Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Don't they already have IDs?

No. For most people in the US if you don't have a car you don't have a govt ID.

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/28/146006217/why-new-photo-id-law...

those least likely to have a government-issued photo ID fall into one of four categories: the elderly, minorities, the poor and young adults aged 18 to 24. The Brennan Center estimates that 18 percent of all seniors and 25 percent of African-Americans don't have picture IDs.



"Don't have one" and "can't get one" are two entirely different things. How many of them don't have one simply because they have not needed one before and will just go get one (like most people) now that they'll have a need for one? As a fairly poor college student without a car in a new state (Arizona), I managed to locate a bus schedule and a DMV and make my way to the DMV and get a state ID. And I did it without internet. I'm no genius. I have confidence that a lot of people can do it too.

Side Note: In California, ID cards are $27. Or $8 if you meet income requirements from a public assistance program. Or free if you are 62 or older.


Yes, nearly everyone can get one if sufficiently motivated.

I think the issue is that people seem to be pushing for this sort of thing to place obstacles in the path of specific types of voters because they don't like how they vote. No one has identified a problem with how current voter registration and voting works that the govt ID requirement solves, as far as I am aware.


http://www.in.gov/bmv/2766.htm

California is not the US.


I don't disagree that CA is not the US. But neither is Indiana. What is your point? That I was wrong about California's fees? Or that I was wrong about how easy it was to get an ID in California? Or that in Indiana it is harder and more expensive to get an ID than in California?


My point is that you're not having the conversation any of the rest of us are. California is not a voter ID state, it is immaterial to the discussion.

The states with voter ID laws are also the states that make it hard to get an ID.


Then you would have done better to just state that from the beginning. Your snarky comment with a link just came off as rude. But now I understand.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: