DOJ Sends Letter to Florida Demanding It Stop Purging Voter Rolls

[Adam W]

I agree with you Adam, I think what you're seeing is a wholesale exercise in attempted disenfranchisement of underprivileged voters. Especially in areas like Jacksonville, where the DMV's are located in the suburbs and the only source of transportation for some people is JTA, you're limiting the voting pool to those who can afford the onerous ID requirements and who can afford to own a car to obtain the ID. There is a reason polling places are located within walking distance, by only allowing you to utilize one after you've been required to go to a bunch of places that aren't easily accessible to low income people, and forcing them to pay a bunch of fees that these people can't afford, you're just wrongfully disenfranchising voters.

Absolutely.

Americans of voting age have a right to vote. I appreciate the need to make sure only eligible voters can vote, but we have to make sure that we're not putting voting out of the reach of people who have the right to vote.

[finehoe]

Here are the requirements... so it really is not an issue... even now.

http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voter-registration/voter-reg.shtml

Who Can Register to Vote

In order to register to vote in Florida, you must:
1.Be a Citizen of the United States of America (a lawful permanent resident is not a U.S. citizen);
2.Be a Florida resident;
3.Be 18 years old (you may pre-register to vote if you are 16 years old, but you cannot vote until you are 18 years old).
4.Not now be adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state without having the right to vote restored;
5.Not have been convicted of a felony without your civil rights having been restored; and
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.

I would endorse a modification to number 6 to require a valid picture ID.

What does this got to do with purging people who are already registered?

[BridgeTroll]

I agree with you Adam, I think what you're seeing is a wholesale exercise in attempted disenfranchisement of underprivileged voters. Especially in areas like Jacksonville, where the DMV's are located in the suburbs and the only source of transportation for some people is JTA, you're limiting the voting pool to those who can afford the onerous ID requirements and who can afford to own a car to obtain the ID. There is a reason polling places are located within walking distance, by only allowing you to utilize one after you've been required to go to a bunch of places that aren't easily accessible to low income people, and forcing them to pay a bunch of fees that these people can't afford, you're just wrongfully disenfranchising voters.

Really Chris??  The fee is $25... Really??  Make em free for all I care.  Equating an ID requirement to disenfranchisement is silly. 

[BridgeTroll]

Here are the requirements... so it really is not an issue... even now.

http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voter-registration/voter-reg.shtml

Who Can Register to Vote

In order to register to vote in Florida, you must:
1.Be a Citizen of the United States of America (a lawful permanent resident is not a U.S. citizen);
2.Be a Florida resident;
3.Be 18 years old (you may pre-register to vote if you are 16 years old, but you cannot vote until you are 18 years old).
4.Not now be adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other state without having the right to vote restored;
5.Not have been convicted of a felony without your civil rights having been restored; and
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.

I would endorse a modification to number 6 to require a valid picture ID.

What does this got to do with purging people who are already registered?

Looking at the list... #2 says you must be a Florida resident.  #4 says you must be mentally competant.  And #5 says you must not be convicted of a felony.

There are 3 reasons to review the rolls of registered voters.

[finehoe]

Wouldn't #4 disqualify most teabaggers? 

[BridgeTroll]

Wouldn't #4 disqualify most teabaggers? 

Probably to the same extent as those who think having proper ID to vote is too difficult... so it probably evens out... 

[JeffreyS]

If you are going to require a picture ID to exercise your right to vote it should
1. Be free
2. Have many convenient locations to acquire the ID.
3. Have day, evening and weekend hours for obtaining the ID  at least 14 hours a day.
4. Private groups looking to register people should be able to hire the ID services for for "Motor Voter" type events.