In order to register to vote in Texas for the first time, you need an ID. And if you don't have an ID at the time of registration, the letters "ID" are put on the top of your voter's registration card so when you do go to vote a poll worker knows to confirm that you are who you say you are.
Most people today have photo IDs; anyone with a bank account, moving vehicle, or even a library card (at least in my case) has a state issued piece of plastic with a name and a picture. In today's world, I can guarantee you that there are more people with state issued ID cards than there are voter registration cards.
One might ask: "What is he getting at?" All of us know someone at one time or another that felt passionately about the decisions being made at the polls and yet were unable to vote due to the fact that they hadn't registered, or had missed the deadline. I can think of three, and yes... my name made my own list.
In fact, I would find it less detrimental to voter turnout if they demanded state issued IDs at the polls and did away with voter registration all together. Call me a "radical" if you will, but I don't think it is a far fetched idea that voter registration is keeping voters from voting.
Everyone knows that if a task has multiply steps to complete less people are likely to actually go all the way to the end with it. The simpler things are the more people will agree to do it. Like surveys, at first people used these long surveys to get people's opinion on things to possibly better their service or company. They found it was very difficult to get people to comply. Now to get people to do a survey they are considerately shorter, being 3-5 minutes long. Also they offer things like coupons and free food upon completion of these surveys. This is exactly what Griff was saying on the issue of voters needing a registration card to vote in his blog Government, The Texas Way. Having a lengthy process or additional steps lowers the number of voters. Making voting more difficult than necessary.
ReplyDeleteIn Texas it is required that you register to vote and get a registration card. Then you must take this card and a state issued ID with you to be able to vote. The biggest argument Griff made was that the registration card should be able to be acquired right before voting (same day, same place) or dropped all together. I completely agree with him. I feel like if the process to vote was made as simple as taking your ID to the ballots, voting, then leaving more young people would turn out. A lot of politicians speak on how the youth is the future and how we could make a difference and I believe this is true. There is a count less number of college students and recent high school graduates able to vote who simply haven't. Whether its because of them missing the registration dead line or not having a registration card all together I feel that isn't a good reason to restrict someone from voting. As long as they are able to prove they are who they say they are with a state issued ID they should be able to vote.
I know there are people who do not have a state issued ID. I do not agree that these people should be completely left out of participating in voting. Maybe if we kept the registration card we could use it for the people who don't have the issued ID. That way it keeps track of them and their information so that eventually they can get one. This would also be a way of not hindering them from voting on a candidate thats gonna make decisions that will effect their future. If they live in the area (legally or not) I feel as though they should have some say on what goes on with what could change around them.
Overall voter registration cards are typically not what people think about when discussing what candidates or parties they're going for. Nor is it something thought about when deciding what time and day your off from work or school to go vote. Then to get there and find you didn't register and can not vote. This would be equally devastating as hearing you missed the date to do so and now its too late. This registration card is inconvenient, unnecessary, and just more trouble then its worth. If the card was done away with more votes would increase dramatically.