Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

2016 Postmortem

Adenoid_Hynkel

(14,093 posts) Fri Aug 17, 2012, 09:36 AM Aug 2012

96-year-old Tenn. woman can't get voter ID because her birth certificate shows her maiden name [View all]

Dorothy Cooper, age 96 and a retired domestic worker living in Chattanooga, never had any trouble voting even in the Jim Crow era and missed only one election in her entire adult life. But when she went for one of the state’s new free photo IDs last month so she could keep voting, they turned her away. Why? Her maiden name, Dorothy Alexander, is on her birth certificate, and she didn’t have her marriage license.

Due to Tennessee’s new voting law, she has to have a state photo ID to vote and now, even with her current voter registration card, she can’t get one.

http://theriverwanders.tumblr.com/post/29619618623/inothernews-blackamazon-blackamazon

23 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

96-year-old Tenn. woman can't get voter ID because her birth certificate shows her maiden name [View all] Adenoid_Hynkel Aug 2012 OP

Can't she get a copy of her marriage license? rocktivity Aug 2012 #1

Not if it was a common law marriage csziggy Aug 2012 #4

All these things are beaurocratic hassles and costly flamingdem Aug 2012 #17

this is the new Jim Crow laws--keeping people who might look as if they will WI_DEM Aug 2012 #2

The GOP, the party of smaller government... Adenoid_Hynkel Aug 2012 #3

Has she tried not being black? nt onehandle Aug 2012 #5

These goddamned laws work as intended. (nt) enough Aug 2012 #6

And yet I hear on rightwing radio idiots agreeing with these laws bigdarryl Aug 2012 #7

Dorothy Cooper got her ID and voted. earthside Aug 2012 #8

Thanks for the update. nt SunSeeker Aug 2012 #12

Even David Duke ain't as diabolical as these vote-suppressing GOP MF-ers KeepItReal Aug 2012 #9

Daily Show last night mim89 Aug 2012 #10

This is more common than you think! peace13 Aug 2012 #11

My husband became a citizen in June LittleGirl Aug 2012 #14

I hear that. peace13 Aug 2012 #18

Thanks! eom LittleGirl Aug 2012 #21

I have all of mine, but have decided to never ever change my birth name again! sammytko Aug 2012 #15

Looking back...probably best to never change it! peace13 Aug 2012 #16

I agree and in the 21st Century I think a lot of men don't have a problem with it davidpdx Aug 2012 #22

Just wow. So sorry for your sis (and you trying to help her). susanna Aug 2012 #23

That is ridiculous - we need a few protesters down there Rosa Luxemburg Aug 2012 #13

Tennessee politicians that passed this should be ashamed of themselves. think Aug 2012 #19

Several years ago I had a similar problem. While traveling in northern Italy, my travel wallet CTyankee Aug 2012 #20