There are many types of Voter Suppression, such as felon disenfranchisement, cutting polling hours, or closing polling places in Democratic neighborhoods. But the Republican-passed "Voter ID" laws are the worst. They vary from state-to-state, but they basically require some onerous form of ID before you can vote -- usually a state issued ID, like a driver's license.
The goal is to target poor people and young people who:
1) May not drive
2) Tend to move a lot, so the address on their license doesn't match their current address.
3) Tend to be less organized in general and more likely to not have proper ID at election time.
Obama can fix this by Executive Order...
The White House should issue an EO that will require that anybody who:
- Gets Food Stamps
- Gets welfare (any of the various Federal Programs)
- Gets a Federal student loan
- Gets Medicaid
- Gets Unemployment Insurance or
- Gets Disability Insurance
...have a valid, current Photo ID.
This will do two things. First, it will reduce fraud in these programs. I don't know if fraud is a big problem, but it is a side-benefit that will make the law popular with some conservatives. Second, it will ensure that millions of people have what they need to vote.
People may not stand in an DMV line to vote. But they will do it if their benefits are on the line.
I know I will get flamed for this. People will rightly point out that I'm imposing hardship on the most vulnerable people. Yes, but we all must make sacrifices. Also unemployed people and college students are probably the best suited to spend a day standing in line at the DMV. Bring a book.
Besides, if the Republicans win, their benefits will likely be cut anyhow.
This is not a kind and joyful solution. But it is one that we actually have the power to implement today without lobbying or petition drives or protests.
When the time comes, we will repeal all these evil Vote Suppression laws. But for now, let's get through November 2012...