GOP finally demonstrates need for strong voter ID law

[Bronzeage]

Robert Monroe, a 50-year-old Shorewood health insurance executive, was charged Friday with 13 felonies related to his voting a dozen times in five elections between 2011 and 2012 using his own name as well as that of his son and his girlfriend’s son.

In 2012, for example, Monroe, an overly enthusiastic Republican, allegedly cast five ballots – that’s four more than legally allowed – in support of Gov. Scott Walker (R) during his recall election. Later that year, he’s accused of using one address to vote in Wisconsin, driving to Indiana, and then using another address to vote in Indiana.

The article doesn't say who he voted for in Indiana, but there have been rumors of an illegal vote smuggling ring operation in the midwest, for many years.

The only thing I don't understand is why anyone finds this to be a surprise.

 

[NobleSavage]

I know voter ID laws would hurt the Democratic vote, but I'm willing to concede this issue to the Republicans just so they shut up. Surely the Democratic Party could do some kind of outreach program to get people IDs. The average cost per vote is $33. Instead of spending so much on ads that have diminishing returns why not help people get IDs. I don't know how you could function in society without an ID. Helping people get IDs would be a positive thing.

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

No ID whatsoever? How do you even function that way? Yes, help people get IDs if they are having trouble getting them.

I guess the issue would then be the paranoid people who live off the grid and have no ID on purpose, for fear of the government, etc. But do they vote anyway?

 

[Bronzeage]

No ID whatsoever? How do you even function that way? Yes, help people get IDs if they are having trouble getting them.

I guess the issue would then be the paranoid people who live off the grid and have no ID on purpose, for fear of the government, etc. But do they vote anyway?

I have voted in every election(once per election) since I was 18 and always had to present an ID. It's been state law for as long as I've been registered to vote, so I don't see a problem.

The problem the GOP faces with their Voter ID policy is they can't answer the "why now?" question. Voter fraud by misidentification is extremely rare, if only because it the most difficult to perpetrate and the easiest to detect. Real life voter fraud occurs after the polls close. It is a fact, the people who do not have a ready made ID, tend to be those who either cannot drive, or cannot afford a car. This group contains a lot of elderly, visually impaired, and poor people.

The GOP claims this is to reduce voter fraud, but the result is lower voter turnout among the demographic they have abandoned. When a man wears sunglasses on a cloudy day, I suspect he just doesn't want me to look him in the eye.

 

[arkirk]

We all know that the elections are pre-rigged in the first place with store bought Democrats and Republicans. Third party debate is stifled by these two groups agreeing to not let anybody else participate. The Democrats act like we should just go to the polls and say. "here I am...let me vote." The Republicans keep putting obstacles in the way of voters of color and voters who are poor.

I think we should be safe knowing that voters are legitimate. The republicans make it hard to do about anything from get an ID to voting. They think they can keep playing this mickey mouse game forever. These parties have the effect of de-democratizing elections and indeed everything they touch. They truly remove any meaning from our laws when they indulge in the stupid squabble over voter ID. If the truth be told, people have lost interest in the actual voting process and they know there is little improvement possible from the candidates, so they don't need ID to be indifferent about voting.

I have voted in every election for a long time, but never with the chance or expectation of good coming from the election...if only the candidates of two corrupt parties can be elected. I still do it. I do not know why. Guess I just can't give up on the dream of something democratic happening in this country. It is rare indeed when the interests of the people are fulfilled by elected officials.

Democratic and Republican candidates both feel their party should have a lock on our government and do not work well in cooperative efforts. Because we are so constituted, our infrastructure is falling apart, our economy is in a shambles, our environment continues to deteriorate.

I agree with bronzeage regarding where real life election fraud occurs. It has nothing to do with who walks in the door to vote, but who manipulates things after the polls close.AND BEFORE THEY OPEN!

 

[travc]

Robert Monroe, a 50-year-old Shorewood health insurance executive, was charged Friday with 13 felonies related to his voting a dozen times in five elections between 2011 and 2012 using his own name as well as that of his son and his girlfriend’s son.

In 2012, for example, Monroe, an overly enthusiastic Republican, allegedly cast five ballots – that’s four more than legally allowed – in support of Gov. Scott Walker (R) during his recall election. Later that year, he’s accused of using one address to vote in Wisconsin, driving to Indiana, and then using another address to vote in Indiana.

The article doesn't say who he voted for in Indiana, but there have been rumors of an illegal vote smuggling ring operation in the midwest, for many years.

The only thing I don't understand is why anyone finds this to be a surprise.

No surprise. People who have convinced themselves the 'other side' is doing something dishonest/nefarious/illegal are way more than 1/2 way to convincing themselves to undertake that behaviour (or worse) themselves. Doesn't matter if the 'other side' is really doing it or not. 'Conservatives' (authoriarians really) are especially prone to this sort of thing, and tend to take it much farther... Righteous certainty and all that bullshit.