?

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

What card? In my state, I have to show ID (which I use DL). If you don't have an ID, I think a poll worker can vouch for you.

Voters registrations card

 

[Coconut36]

What card? In my state, I have to show ID (which I use DL). If you don't have an ID, I think a poll worker can vouch for you.

State laws might vary but in my state that is absolutely not possible. You MUST have either a photo ID that matches your voter registration (name, address) OR 2 non photo forms of ID (utility bill, lease agreement, voter ID card, official election mail, phone bill, cable bill, bank statements...etc. There is a specific list available online and at the polls as to what can be used) that match voter registration (name and address) or you can have 1 photo ID (that does not match completely due to move/name change..licenses here don't have to be renewed until you are 65 and you are not required to get a new one when you move) and 1 non photo form of ID that does match (like the voter ID, vehicle registration, utility bill..etc).

It is against the law in my state to issue a standard ballot without identification being present. A voter would vote a provisional ballot and need to go to a specific place to provide ID after the fact. Boardworkers can NOT vouch for anyone and must ask for ID from all voters (including spouse, friends, neighbors..etc) and to not do so could result in legal action/lawsuits. Polls are observed (I think someone posted on here about being a poll watcher..such a person I think would be responsible for reporting deviations from the ID laws for voting). It is stressed to us heavily each year in training that we MUST do this and we must do it for every single voter.

OP..you need to find out what the laws are specific to your state. In my state as I mentioned if you have a state issued DL or ID and your name/address on it matches voter registration that is all you need. Or if you have no non photo id there is a list of bills/documents you can use (need 2) or a mixture of the two. In some states the laws could be different so you need to know how it works in your specific state/county.

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

Do you need ur card to vote or just ur DL?

I live in Orlando and have used only my license to vote. I do have my card just in case, but you should be fine if you do not.

 

[leebee]

Wow- what a hassle, Coconut! Here in Maine, we go in and give our last name. They ask us to verbally confirm our first name and address and that's it, you get a ballot. No issues ever raised with voter fraud, either. The simple life...

 

[Coconut36]

Wow- what a hassle, Coconut! Here in Maine, we go in and give our last name. They ask us to verbally confirm our first name and address and that's it, you get a ballot. No issues ever raised with voter fraud, either. The simple life...

That's the way it used to be long ago (I started voting in the early 90s and it was just "give your name" and "sign here")..since I have been working the polls we had the ID laws in place. In general it is rarely a big deal. Almost everyone has a DL or state ID that matches..in those rare cases their ID is off (change of address) they often have their voter ID card that does match so we are good to go (or they are carrying voting materials sent by the county that has the correct name or address on it).

As a boardworker my goal is to make sure everyone is able to vote and I am also not legally allowed to tell anyone to leave to get what they need. If they have zero ID (and out of all the elections I have done I have never seen this) they can still vote, they just vote provisional (manually verified) and present ID at a later time. But again..despite how complex it may sound in all the time I have done it I have never seen a voter not have what they needed to vote.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

thanks you guys give the best information

 

[sam_gordon]

State laws might vary but in my state that is absolutely not possible. You MUST have either a photo ID that matches your voter registration (name, address) OR 2 non photo forms of ID (utility bill, lease agreement, voter ID card, official election mail, phone bill, cable bill, bank statements...etc. There is a specific list available online and at the polls as to what can be used) that match voter registration (name and address) or you can have 1 photo ID (that does not match completely due to move/name change..licenses here don't have to be renewed until you are 65 and you are not required to get a new one when you move) and 1 non photo form of ID that does match (like the voter ID, vehicle registration, utility bill..etc).

It is against the law in my state to issue a standard ballot without identification being present. A voter would vote a provisional ballot and need to go to a specific place to provide ID after the fact. Boardworkers can NOT vouch for anyone and must ask for ID from all voters (including spouse, friends, neighbors..etc) and to not do so could result in legal action/lawsuits. Polls are observed (I think someone posted on here about being a poll watcher..such a person I think would be responsible for reporting deviations from the ID laws for voting). It is stressed to us heavily each year in training that we MUST do this and we must do it for every single voter.

OP..you need to find out what the laws are specific to your state. In my state as I mentioned if you have a state issued DL or ID and your name/address on it matches voter registration that is all you need. Or if you have no non photo id there is a list of bills/documents you can use (need 2) or a mixture of the two. In some states the laws could be different so you need to know how it works in your specific state/county.

Of course voting laws vary by state. Here's a nice chart (I don't know how up to date it is)... http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/elections/voter-id.aspx#ky.

I was right about my state requirement...

Election officers shall confirm the identity of each voter by personal acquaintance or by a document.

 

[aprilgail2]

What card? In my state, I have to show ID (which I use DL). If you don't have an ID, I think a poll worker can vouch for you.

ID?? You just walk in here, give your name, sign by the X and you go vote- no ID required of any type.
Some of you mentioned long lines?? How long do you have to wait in line. We have so many voting places per town here that there is never more than a 5 minute wait in any election to vote...

 

[cornflake]

That's the way it used to be long ago (I started voting in the early 90s and it was just "give your name" and "sign here")..since I have been working the polls we had the ID laws in place. In general it is rarely a big deal. Almost everyone has a DL or state ID that matches..in those rare cases their ID is off (change of address) they often have their voter ID card that does match so we are good to go (or they are carrying voting materials sent by the county that has the correct name or address on it).

As a boardworker my goal is to make sure everyone is able to vote and I am also not legally allowed to tell anyone to leave to get what they need. If they have zero ID (and out of all the elections I have done I have never seen this) they can still vote, they just vote provisional (manually verified) and present ID at a later time. But again..despite how complex it may sound in all the time I have done it I have never seen a voter not have what they needed to vote.

Possibly because those without photo ID don't go to vote because they don't have photo ID.

We require no ID whatsoever, you show up, tell the pollworker your name, they flip to the page in the book, you point, you sign, you vote.

 

[cornflake]

ID?? You just walk in here, give your name, sign by the X and you go vote- no ID required of any type.
Some of you mentioned long lines?? How long do you have to wait in line. We have so many voting places per town here that there is never more than a 5 minute wait in any election to vote...

Are your polling places not specific to district?

I mean I can only vote at one polling station. If a lot of people who vote at that polling station shows up at once - lines ensue. If you go at an off time, it's better but like 7-9am and 5-7:30 or 8 (before work/after work before dinner), it can be really crowded.

 

[Mkrop]

ID?? You just walk in here, give your name, sign by the X and you go vote- no ID required of any type.
Some of you mentioned long lines?? How long do you have to wait in line. We have so many voting places per town here that there is never more than a 5 minute wait in any election to vote...

PA passed a voter ID law, now it is being challenged in court but so far it has been upheld.

I heard GA has voter ID laws now too.

And we in PA have to go to a certain location based on where we live, and the lines are the heaviest before 9 and after 5.

 

[sam_gordon]

ID?? You just walk in here, give your name, sign by the X and you go vote- no ID required of any type.
Some of you mentioned long lines?? How long do you have to wait in line. We have so many voting places per town here that there is never more than a 5 minute wait in any election to vote...

What state are you in? According to the link I posted, EVERY state requires some form of ID. Granted, a handful have exceptions for those without ID.

 

[cornflake]

What state are you in? According to the link I posted, EVERY state requires some form of ID. Granted, a handful have exceptions for those without ID.

I didn't see a link (I'll go look) but whatever it is is wrong if it says that because that's not even CLOSE to true.

New York certainly has no such thing (again, you walk in, say your last name, they flip, you point or give your first name verbally, sign, vote), plenty of states don't. Iirc, it only recently tipped to half or a slight majority with any ID requirement. The photo ID thing is a very small number of states but at least close to half have no requirement for ID whatsoever, afaik.

 

[sam_gordon]

I didn't see a link (I'll go look) but whatever it is is wrong if it says that because that's not even CLOSE to true.

New York certainly has no such thing (again, you walk in, say your last name, they flip, you point or give your first name verbally, sign, vote), plenty of states don't. Iirc, it only recently tipped to half or a slight majority with any ID requirement. The photo ID thing is a very small number of states but at least close to half have no requirement for ID whatsoever, afaik.

Ah, I read the chart wrong. The chart only included states that DO require ID. I didn't count the states, I just looked down the column of what was required.

 

[Suzanne033]

I believe most states have early voting opportunities. Check your Secretary of State website to see what your options are.

If there is no early voting then you can request an absentee ballot.

 

[Coconut36]

Possibly because those without photo ID don't go to vote because they don't have photo ID.

We require no ID whatsoever, you show up, tell the pollworker your name, they flip to the page in the book, you point, you sign, you vote.

I have had plenty of voters come in without photo ID (as there is a decent list of items they can bring to verify identity). They bring bills, voter ID cards, vehicle registration..etc. I would say the majority have a photo ID but I have certainly seen others who either choose not to use it or don't have it.

Or do you mean if they don't have ID they don't have means to get to the polls (because in those instances you can have a ballot sent to your home if you can't get there)?

Polling places are district specific here too for county elections. We do have people come in that don't belong in the district and have maps and papers where we can look up their direct polling place (or they can check it online prior to leaving or call a voter line to verify as well). We always explain that for their vote to count they must vote in the proper precinct. Many don't seem to think/realize that they are voting for people to represent specific areas..nor do you want someone from one city (who doesn't live there) casting a vote for mayor or something like that..so it has to be cast where you belong.

 

[sam_gordon]

I have had plenty of voters come in without photo ID (as there is a decent list of items they can bring to verify identity). They bring bills, voter ID cards, vehicle registration..etc. I would say the majority have a photo ID but I have certainly seen others who either choose not to use it or don't have it.

Or do you mean if they don't have ID they don't have means to get to the polls (because in those instances you can have a ballot sent to your home if you can't get there)?

Until cornflake prompted me to do some more research, I didn't realize there are a good number of states that require no ID whatsoever.

 

[Coconut36]

I didn't see a link (I'll go look) but whatever it is is wrong if it says that because that's not even CLOSE to true.

New York certainly has no such thing (again, you walk in, say your last name, they flip, you point or give your first name verbally, sign, vote), plenty of states don't. Iirc, it only recently tipped to half or a slight majority with any ID requirement. The photo ID thing is a very small number of states but at least close to half have no requirement for ID whatsoever, afaik.

If I am reading the info correctly around 33 states have voter ID laws..only a few (not my state) have strict photo ID laws..others (like mine) will take photo or non photo ID. So as I take it most but not all states have some requirement and the majority (more than 1/2) do require voter ID with more potentially on the way. In some states it is new or just going into place. My state has had it in place for at least 3 previous elections (including the previous Presidential).

I know the idea behind it is to prevent voter fraud..you need a way to be sure some candidate (or citizen or who knows who) isn't paying people to enter polls and pad votes fraudulently by claiming to be people they are not (or maybe voting in deceased voters names for example).

I remember the good old days and I am well versed in the current way based on what I do...I don't find the ID laws to hold things up or be a huge deal.

 

[aprilgail2]

Are your polling places not specific to district?

I mean I can only vote at one polling station. If a lot of people who vote at that polling station shows up at once - lines ensue. If you go at an off time, it's better but like 7-9am and 5-7:30 or 8 (before work/after work before dinner), it can be really crowded.

I do have to go one place to vote but in my town alone its broken up into three different polling places so never crowded