House advances Arkansas voter-ID legislation
By The Associated Press
This article was published March 13, 2013 at 4:56 p.m.
- Comments (27)
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The Arkansas House has passed a bill that would require state voters to present photo identification before casting a ballot.
The measure passed on a 51-44 vote Wednesday. The bill still has to go before the Senate for final passage. The upper chamber will have to concur on an amendment for the legislation to go to Gov. Mike Beebe.
Opponents had argued that the state's constitution requires a two-thirds supermajority on the measure. But earlier Wednesday, the House Rules Committee voted to recommend to the speaker that voter ID bill was properly referred to the House from the Senate on a 23-12 vote.
The Senate vote was one vote short of a two-thirds majority. Opponents of the measure had argued that the bill changes constitutionally-established voter registration requirements.
Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more details.
Comments on: House advances Arkansas voter-ID legislation
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JakeTidmore says... March 13, 2013 at 6:19 p.m.
Voter. Suppression.
There was no evidence of need for this law. And in all the debate we've had here about it, nary a soul supporting it has shown any factual basis for its need.
Sad day for voter rights in this state.
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inquire says... March 13, 2013 at 6:27 p.m.
I've asked before.......how many documented cases of someone impersonating another voter at the polls have occurred in Arkansas, or anywhere? ID's will do nothing to stop the types of voter fraud that actually exist.
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BillSmith says... March 13, 2013 at 8:23 p.m.
jobs,jobs,jobs
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T6 says... March 13, 2013 at 9:35 p.m.
What are you Democrats afraid of?
Going on five years for the DemocRats and still no jobs, jobs jobs just blame, blame, blame someone else. Gas prices UP, food prices UP, unemployment UP, utility prices UP, insurance prices UP, Deficit UP.
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RonalFos says... March 13, 2013 at 10:02 p.m.
T6, you are so full of $hit! Jobs are up, unemployment down, deficit is down. The economy is improving at a rate that hasn't been seen in a generation. You need to get out in the sunshine more.
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HotSpringsLawyer says... March 13, 2013 at 10:24 p.m.
Can they at least exempt senior citizens, or provide they can use an expired driver's license? Are they really afraid of a flood of octogenarian and nonagenerian voter impersonation?
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arkda3 says... March 13, 2013 at 10:31 p.m.
They don't care if they follow the Constitution for the Great State of Arkansas. Here is another case that the AG will have to defend, because these people that are still wet behind the ears have no common sense. They are in power and intend to push bills into law that can't be legal unless we the citzens vote on. For a group that hollers they want less government, they sure have increased government.
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inquire says... March 14, 2013 at 12:18 a.m.
I'm afraid of nothing; I will never let a tea party hack keep me from voting. I still ask, how many documented cases of someone impersonating another person at the polls are there?
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GrimReaper says... March 14, 2013 at 12:31 a.m.
RonalFos, your ignorant statements show that you are the one who is full of it. You need to shut up and get back in your cage!
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djigoo says... March 14, 2013 at 1:14 a.m.
We all know what's REALLY behind the "Voter ID" movement. So let's just be honest with each other about the issue.
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TimberTopper says... March 14, 2013 at 4:53 a.m.
I'm thinking that maybe a Top Secret clearance is what they'd prefer, for a person to be able to vote. The Gerry-Mandering of this state as well as many others has made the democratic process undemocratic. Districts should be by law made to be 50 % each Republican and Democrat. That way the politicians would at least have to work for the people of the state, rather than having a lock on the seats.
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T6 says... March 14, 2013 at 8:07 a.m.
Inquire... Have you heard of Meleowese Richardson? Of course you have!
Obama supporter Melowese Richardson has been indicted for allegedly voting at least six times. She also is charged with illegal voting in 2008 and 2011.
The 58-year-old veteran Cincinnati poll worker, indicted Monday, faces eight counts of voter fraud. Two others, one of whom is a nun, have been charged separately.
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Reason says... March 14, 2013 at noon
Actually, if you read the bill, it is left up to Sec. Mark Martin to determine at a later date how the voter IDs will be issued and what will be required. The bill only specifies what ID will be acceptable for in-person voting, absentee voting and mail voting but NOT what is required to obtain a free voter ID card. Anybody trust Mark Martin?
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Also, studies have shown that there is more voter fraud committed in absentee voting than in-person voting and absentee voting favors republicans. No photo ID is required. Nursing home residents must have documentation for the administrator of the facility but no photo ID.
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Early voters (even with photo id) must first state their name, date of birth and address to verify his/her registration.
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Furthermore, the way that I read the Voting Rights Act, I find this bill to be in violation and I cannot find any evidence of pre-clearance as outlined in Section 5 and required by law.
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US Constitution:
“No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States,”
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We have a bunch of FRAUDS for LEGISLATORS.
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inquire says... March 14, 2013 at 12:01 p.m.
She was stupid and that was wrong, but the numbers are so few compared to the fraud that can occur with the Diebold machines and the Republican firm that was caught so many times committing fraud. Why don't we do something about what causes the MOST fraud? That does not seem to be on the agenda anywhere.
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lazybar says... March 14, 2013 at 12:33 p.m.
inquire how do you know these numbers are so few?you have to show id for everything else so why not this?what are you scared of?
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Reason says... March 14, 2013 at 1:52 p.m.
I am so tired of "you have to show id for everything else".
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NOT TRUE
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The blind DO NOT have driver's licenses. (Wonder why?)
Many women NEVER drive. Their husband drives.
Many women DO NOT have a bank account. Bank Accounts are in the HUSBAND's name.
Utility bills are in HUSBAND's name.
The wife never worked out-side the home.
THE MAN conducts ALL business. (Mostly control freaks.)
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Many elderly driver's licenses have EXPIRED. They no longer drive.
Their children or caregivers take care of finances and driving.
Yes, There are many more example and many citizens without photo ID.
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inquire says... March 14, 2013 at 3:14 p.m.
According to figures in a study quoted by the Washington Post Aug. 13, 2012 on their website, in person voter fraud by impersonation occurs once in fifteen million votes.
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Jfish says... March 14, 2013 at 3:40 p.m.
I believe a state ID in Arkansas costs $5 at the revenue office, so it might cost the state $2.50 to produce it. A poor person is probably already getting government assistance, so what is a couple of more bucks to give them an ID. In a country with over 300 milllion people and over 10 million illegal aliens, a photo ID is a good idea. Most law abiding citizens have to show a valid ID to get in their workplace nowadays. Ted Kacynski (sp?) and a few thousand other people like him are the only people who do not want or need an ID.
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lazybar says... March 14, 2013 at 4:01 p.m.
reason my wife is a nurse.at almost all times she carries her badge that has photo id,her drivers license,and her cc permit.if you write a check photo id is required and some places require you to show id to use a credit card.a blind person might not be able to drive but if they write a check and yes i`ve seen a blind person that could write his name better than most.
inquire might the washington post only be reporting cases that were proven?how do you really know without providing id?will it stop all fraud?no,i remember my greatgrandfather who was a true democrate talk about driving to the poor black communities and haul them to the boothes in the back of a truck.they would feed them a sandwich with a rc cola and give them a list of who to vote for.i guess much like the unions do today.
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Reason says... March 14, 2013 at 4:40 p.m.
Well, since the legislature allows Mark Martin to write the law at some future date, exactly WHAT form of ID will be required to get a "free" ID? If a birth certificate is required, will it also be "free". For the ones that cannot drive, will the state hire somebody to take them to get this "free" ID? Do they get mileage (about 50 miles for some folks)? How often will these IDs expire? Where is the money coming from? The bill does not specify.
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Early voting, where I live, has 2 parking spaces. Handicap is a joke. Several precincts have been shut down. The elderly are intimidated with the electronic voting machines.
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Lazy: I'm assuming your wife does not have to use your ID. Re-read my post.
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lazybar says... March 14, 2013 at 4:54 p.m.
no i read it fine just stating many people have multiple forms of id and everyone should always carry some form of id,that just smart
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BillSmith says... March 14, 2013 at 5:08 p.m.
The problem with the right wing nuts is that they do not adhear to the philosiphy of "Live and Let Live", they want "it's our way or the highway". There days are numbered thankfully, the country is going more liberal every day as the old WASP die off and the young people adopt "Live and Let Live" and because you are different than me I do not hate You.
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BarichMilhusseinObamaNixonPOTUS says... March 14, 2013 at 9:44 p.m.
I am so tired of "you have to show id for everything else".
.
NOT TRUE
.
The blind DO NOT have driver's licenses. (Wonder why?)
Many women NEVER drive. Their husband drives.
Many women DO NOT have a bank account. Bank Accounts are in the HUSBAND's name.
Utility bills are in HUSBAND's name.
The wife never worked out-side the home.
THE MAN conducts ALL business. (Mostly control freaks.)
.
Many elderly driver's licenses have EXPIRED. They no longer drive.
Their children or caregivers take care of finances and driving.
Yes, There are many more example and many citizens without photo ID.
Holy Crap are you describing the Middle East Reason? You also lost the memo that photo ID and drivers licenses are 2 different things. I'm not supporting this law but please use your brain.
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inquire says... March 14, 2013 at 10:14 p.m.
Lazybar, you are delusional. I've been married to a union man for many years and what you are claiming does not happen here. Yes, the union sends out a mailer telling who the political committee endorsed after candidate interviews. (I remember one office in one election where they endorsed no one, because 'the choice was between someone who knew nothing and someone who didn't give a damn'.) This is no different than other organizations, including churches, trying to influence their members.
He has never been "hauled in a truck to vote." We go together in our own car to vote. No one in the union knows how anyone else votes unless they choose to discuss it.
Your blind hatred of working class people with enough gumption to stick together and look out for themselves is as bad as the one issue abortion crowd. You both try to bring the issues into every possible unrelated discussion.
And by the way, the Chamber of Commerce and the National Manufacturers Association are just unions for the owners. If owners have representation and lobbyists, then the workers should, too.
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BarichMilhusseinObamaNixonPOTUS says... March 14, 2013 at 10:40 p.m.
inquire here is what I will never understand; you keep asking people to answer your question/provide proof but you have been on here many times telling folks to stuff it, etc when being asked to answer a question/provide proof. Also how would you feel if I had Jake Tidmore's avatar right now? I am certain you would be more than happy to tell me I offend everyone on here like you did when I had one that had the word piss in it. However since he is on your side it is just fine and he offends no one. You would be so much more credible without the hypocrisy
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inquire says... March 14, 2013 at 11:09 p.m.
RedWings, I asked ONE question, AND I answered it. It was extremely pertinent.
I said "stuff it" ONE time after the toxic tea party hacks infuriated me for the zillionth time. It certainly seems to have made an impression on you, since you mention it so often. I consider it a compliment that I am so rarely crude that my one instance stood out so.
I don't like Jake's avitar. I also don't mess with him, not just because I usually consider his posts intelligent, but because He doesn't mess with ME, unlike the toxic tea party group that seems to delight in being hateful and insulting to me. You see how this works. He is polite to me, and I ignore his avatar that I don't care for. You go out of your way to be rude, crude, and insulting to me, and ...........
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1soni says... March 15, 2013 at 6:50 a.m.
"9/25/12 five arrests in a Crittenden County election fraud case. The five are charged with possession of more than 10 absentee ballots with intent to defraud"
I don't see any new laws to address this issue. I don't see any new laws to address voting machine fraud/rigging. Why not?
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