>>>I guess it depends on where you live. I have lived in CT for about 30 years and I have always had to show an ID to vote. I was surprised to learn that in some states you do not and even further surprised that there would be such an uproar. CT is as democrat as you can get, right now even more so than MA and there has been no justice department investigation here.
>>
>>I just looked to see what's required in CT. This page (http://www.vote411.org/bystateresult.php?state=CT) says " Acceptable forms of ID at the polling place are:
>>
>> A Social Security card
>> Any other preprinted form of identification that shows your name and address, name and signature, or name and photograph.
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>>If you do not have identification, the affidavit form requires your name, residential address, date of birth, and signature. The affidavit states, under penalty of false statement, that you are the one whose name appears on the official checklist."
>>
>>If that's what the new PA law said, I wouldn't be screaming about it. Here's what you're required to have to vote in PA, starting this November:
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>>"All voters are required to show a photo ID before voting. All photo IDs must contain an expiration date that is current, unless noted otherwise. Acceptable IDs include:
>>
>> Pennsylvania driver's license or non-driver's license photo ID (IDs are valid for voting purposes 12 months past expiration date
>> Valid U.S. passport
>> U.S. military ID - active duty and retired military (a military or veteran's ID must designate an expiration date or designate that the expiration date is indefinate). Military dependents' ID must contain an expiration date
>> Employee photo ID issued by Federal, PA, County or Municipal government
>> Photo ID cards from an accredited Pennsylvania public or private institution of higher learning
>> Photo ID cards issued by a Pennsylvania care facility, including long-term care facilities, assisted living residences or personal care homes"
>>
>>Huge difference.
>>
>
>The Tribune article I linked to earlier in the thread shows how many land mines have been sprinkled in front of some people who have been voting for a long time, want to vote, and have a fistful of ID. Look what has happened to Viviette Applewhite. They wound up rejecting her because her (maiden) name on her replacement birth certificate did not match the last name on her other documents. Well, duh. Ridiculous! Here is the link again:
>
>http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-penn-voter-id-20120718,0,1039470.story

Good article. I'd forgotten in discussing this here that women who changed their name at marriage have an extra hurdle to jump in all this.

BTW, the Steve Miskin quoted in the article is a college friend of my sister. She's tweaked about his politics for years.

Tamar