>>>>>>>That all makes sense on a logical level. It's also clear that voter ID is aimed at people who are likely to vote for Democrats.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I can't think of a single reason why every voter shouldn't be required to present a photo ID when voting. It's important to disregard what group this might affect and evaluate the rule on it's own; it's a pretty damn low bar.
>>>>>
>>>>>Because many of them don't have such an ID (turns out about 10% of PA voters have neither a drivers license nor the state-provided non-drivers photo ID). Getting such an ID can be expensive (both in actual costs and in work hours lost), difficult and time-consuming.
>>>>
>>>>I don't think claiming expense is a viable roadblock to obtaining an ID.
>>>>http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/driverlicensephotoidcenter/obtainingphotoid.shtml
>>>>
>>>>A couple minutes to fill out the form
>>>>A $13.50 fee.
>>>>Schedule DMV appt so you don't waste time in the office.
>>>>Hand over form & fee, show SS card, quick photo, in & out during lunch hour so no missed work.
>>>>
>>>
>>>Well, you've left out the expense of getting an acceptable ID such as a birth certificate, if you don't already have one.
>>
>>Birth cert copy in PA will cost you $20.
>>
>>>Also, to the best of my knowledge, PA doesn't make appointments for this stuff. You walk in, take a number and wait your turn.
>>
>>No appt, no problem, call the offices and ask for the least trafficked days/hours.
>>
>>>More to the point, doing this on your lunch hour only works if there's a center close enough to your work to do that. And, of course, if you don't drive (which is true for the people we're talking about), it has to be walking distance or you have to get someone to drive you or there has to be public transit.
>>>
>>>Tamar
>>
>>If lunch hour is not convienient how about on a day off? Unless your suggesting that the people we're talking about are working 8-5 M-F, 52 weeks a year, are walking or taking public transit to work and do not have any form of ID already.
>>
>>More to the point, it is not difficult, expensive nor complicated for a legal citizen to obtain an ID. I'll give you that it may be inconvienient but then so is filing taxes and we must do that every year. Acquiring an ID is a one time event. Renewal is available by mail and online.
>
>But that's Tamar's point, Jake. People who are living at wit's end, wondering how they are going to pay the rent, are not going to just plunk down $20.

..and if you don't already have an ID then you're not going to be able to do it online OR by mail, you actually have to go down there to do it. Plus some places like Texas - 2/3's of the counties in Texas don't even have a DMV location - so yes you're going to have to physically go down there to do this, and it might not be anywhere close to where you live either...which could end up being a real problem if you don't have a driver's licence to drive over there.