Voter Suppression??? I just got a letter telling me I can't vote in Orlando FL!!!

[AC_Mem]

I am FURIOUS. I received a mailer from Michelle Obama a couple weeks ago and was excited and mailed it right in - I moved to Orlando a couple months ago from Memphis and looked forward to voting here. I have not transferred my driver's license yet because I am disabled and I have to find a doctor and have him fill out 7 pages of documents to get a handicap license plate, etc. I have a job here, have changed my address (live with my son) and changed my bank account, but I do not have a copy of my ss card. I received a letter today from the Florida county supervisor of elections and it says if I don't have a valid Florida license or ss card I cannot vote!

I think this is bogus and I'm running out of time! Plus - I'm FURIOUS. I read the instructions carefully, I believe I should be able to vote in Florida.

I'm handicapped and a democrat = GOP trying to suppress my vote???

I'm not sure who to reach out to.

Annette/Orlando

[BainsBane]

1. It may be bogus

Call your local elections office. There are fake letters going around.

[Politicalboi]

2. Get in touch with

The nearest Obama campaign headquarters. They may be able to help you.

[AC_Mem]

6. I'm trying to get hold of them now

The person I just spoke to said to contact the supervisor of elections, however that is who the letter came from. It's after 5pm so I can't call tonight anyway. I don't think this letter is bogus..

I just got a call back from OFA, they are having their attorney call me.

I can't believe this!!!!!

Annette, one pissed off woman. They made a big mistake trying to suppress my vote. I'm elderly, disabled and a democrat. And hopefully I'll be their worst nightmare.

[NashvilleLefty]

27. Atta girl! Make a huge stink!

Personally, I think we need more people like you.

I'm thinking Class Action law suit.

[Hutzpa]

3. Call this number -- 202-514-1888

it's the FBI vote intimidation response unit.

[RebelOne]

4. Why would you need a new social security card?

Your social security number stays with you for life.

[AC_Mem]

8. The letter says

that they cannot verify my ss number!!!!!

[meow2u3]

11. This seems not only like voter suppression, but also an attempt at identity theft

Call the voter protection hotline AND the criminal division. I smell a rat and it stinks to high heaven.

[MoonchildCA]

31. If you can get down to your local Social Security office,

they can print out a paper saying something to the effect of, "This #000-00-0000 belongs to this person "your name." You just need to know your number and have a copy of your DL. They are a federal office, so they don't care what state it's from. I just went there with my friend a few weeks ago to do this.

[blogslut]

9. The physical card is still neccessary for many situations

Employment, for one. Federal and state aid for two more.

[MADem]

5. I heard on the news that there are bogus letters going out.

Contact your county supervisor of elections. In person.

What do non-drivers do?

You can get a license now, and get the license PLATE later. I'd do that if push came to shove.

[RantinRavin]

7. You are actually in violation of Florida law

322.031?Nonresident; when license required.—
(1)?In every case in which a nonresident, except a nonresident migrant or seasonal farm worker as defined in s. 316.003(61), accepts employment or engages in any trade, profession, or occupation in this state or enters his or her children to be educated in the public schools of this state, such nonresident shall, within 30 days after the commencement of such employment or education, be required to obtain a Florida driver’s license if such nonresident operates a motor vehicle on the highways of this state. The spouse or dependent child of such nonresident shall also be required to obtain a Florida driver’s license within that 30-day period prior to operating a motor vehicle on the highways of this state.

[AC_Mem]

10. I'm disabled

It is not easy for me to find all the doctors needed and I JUST got my car 2 weeks ago - shipped from Tennessee and have the papers to prove it.

[NashvilleLefty]

28. An excellent example why the ID law is anti-Constitutional.

Florida has every right to control who can and cannot drive on their State roads. However, every resident of the US should be allowed to vote for President.

Although, technically, the States elect the President and not the individual voters. But that's because of our f-cked-up electoral Vote system; which made sense in the age of the horse and buggy but not today.

[liberalmuse]

12. I read this morning...

that a bunch of bogus letters were sent from Seattle to Florida (to GOP, no less). You should be able to check your voter status online, or call your elections office to check!

[flamingdem]

13. K&R

[HooptieWagon]

14. Get a DL or state ID, worry about tags later?

Or perhaps you have a US Passport (even if old address), and recent bank statement with current address?

[beac]

15. I looked at the FL voter registraion page.

It says that to register you must (among other things):

6.Provide your current and valid Florida driver’s license number or Florida identification card number. If you do not have a Florida driver’s license number or a Florida identification card number then you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have any of these items, you must write “none” in the box or field.
http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voter-registration/voter-reg.shtml

Did you give them the last four digits or write "none" when you applied?

And it DOES look like Florida requires a photo ID to vote:

Florida
§101.043 The clerk or inspector shall require each elector, upon entering the polling place, to present a current and valid picture identification as provided in s. 97.0535(3)(a). If the picture identification does not contain the signature of the voter, an additional identification that provides the voter's signature shall be required.
Florida driver's license

Florida ID card issued by the Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

U.S. passport

Debit or credit card
Military identification

Student identification

Retirement center identification

Neighborhood association ID

Public assistance identification
If the elector fails to furnish the required identification, the elector shall be allowed to vote a provisional ballot. The canvassing board shall determine the validity of the ballot by determining whether the elector is entitled to vote at the precinct where the ballot was cast and that the elector had not already cast a ballot in the election.

Florida uses signature matching: the voter signs the provisional ballot envelope. That signature is compared to the signature in the voter registration records. If they match, the ballot is counted.
http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/elections/voter-id.aspx#fl

Go to the DMV and get that driver's license right away. Worry about the plates after 11/6!

I'm hoping that you if you gave them the SS# when you registered, you can still vote (reg deadline was 10/9) even if you got the photo ID after that date.

[Ms. Toad]

19. Looks like we were working on the same thing at the same time! n/t

[beac]

21. Well, information is power and DUers are great at empowering!

[AC_Mem]

22. yes, i gave last 4

they said it wasn't valid!

[beac]

29. Check and see if maybe numbers got transposed when they entered them.

This happened with an elderly friend of mine when she checked in at her assisted living facility and caused no end of grief for several weeks as the mixed-up number cascaded through the system.

DO keep us posted on what you find out and if you are able to get everything resolved!

[ornotna]

16. With out a picture ID you will not be able to vote in person.

However I believe you can get an absentee ballot and send it in.

[jackbenimble]

30. Probably not

My state make you vote in person if you're voting for the first time. I think this is a way to verify that there is a real person behind the voter registration.

[OldDem2012]

17. Is it possible for you to vote absentee from Tennessee? nt.

[Ms. Toad]

18. Here is the list of acceptable voter ID in Florida

The clerk or inspector shall require each elector, upon entering the polling place, to present a current and valid picture identification as provided in s. 97.0535(3)(a). If the picture identification does not contain the signature of the voter, an additional identification that provides the voter's signature shall be required.

Acceptable Voter ID:

Florida driver's license

Florida ID card issued by the Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

U.S. passport
Debit or credit card

Military identification

Student identification

Retirement center identification

Neighborhood association ID
Public assistance identification

But - it is odd that you would get a letter suggesting you could not vote, since presumable you would show up at the polls and the determination would be made at that time. It is also odd that Social Security card would be mentioned, since a social security card is not valid voter ID in Florida.

Are they suggesting a problem with registration? or what you need to bring with you to the polls?

I would start by verifying here that you are registered to vote. If you are registered, make sure you have one of the above items of ID AND please report the letter because it is likely fake (as someone mentioned)

If you are not registered, please contact someone at your local democratic headquarters to see if they can assist you. You may be able to correct the registration, if there was a problem with your social security number, for example.

[Jamastiene]

20. Get a State ID. Usually, you can get those from the DMV.

They look like a driver's license, but they are just an ID.

I would still file a complaint about voter intimidation and/or talk to the closest Obama campaign headquarters about it. They will know what to do.

[LisaL]

23. Call your board of elections.

There are some bogus letters being send around telling people they can not vote.

[davidn3600]

24. Some of these are fake or a scam

No one knows who's sending them out but people from both parties are getting odd mailings saying their "citizenship is being challenged." And some even tell you to call a number with personal information. Looks like some of it could be identity thieves. Some could be pranks.

If you worried, you can contact your supervisor of elections. Or sometimes they even have a website you can verify your registration. Dont call numbers on those mailers.

[wildeyed]

25. Contact the Obama campaign or your local Democratic Party HQ.

They want you to vote and may be able to help you get this sorted out. If it is a bogus mailing, they will know about that too.

[Hutzpa]

26. This is what you call swift action

the Obama Team is not messing around.


http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/24/14677602-feds-investigate-phony-letters-warning-florida-voters-theyre-not-eligible-to-vote?lite