Only 24 states require identification prior to voting in 2008

National Council of State Legislatures ^

[J. E. Quidam]

According to a recent report from the National Council of State Legislatures, only 24 states currently require voters to provide identification prior to voting. Seven of those states specify that voters must show a photo ID; the other seventeen states accept additional forms of identification that do not include a photo.

[J. E. Quidam]

See table for details.

[screaminsunshine]

Good God. You mean a lot of states you do not even need to id who you are?

[Ravi]

I think at least Texas isn’t entirely right. You do need a photo ID and proof of citizenship to even to receive your voter registration card. Then you present that voter registration card to vote. So you do need photo ID to register and then to vote you just need your registration card.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the Indiana voter ID law, I hope many other states move ahead and require ID. It’s too late for this election, but there are untold numbers of ACORN voters out there. These ACORN voters could be ferreted out much more easily in places with voter ID laws.

[J. E. Quidam]

I was very surprised as well. Maybe some residents of those states can confirm in this forum.

I assume they merely have to verbally identify themselves for a poll worker who finds their name up on a list and checks it off.

[Salamander]

MD/None?

What’s with that?

Every time I vote, I *still* get asked for my driver’s license by poll workers who have personally known me all my life.

Do I have an aberrant polling place?
Is the rest of the state running without IDs?

[Ravi]

Important states have voter ID protection this year including Florida, Missouri, Indiana and Georgia. Hopefully more will come around at the next election.

[lacrew]

In Kansas, when you vote for the first time, after registering, an ID is required.

[J. E. Quidam]

That point is made at the bottom of the page. The problem is that anyone could show up with your voter registration card and vote in your stead.

[Shadraq]

In IL they do check to see if your signature matches with the signature on your voter registration but that's about as far as it goes for any sort of verification.

Before the Motor Voter law went in effect you had to sign in with signature verification and then show a photo ID. Obama worked with Acorn to get the IL Motor Voter law passed in the '90s.

[Ravi]

I don’t know. I guard that voter ID card like gold. I only get it. I think most people are that way. If you want to give your voter ID card to someone else, then you can’t vote - what’s the purpose in doing that?

[Right Cal Gal]

When I show up to my polling place in California, they do ask me for ID. I guess you can refuse to provide it and there’s nothing they can do.

In light of the serious nature of voter registration fraud, I think every state should require photo ID in order to vote. I’m sick of hearing that this “disenfranchises the poor” because it doesn’t - the “poor” (i.e., welfare recipients, etc.) have driver’s licenses and ID cards - because they couldn’t pick up their food stamps or cash their checks without it.

I hope that after the election, whatever the outcome, that ACORN is brought up on federal RICO charges. Of course, if Obama wins (nOOOOO!), he’ll tell his Attorney General Jamie Gorelick to have the matter dropped.

[Sig Sauer P220]

Damn. I live in Kansas and my mother died last year. Looks like she may be voting this election.

[dusttoyou]

Every time I have voted, was required to show Registration card, sign in and my signature has a ballot number assigned AND the ballot has same number on it. I have wondered about the ‘secrecy” due to ballot numbering, but on the otherhand of potential voter fraud, this ballot number would give election officials a way to track down and cancel fraudlent vote. Surely the new electronic voting has similar ballot tracking number.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

My email message to family and friends-—

Only 7 states require a photo ID to vote. With all the news about Voter Registration Fraud, that statistic is not a comforting thought!!!!!!!

Florida Photo ID
Georgia Photo ID
Hawaii Photo ID
Indiana Photo ID
Louisiana Photo ID
Michigan Photo ID
South Dakota Photo ID

[jla]

Retina scans, or at the least, fingerprint scans, should be mandatory before one is given a ballot.*

* Other, immediately verifiable, check(s) can be given to those with no hands, or eyes

...for those with no brains, they will be directed to queue at the Vote Democrat line.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

Yes Florida does have a photo ID requirement but it can be circumvented with a “Neighborhood Association ID Card” or an utility bill.

Overall, the Voter Registration and Voter Identification Laws in the USA really stink to high heaven.

And we know who the folks are that keep those laws as loosey-goosey as possible.

Need I say DEMOCRATS!!!!!!!

[twigs]

I live in PA and I’ve never had to show ID.

[Atlas Sneezed]

If you want to give your voter ID card to someone else, then you can’t vote - what’s the purpose in doing that?

---

Maybe if you were a drunken bum living on the streets/dole, and they offered to rent your ID for a bottle of Mad Dog?

[ops33]

I can confirm that Oklahoma does not require any form of ID to register or to vote. Once registered, a voter goes to their polling place, identifies themselves to the poll worker. Their names are looked up on a printout of votes for that polling place, the voter signs next to their name, and they are given their ballot.