By: Daniel Nardini
One of the most important contributions of the Motor-Voter law that came into effect back in the 1990’s was to make it easier for people who were qualified to register to vote. This was done by applying for a driver’s license or a state ID. In so doing this they could also register to vote. Strangely enough, Illinois was the last hold-out for passing the Motor-Voter law. Fast-forward a decade later and we are now finding states that are in fact making it harder to actually vote. States like Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin now require all those entering polling stations to show federal or state government-issued identification. As you may have guessed almost no one in this whole country has a federal government-issued identification (apart from U.S. military, federal government workers and people actually licensed by the federal government such as airline pilots. Then there is the passport, but that is for outside the country!). State government-issued identification—such as a driver’s license or state ID card—may not be available to many residents because many people living in rural or isolated regions of the state may not have access to a state driver’s license facility.
Actually, according to the Brennan Center which tracks voting rights, states are actually making requirements to make it harder to vote. Two other examples, Florida and Iowa, now ban people with past criminal convictions from voting. Most states allow U.S. citizens to vote again once they complete their prison sentences. To not allow U.S. citizens to exercise one of their most fundamental rights is an abomination. But increasingly a growing number of states for certain reasons are doing just that. Either the requirements burden voters (especially first-time voters) with unnecessary statutes or make it hard for them to know where in the bureaucracy to register. The whole point of the Motor-Voter law was to streamline the voting process especially for first-time voters. But new state laws in a number of states are actually eroding Americans’ right to vote and choose the party they wish to vote for. Then there is the major problem of third parties that have problems getting on the ballots at all. Certain states require a very high rate of signatures on petitions in order for third parties to get on the ballot. Because of this only Democrat or Republican candidates are allowed on voting ballots.
And who are affected the most by laws requiring so much of U.S. citizens trying to exercise their right to vote? Mostly the elderly who may be to infirm to go to a voting station, or racial and ethnic minorities who have trouble following how to register to vote, or low-income people or people living in geographically isolated areas. Another major problem is that a number of states have been cutting back funding that would help in voter drives to find people who are unable to register to vote but who are eligible to vote to be able to register. The danger to all of this is democracy itself. Democracy is the mass participation of its citizenry, and the more of its citizens who participate the better that democracy will work. Needless to say, our democracy in the fundamental area of voting is being stifled.
When Voters Have No Rights
By: Daniel Nardini
Actually, according to the Brennan Center which tracks voting rights, states are actually making requirements to make it harder to vote. Two other examples, Florida and Iowa, now ban people with past criminal convictions from voting. Most states allow U.S. citizens to vote again once they complete their prison sentences. To not allow U.S. citizens to exercise one of their most fundamental rights is an abomination. But increasingly a growing number of states for certain reasons are doing just that. Either the requirements burden voters (especially first-time voters) with unnecessary statutes or make it hard for them to know where in the bureaucracy to register. The whole point of the Motor-Voter law was to streamline the voting process especially for first-time voters. But new state laws in a number of states are actually eroding Americans’ right to vote and choose the party they wish to vote for. Then there is the major problem of third parties that have problems getting on the ballots at all. Certain states require a very high rate of signatures on petitions in order for third parties to get on the ballot. Because of this only Democrat or Republican candidates are allowed on voting ballots.
And who are affected the most by laws requiring so much of U.S. citizens trying to exercise their right to vote? Mostly the elderly who may be to infirm to go to a voting station, or racial and ethnic minorities who have trouble following how to register to vote, or low-income people or people living in geographically isolated areas. Another major problem is that a number of states have been cutting back funding that would help in voter drives to find people who are unable to register to vote but who are eligible to vote to be able to register. The danger to all of this is democracy itself. Democracy is the mass participation of its citizenry, and the more of its citizens who participate the better that democracy will work. Needless to say, our democracy in the fundamental area of voting is being stifled.