Study: Voter ID laws cut turnout by blacks, young

[kpete]

Study: Voter ID laws cut turnout by blacks, young
AP foreign, Wednesday October 8 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) A nonpartisan congressional study has found that stiffer state voter ID laws have damped election turnout, disproportionately affecting blacks and younger people.

The Government Accountability Office found that election turnout in Kansas and Tennessee which tightened voter ID requirements dropped more steeply than it did in four states that didn't change their identification requirements.

The report found that in those two states, voter turnout was more sharply reduced among young people than among the middle-aged and among blacks than whites and others.

Young people and blacks generally tend to support Democratic candidates.






http://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/11580451

The report also:

—Examined 10 other studies that found that the portion of registered voters with driver's licenses or state ID's ranged from 84 percent to 95 percent. In seven of the studies, blacks had a lower rate of ID ownership than whites;

—Found that in 17 states, the costs of acquiring the required ID's ranged from $14.50 to $58.50;

—Evaluated multiple studies that detected few instances of in-person voter fraud, but said it is difficult to gather data that would produce a reliable overview of the problem.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/08/voter-id-restrictions_n_5955736.html

[AverageJoe90]

1. No surprise there!

So many Republicans are so desperate to keep Democrats from voting that they don't care WHO gets hurt......

[yeoman6987]

6. I still to this day don't know why the DNC

Didn't start taking Democratic voters to get their IDs. Pay for birth certificates. Pay for state IDs. Drive them to get them done. The DNC knew it was possible this could happen and instead of doing something that would truly make a difference. They waited with bated breath in hope the law wouldn't take effect. How damn stupid! I wish I was in charge of DNC. I would have called every Democratic Delegate and supporter to start raising money for transportation, fees for state IDs and birth certificates. That would have been my priority for the last 18 months. And then have transportation for getting people registered. That would have won elections. Instead, they did the status quo and threw another commercial on TV thinking that was enough. The DNC did not think outside the box on this issue.

[yeoman6987]

7. There was word that it is hurting Republicans too

Some don't have IDs either. How dumb.

[raging moderate]

2. Maybe we could lick this thing. If we all work together.

What if there were a fund to pay for these picture ids for poor people? Or maybe a free IF provision service, run out of vans or other mobile units? After all, we have all this modern technology now. I well remember how a tiny unexpected expense could ruin our lives when I was a poor kid.

Also, these physically punishing long voting lines the other side is trying to cause - maybe we could short-circuit that little maneuver. What if we could organize to order pizzas, sandwiches, water, hot coffee, soda pop, etc. to be delivered to our local polling places, or maybe to some far away places that need it. I remember how much fun it actually was when we did all that for the Wisconsin protesters. Heck, maybe we could bring folding chairs to some of them!

[Gothmog]

3. The GAO study is very interesting

[FrodosPet]

4. On a practical basis, you need an ID to function in this modern society

We need a way to help people get the IDs that they need so they can become participants in society, not victims totally lacking access.

[elleng]

5. Yes.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251379211

[Cha]

8. that's the gop's freaking goal.. damn!

thanks kpete