[mcg1969]

As for voting, we had a pretty good system to prevent fraud that required people to register in person, to prove that they were a resident of their precinct, and to be known through the registration process by the volunteers that manned the polls. You could not vote unless you had been a resident for at least six months. Students at college, for example, maintained their voting status where they came from, because of the temporary nature of their residence.

Wait a minute: so anyone who manages to evade border security and live in the same place for six months is presumed a citizen with the right to vote?

[marktwain]

Wait a minute: so anyone who manages to evade border security and live in the same place for six months is presumed a citizen with the right to vote?

That is not what I said.

The equivalent would be for me to say that under your system, anybody who presents a fake I.D. can vote?

I am describing the system as it was, and it worked pretty well. I would add real penalties for fraudulent votes, or for anyone encouraging fraudulent votes. Under the current system, here in Arizona, people are prevented from investigating vote fraud by the Federal election police (Voting Rights Act).

National I.D. cards are no panacea for voting fraud. I do not believe they are worth the loss of freedom that they entail.