Tracy, I always learned that voting was both a right and responsibility. I wold think that proper ID would be a responsibility, although I think Tamar has a valid point that charging for an official ID does constitute a poll tax. OTOH, an ID should be required. As to the homeless .... if IDs were free then they could get one, too, I suppose. Honestly, I hadn't given much thought to that aspect.

>I agree. Photo ids or ink stains are necessary to prevent voter fraud. The other issue is online voting or voting by the housebound. I know of special groups that go around and take the housebound to vote, but what about online voting (not an issue yet). What about the homeless? Unless they wander in on voting day (which has been known to happen), how do they vote? Are they always disinfranchized? How to prove identity? How to prove you're 18 without a photo id?
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>>Well....I haven't changed my mind, per se, but I now believe that IDs should be free.
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>>>>>>I had to get a second ID a few months ago: It cost $8 and took me all of 10 minutes. To me, there's a fundamental flaw in the system if the ID bar is higher for buying beer than it is for voting.
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>>>>>First, if it's required for voting, it should not cost anything. Otherwise, it's a poll tax.
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>>>>EXCELLENT point. Your "poll tax" point has won me over.
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>>>Cool! Nothing like actually convincing someone to change his mind.
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>>>Tamar