would be possible to set up ID tables in areas where the most affected people live - say outside grocery stores or Dollar Stores?

Comment #14: Ron Jackson said on 4/25/05 @ 3:58pm ET...

Here is AZ, a new law requires all voters to have proof of citizenship
before voting. A clear shot to disfranchise Hispanic and Native American voters.

Comment #15: Susan said on 4/25/05 @ 3:59pm ET...

In Texas, HB 1706 introduced by Rep. Mary Denny (R) of Aubrey TX would require a photo ID or "other approved" ID AND a voter registration card for voting. Without such ID, only provisional (i.e. "Jim Crow" redux) ballots msy be cast. The ACLU of Texas has objected. It was set for debate today, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Thank you for calling attention to these attempts at disenfranchisement, Rep. Conyers. Like so much of last week's Carter-Baker "commission" hearing, the preferred distraction from the fraud inherent in the electoral system is to claim the voters are cheating, i.e. blame the victim.

These proposals not only make it harder to vote, they also presuppose the unproven assertion that voters cast votes illegally.

Comment #16: makesenseofit said on 4/28/05 @ 5:58pm ET...

We are on the way to a one party 3rd world country if this type of criminality is not stopped ...

Comment #17: rm said on 4/29/05 @ 12:03am ET...

Two issues here: One, this is clearly a poll tax. Two, I personally don't have a problem identifying myself at a polling place. However, refer to #1, in that the ID should be free of charge...see if GA is willing to do that!?

Comment #18: ryan said on 4/29/05 @ 5:51am ET...

You HAVE so got to be kidding!!! Everyone in this country ought to have photo ID.Down here in Florida a woman who had converted to Islam ,Sultaana ,Freeman attempted to get an Driver's License/ ID completely veiled.As it turns out Ms. Freeman had been arrested and convicted previously for battering foster children.Since we haven't lost our minds yet,we told Freeman "No" The only post I have seen here that has any sanity is the one who advocated GA making it free of charge.

Comment #19: Terry said on 4/29/05 @ 12:02pm ET...

Amazingly until now in Georgia you culd use any piece of ID to vote, except for your voter registratiion card, including your hunting license or sex change license.

Comment #20: PaperBallotsHandCounted said on 4/29/05 @ 1:56pm ET...

Rep. Conyers is correct to be concerned about this obvious ploy to disenfranchise poor people. I fear a more nefarious purpose however: to keep the focus off the real criminal mechanism that the mafia in control of America now has put into place -- namely, the blackbox vote-stealing machines.

The solution: Paper Ballots, Hand Counted. The penalty if not enacted: a Facist police state in America (if we don't have it already). People have to start thinking about whether they are Good Germans or non-slaves. The choice will be simple, and lethal, if it comes to that.

Think; then act.

Comment #21: Barry said on 4/29/05 @ 2:25pm ET...

Ryan, I have only one thing to say to you obviously loyal followers of The Republican Talking Points:

A "sexy" anecdote does not an epidemic of "voter fraud" make.

There was a time when the mainstream press would listen adoringly on bended knee, when Reagan would blather on in his racist diatribe about the "welfare queen" with her limousine to the grocery store, etc.

While they're hardly better journalists, these days, most citizens have become a lot more hip to cheap proppganda tactics. Conyers is right; you are simply MISLEADING by using this story (which may or may not be urban legend) to advocate the Republicans' latest incarnation of the "poll tax".

Comment #22: redwine said on 4/29/05 @ 3:11pm ET...

The only frauds that I consistently hear of are l. Electronic voting screens, vote for Kerry and it is counted for Bush.
2. Disenfranchisement of voters in FL by Bush's asshole brother who had an erronous list of so-called felons who were in actual fact not felons at all...another voting fraud perpatrated by the right wing know it alls...
3. Those pompous politicans always vote for photo IDs..why not just count ALL the votes? Or is that asking too much?? The above is where the fraud is and somebody needs to do some hard time for letting it happen...Disgusting...

Comment #23: David Bell said on 4/29/05 @ 7:54pm ET...

It's not who votes that counts, it's who counts the votes.
Who's in charge here?
Isn't this like a poll tax?
That's illegal.
See line three....

Comment #24: ryan said on 5/1/05 @ 9:12pm ET...

Barry -and John Conyers for that matter..these smug assumptions "Oh wait, they-don't-think-like -we-do so-they-MUST-be-reading-from- Republican- Talking -Points-or Rush-Limbaugh is the stuff that truly loses the Democrats election after election.As for whether or not my story is an urban legend or not, a little less intellectual laziness on your part and a half-hearted Google search would have rendered numerous sourcings for my factual account .Requiring voters to have a Photo Id is not a "Republican" or a "Neo-conservative" idea ( THERE's your urban legend), it's an idea I have heard coming out of people from both sides of the political divide .As for figuring a way for the Id's to be free of charge to the voter so it's not a "poll tax ",are you telling me the country that had Latimer and Edison can't solve that problem? give me a break....

Comment #25: Horkus said on 5/2/05 @ 3:52am ET...

Ryan, you're not fooling anyone here.

First of all, I don't think that requiring an ID is a big deal. What is a big deal is how officials at the polls will decide how to use the ID law. Is this a real ID or not? Why is the address on the license diferent? Etc. and so on. I find the ID supspicious, therefore you cannot vote. More block the vote tactics.

Second, the reason Democrats lost elections in the past four years is due to two main reasons.
One, reslashing districts to favor the GOP is what costed most House Democrats their seats(Texas, Georgia, Florida).
Two, Vote Fraud of all varieties. Those include suppression of voters (ie.. Ohio and Kenneth Blackwell),and electronic voting machines with "glitches", undervotes, lost votes, etc. All of which seem to favor Republicans.
These same companies make ATMs and
cash registration logs with paper receipts that work flawlessly. No excuse on their part.

And the woman who refused to take off her veil? Assuming that story is true, that was one incident in a country with a population of 300 millon people? Most people know well enough to show their face when they go to get an ID. That one incident is irrelevant.

With that said, what new pile of garbage can you come up with to criticize Rep. Conyers?

Comment #26: Ryan said on 5/2/05 @ 12:04pm ET...

Horkus:Oh where to begin?

"First of all, I don't think that requiring an ID is a big deal. What is a big deal is how officials at the polls will decide how to use the ID law. Is this a real ID or not? Why is the address on the license diferent? Etc. and so on. I find the ID supspicious, therefore you cannot vote. More block the vote tactics."

Well Hork it would be entirely important to make certain an Id is valid.What would be the point of having it if officials couldn't make sure they were? Faking Id's to get into clubs is a minor collegiate industry

"Two, Vote Fraud of all varieties"

Oh dear Lord :NEXT!

"Assuming that story is true,"

This is a throwaway editorial comment since the story was covered locally and nationally and the details readily available to anyone not stranded on an unmarked island reason I brought it up is that in the aftermath of 911 people should have Photo Id's that IDENTIFY who they are (sans veil) ,this same Id could be used to vote with .

"With that said, what new pile of garbage can you come up with to criticize Rep. Conyers?"

The only thing I have accused anyone of here of being is smugly dismissive and is it true? A quick review of the responses shows it to be and I advised the Senator in my remark this is what loses the Democrats elections, not phantom voter fraud and alien abductions.Good fortune betide the present Democrats when they realize being a party of invention is more important than just being the party of dissension.I am consistently astounded that a political party so stunningly obtuse and insular continues to be regarded as a "national" party.

Comment #27: ryan said on 5/2/05 @ 12:27pm ET...

"...and I advised the Senator in my remark.."
I am sure it came as a great suprise to Senators Levin and Stabenow that John Conyers was now a senator from the great state of Michigan.It really should read:

"...and I advised the Congressman in my remark..."

Comment #28: Horkus said on 5/4/05 @ 12:19am ET...

Ryan, I see you watch a lot of FOX "news". Don't debate a valid point, just dismiss it as hogwash when you can't debate it in a fair and factual manner.

I don't care about some crazy woman refusing to show her face when going to get a picture ID. She's nuts. I see no logic in bringing that up.

And you proved my point for me. Partisan officials will misuse the ID tactics as they see fit. For a person to fake voter fraud requiring IDs, they'll have to scam their way onto the voter roll with a regristration card and a fake ID.
I don't see anyone climbing through all that to wait in line to vote. A scam that doesn't reward the individual with anything other than a vote. Am I supposed to believe con-artists are chomping at the bit
to commit fraud on one single vote? Please, get real.

Lastly, vote manipulation in large numbers that sway the election isn't out
of the realm of scientific plausiblity. It still happens in many countries. If the exit and pre-election polls aren't consistent with the election result one or the other is wrong, as with the Ukranian elections. And since exit polls have been fairly consistent in the US for the past century. I have no reason to distrust them.

Maybe you're the kind of person who'll believe what they want to believe whether or not the facts hit them in the face. If that's you, then I'm not here to change your mind. I'm here to blog with reasonably open-minded people.
*Back at ya*

Comment #29: chris said on 5/7/05 @ 2:14pm ET...

Oh for Pete's sake. Pay the ten bucks or so and get a state ID. This is much ado about nothing.
If you truly care about voting you'll pay this minimal charge for citizenship and get all sorts of freebies like being able to use your new ID to cash checks, get airline tickets and all kinds of wonderful things.