Trump’s executive order on voting rights. I may be misinterpreting this (correct me please if I am), but it sure sounds like you won’t be allowed to vote if you didn’t opt for a “RealID” version of your license. A regular driver’s license contains no information regarding citizenship status, at least in my state, so it wouldn’t count. A lot of low income people in rural America have skipped getting a “RealID” because it’s more expensive. If this order goes thru, that decision may cost them their right to vote. This could disenfranchise millions of low income voters.
Non-American here. Those are variants, correct? Logical “or”. You should have at least one of those documents. Isn’t the passport the easiest and most obvious variant?
Only a minority of Americans have passports, overwhelmingly the wealthy.
And this administration has been finding excuses to not provide passports to certain classes of people, like trans people.
I’m not saying it won’t affect anyone but a real id takes like $30 and about 20 minutes.
Hahaha no. Last time I went to the DMV for anything (CA), I had an “appointment” and it still took two hours waiting in line.
Not the easiest nor cheapest to obtain. Also, only like 1/4 US citizens have a passport last I checked.
Cheapest? Is it that expensive? USA-tier expensive? Like $10k? Because in my country (and all those nearby countries where I know anything passport-related) passports are must-have and cost a few dollars to make (and the first passport is free of charge)
It seems like it’s either $130 or $165 (130 + 35) for a first time applicant according to the web. Keep in mind that many US households couldn’t bear a sudden $400 expense and this is even worse amongst the working poor.
I don’t understand. It is once per lifetime spend. And Americans somehow can pay $5 for a burger. And cannot afford $200 for a universal document?
Ok, I suppose it is some very local nuance that I’m too outsider to understand.
Burgers are like $15 now
So… 10 burgers per passport?
That imposes a de facto poll tax. If the courts weren’t corrupt, they’d immediately shut that down as unconstitutional.
Basically, it seems that way since, afaik, no free ID is a available that meets the requirements.
Even if it were free, getting it would still definitely be harder for the disadvantaged, but I have no idea how the courts might see that in isolation.
Out of all the things this administration has done, this one almost seems somewhat logical.
I can understand not having a RealID or passport, since both are mainly for travel. Not everyone has a need or desire to travel.
Section D says a government-issued ID and proof of citizenship is okay. Doesn’t everyone at least have a state ID (probably a drivers license) and a birth certificate?
Oh, it’s very logical; but the goal absolutely is to reduce voter turnout even further (and our turnout is disturbingly bad already). But honestly, you ought to spend some time looking into ways of disenfranchising voters. You really might be surprised how devious they tactics have become. Just saying
but the goal absolutely is to reduce voter turnout even further
And that will be enforced selectively.
Executive Orders are not Law. The President cannot make Law only the Congress makes Law. The President must “faithfully execute” the Law.
Article I, Section 4, Clause 1:
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
Tell that to all federal workers who lost their their lawfully approved congress jobs
Ok so I have to ask coming from Belgium where having an ID on you at all times is mandatory (and living in the Netherlands where having at least a drivers license on you at all times is mandatory since that also has all needed data unlike Belgium). Why is this even remotely a “hard” requirement? Do Americans just not need to carry ID on them?
Outside of the marked stuff it also states a Federal or State government-issued foto id is valid, hence the question.
No, you don’t need to carry ID on you — many people that don’t drive (and many others that do) don’t have IDs.
You’ll also note that the state-issued ID must indicate the holder is a US-citizen. Most states have an upgraded version (enhanced) ID/ Drivers License that can be used to this end but it typically requires additional verification and an added fee — it is not provided by default. Non-citizens such as visa-holders and even non-legal residents are also able to obtain a state-issued ID, though not an enhanced drivers license.
The second part of that clause mentions accompanyment of proof of citizenship. This is usually a birth certificate which is often lost and costs money and takes roughly a month for states to tender a copy to the “holder”. Not sure of other states, but at least the few I am aware of do not provide a legal copy by default. Instead these must be ordered from the state.
I don’t have a RealID and had no intention of getting one. It took over a month to get a replacement birth certificate last year when I needed “proof of citizenship”. When my driver’s license expires I may opt for the RealID if it’s not a major hassle, but something tells me it’s about to become one.
Out of curiosity: do you never fly anywhere? Do you not anticipate needing to fly anywhere on the near future, given the current context? Do you not have a passport?
I do not have a passport. I’ve never left North America. Also, I don’t fly anywhere unless there’s no other option. I haven’t been on a plane in 2-3 years.
So they will make the required documents free to obtain then, right? Otherwise, this is just a poll tax with extra steps.
A literal tax upon our right to vote.
