Today's Seattle Times reports that "ID to be required at the polls".
"The rubber hits the road," said Reed, in detailing a series of changes that will take place this election year across the state.Buy Sam Reed a beer! He's taking the public's concerns seriously and bringing integrity and security to the voting process! But sadly, the "voter ID requirement" crafted by Sam Reed, Christine Gregoire and the Democrats in the legislature is not a requirement at all. This "rubber on the road" is as helpful a prophylatic as a used condom on the pavement:
If they don't have ID, the ballot will be considered a provisional one, and elections workers will have to match signatures before it is counted.And we know how strong of a security measure signature verification is (assuming it's even performed). It inspires so much confidence that they won't even let party observers watch while it takes place. And what happens if the signature on the ballot doesn't match the signature on the registration record? The voter is allowed to send in an affidavit updating the signature on their registration record to match the signature on the ballot. Seriously.
And that's only one loophole. Then there is the "perfect vote fraud" loophole that I discussed earlier. And don't get me started on the gargantuan fraud-enabling loophole offered by Washington state's extra-lax use of "federal write-in" ballots. (Coming soon: a post on that amazing subject).
The punchline: ID is not really required at the polls. The provision is only there to bamboozle decent people into believing that the folks in authority are actually doing anything serious to safeguard our sacred franchise.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at August 19, 2005 01:33 PM | Email ThisJC Bob - she might get it more than you know. Susan Gilmore is a Women Studies madrassa trained reporter. He interest is in pushing gender feminist extremism on the rest of us. If a little vote fraud helps in that effort, she's more than willing to look the other way.
Posted by: BananaLand (aka Iguana) on August 19, 2005 02:22 PMBut really, I don't know how much Sam can be blamed: he cannot require ID because the legislature didn't give him the authority too, as best I can tell.
Posted by: pudge on August 19, 2005 02:24 PMWhat a waste.
OT: Patty Murray is stopping by our local newspaper at 3:30 this afternoon. Anyone have any questions for her?
Posted by: cc on August 19, 2005 02:29 PMThis bending over backwards to "make every vote count" with provisional ballots is causing more problems than it is worth and only encourages and facilitates voter fraud. If a voter really wants to vote, then they should not feel inconvenienced by having to provide an ID card.
Posted by: Gary on August 19, 2005 02:30 PMBank Teller: You want to make a withdrawal and you don't have any ID? NO PROBLEMO! Just sign here that this is who you say you are and you can have all the cash you want!
I guess that is how the Bank of Sims would be run. How long would this bank survive. Oh I forgot, they use tax payer dollars. Never mind.
Posted by: Tim R on August 19, 2005 03:03 PMThe form looks a little like the owner's manual for my vaccuum cleaner, but there are three main portions to fill out. Provide your registration info in the upper left. Be sure to sign just below that. (We know how important those matching signatures are at King County.) And lastly, check the 3rd box in the upper right, the one that beings "I do not wish to continue..."
I don't know if there is a deadline for this form, but I assume as long as it is received and processed before absentee ballots are mailed, you should be "off the list."
See you at the polls!
Let's face it - with so many loopholes built into Reeds *ID requirement* - including susbstituting a drivers license for a utility bill - no one is going to consider this anything more than an inconvenience! A pictured government issued ID is now equal to a telephone bill as far as identification is concerned! Try using your Qwest bill to purchase airline tickets! Or better yet - try using a utility bill as ID to get a drivers license! Unless ofcourse you are an illegal immigrant - then there are no such requirements...
This ID proclamation of Sam Reed was meant only to push poll voters to vote absentee.
But I think he and the liberal Dems underestimate how peeved the public is right now about losing their right to vote at the polls! This will backfire on Reed!
Posted by: Deborah on August 19, 2005 05:04 PMThe way this scam works is to eliminate valid, yet unwanted, votes. It goes hand in hand with vote-by-mail. Ask Ralph Nader how signature verification was used by Oregon's SoS to keep him off the ballot.
It's easy to calculate..
VOTE BY MAIL + SIGNATURE VERIFICATION SCAM
= DEMOCRACY LOST
This is the switch, you are looking for illegal votes, while the rules are changes to eliminate the needed valid votes.
MARK MY WORDS! Next time around it won't be "prove fraud" it will be "prove validity".
BTW, I have been voting for 20 years. I wonder if my signature has changed since 1985? Has yours?
Posted by: Splatter on August 19, 2005 06:33 PMTomorrow is a new day to all the rest who don't follow politics.
Posted by: Unkl Witz on August 19, 2005 10:07 PMAbout that 2000 Florida election?
Let......it.......go.
Posted by: Deborah on August 19, 2005 10:23 PM