Florida to require IDs at voting booth; Update: At registration
posted at 9:30 am on September 10, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Florida has announced that it will enforce a voter-ID law passed three years ago in this year’s election. The law survived challenges from activists, who are still complaining about the quality of the databases on which the identification will rely:
State elections officials will resume enforcement of a controversial state law that requires Floridians to have their identification match up with a state or federal database in order to register to vote.
Secretary of State Kurt Browning sent notice to the state’s 67 supervisors of elections on Friday that the 2006 law, which has been on hold for the last year pending court rulings, would take effect again Sept. 8.
The result is that voters whose identification doesn’t match with state files on Election Day will be given a provisional ballot and two days to prove their identity for their ballot to count.
Florida will be a crucial battleground state this year, as it has been in the last few presidential elections. Republicans afraid of voter fraud, including that organized by ACORN, have to be pleased with this decision. It eliminates one potential threat and makes it less likely that the state will get embroiled again in the kind of controversy that occurred after the 2000 election.
In reality, though, Floridians have to hope that the results from the Sunshine State are decisive enough not to make this an issue. In a razor-thin election, the provisional ballots cast will take on huge significance, and the decisions made on approvals and rejections will take on huge political implications. Floridians don’t need that kind of national attention all over again, nor does the rest of the country need lessons in arcane electoral concepts such as “pregnant chads” and the like.
Voting is a right of citizens to determine the composition of our representative governments. The state has a vital interest in protecting the rights of citizens by ensuring that ineligible people do not dilute their vote. Presenting the same kind of identification that everyone uses to write a check at the grocery store is not an undue burden, and should be the law in all 50 states. Florida has made the correct decision, and hopefully will have a cleaner election as a result.
Update: Juan Paxety points out a fundamental misread on my part. The ID requirement comes at registration, not at the voting booth. Floridians already have to show ID when voting; this requires them to show ID in order to validate their residence in Florida. Juan believes this to be a safeguard against voters who try to register in two states.
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Great! Put’s Florida in the Republican win column!
carbon_footprint on September 10, 2008 at 9:32 AM
There goes the Unofficial Fall Break for some Northern college students. Bummer….
RBMN on September 10, 2008 at 9:33 AM
We meed to push for this in every GOP state…..
sven10077 on September 10, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Well if you have to show it at Blockbuster, it only makes sense.
Elric66 on September 10, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Glad to see the law is actually going to be
enforced. I wish Illinois would do the same,
it would greatly decrease the amount of
“vote early and vote often” action here.
Mulligan on September 10, 2008 at 9:34 AM
A one-two punch to ACORN and illegals.
lodge on September 10, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Yes, yes, yes!!
anniekc on September 10, 2008 at 9:35 AM
Uhh..but..but..its soooo raaaaciiisst!!
vcferlita on September 10, 2008 at 9:35 AM
I don’t understand. Every time I’ve gone to vote, I’ve had to show ID (in DE and VA). It’s not that big a deal.
Anna on September 10, 2008 at 9:36 AM
I hope it works exceptionally well that way it will be something proponents of proof of ID for voting will have a really good example to show when they argue their case.
theguardianii on September 10, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Does this make it 18,000,001 cracks in the rose-tinted glass?
singlemalt_18 on September 10, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Three………Two…….One!
“Cleanup required in the DNC offices”
Jim708 on September 10, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Team McCain near the EIB Southern Command is pleased with this decision.
Right_of_Attila on September 10, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Wow…only allowing American citizens to vote? What a novel concept. Now if only we can keep the dead from casting a ballot.
Bishop on September 10, 2008 at 9:37 AM
When I went to go and vote back in 2000, the place were I was to teport to had all the names, along with political party and address of everyone put up on display on the outside door.
When I got inside, no ID was required. I could have walkd up and said I was Joe Blow and if Joe didn’t happen to show up, I was in luck.
I would think that asking for ID would just fall under common sense, but, then again this is politics we are talking about.
I just look at those who oppose ID’s as the same people who enable cheat codes in their video games. They can’t win it based on skills, so they have to stack the deck.
RobertInAustin on September 10, 2008 at 9:38 AM
I’ve voted in every Florida election since 2000 and have always been asked for ID. Hrmmm
bj1126 on September 10, 2008 at 9:39 AM
I’ve always had to show my ID in my county in Georgia. It’s really painless and harmless. I know Floridians can do it.
moonsbreath on September 10, 2008 at 9:39 AM
It just goes to show you how Democrats have controlled the situation so they could cheat right inder our noses.
It is unimaginable to me in the 21st century that photo ID’s haven’t been mandatory decades ago.
Man the crap these people have gotten away with.
Yes I agree this just might put Florida in the Red column.
lisalj on September 10, 2008 at 9:40 AM
this is new??? I had to show my ID every time I voted here since 2005 when I moved.
truthmattersfa on September 10, 2008 at 9:40 AM
I can tell you that with a Dem as Governor of Ohio, Ohio will counter that with an open border voting policy.
WoosterOh on September 10, 2008 at 9:41 AM
It seems to me that they have asked for ID every time I voted here in Deleon Springs, FL. But it should be the LAW anyway.
JimK on September 10, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Well, they show up for memorial day celebrations as Obama point out. What is memorial day when compared to an election? I expect to see cemeteries with graves bursting open on Nov 4th.
RobertInAustin on September 10, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Gee, so I have to be a citizen and a resident of the particular voting precinct in order to vote? What’s next, I only get to vote once?
rbj on September 10, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Libtards pretend to be ascared of voter registration databases being imperfect, but they want govt-run universal medical care with no fear that the info the govt keeps on us will ever be incomplete, fudged, or lost.
Akzed on September 10, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Awesome. That is going in my note book.
RobertInAustin on September 10, 2008 at 9:43 AM
And yet, any given election is determined by less than half of those citizens eligible to vote.
highhopes on September 10, 2008 at 9:43 AM
Outrage from the ACLU, La Raza, NAACP, et. al. in 5…4…3…2…
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on September 10, 2008 at 9:44 AM
There you go; disenfranchising the idgits agin.
captivated_dem on September 10, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Make sure all those dead Democrats update their ID.
JammieWearingFool on September 10, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Honest elections.
That should be worth about 3 percentage points for the Republicans in November.
MarkTheGreat on September 10, 2008 at 9:46 AM
If Madison and Milwaukee would apply the same requirement, McCain would win Wisconsin.
Hell, in 2004 we had Dhim operatives convicted of voter fraud in Milwaukee and Kenosha and the Dhims didn’t bat an eye.
PimFortuynsGhost on September 10, 2008 at 9:46 AM
The problem is that the states where most of the fraud occurs, are already controlled by Democrats. Making the chance of real change impossible.
MarkTheGreat on September 10, 2008 at 9:47 AM
!Que bueno!
Lockstein13 on September 10, 2008 at 9:48 AM
ID for voting is a no-brainer as far as I’m concerned. I wish it was across the board. Good on Florida, though.
Spirit of 1776 on September 10, 2008 at 9:49 AM
FL won’t be close enough for this to make a difference, but I’m glad to see it anyway.
crushliberalism on September 10, 2008 at 9:50 AM
Question is, will the pollsters be able to tell the difference between a real and fake ID?
bridgetown on September 10, 2008 at 9:52 AM
Doesn’t this suggest that people too stupid to know how to vote might actually have a license to drive?
AubieJon on September 10, 2008 at 9:55 AM
FYP
eyedoc on September 10, 2008 at 9:55 AM
bj1126 on September 10, 2008 at 9:39 AM
I have been here since 1996 and I have always shown my i.d.. I guess I didn’t know that it wasn’t “enforced” because I assumed it would be. You mean I missed my chance to be a desperado?
Cindy Munford on September 10, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Thank God for that! The non-voting half are probably stupider than the Democrats.
This action by Florida is the worst thing to happen to Community Activists in For Evah!
pistolero on September 10, 2008 at 9:56 AM
I cannot fathom how this is not a Federal law. If I need to show ID to enter a building, rent a movie, write a check, board an airplane, get a book from the library or do anything else on earth; it’s ludicrous for anyone to complain about it when voting. Heck, if you’re an adult and WALKING without a state issued ID, you can be arrested.
There is only one reason for anyone to oppose showing IDs when voting. Voter fraud.
I also feel that absentee ballots should be banned. The military can set up an off site polling booth anywhere in the world. If you’re sick, stay home. See you in 4 years.
If the people in Iraq have to show up and ink their finger, I don’t understand why we allow BS like this here.
Damiano on September 10, 2008 at 9:56 AM
Got my voter registration re-confirmation card in the mail this past week. Ohio has been sending these out routinely since at least 2000 to make sure the name and address match for their voter rolls/log sheets at the polling places.
It states clearly “current and valid photo identification” is required.
If ID cannot be produced, one “may” use the last four digits of their SSAN and cast a “provisional” ballot.
But, there’s an out…
If you do not have ID, if you do not have an SSAN, you can sign an affirmation statment and vote with a provisional ballot.
Voting is a big thing…it is the most basic exercise of citizenship there is. So, yeah, it is a big deal.
If it is such a big deal…then why do people decide when they wake up on election day that they need to vote, and maybe get around to registering, and then cry like idiots when they find out no reigstration…no vote.
Here’s a neat idea. When you register to vote…you get a photo ID at the same time…issued by the Board of Elections. Renewed every 8 years or when a voter moves to a new precinct/town/state.
coldwarrior on September 10, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Wow.. I’m surprised this is going to happen, but very happy that it is.
I wonder if this will depress the voter turnout compared to prior elections?
Nineball on September 10, 2008 at 9:58 AM
As a registered Republican who lives in South Florida, I am thrilled by this decision. My precinct in East Boca has always asked for Voter ID for as long as I’ve been going there, FYI. I’ve lived her for 14 years and have always had to show ID. Still, this is great news.
Dariaanne on September 10, 2008 at 9:58 AM
Every time I’ve voted in Florida I’ve had to show ID. Even had a poll worker make me fill out a provisional ballot because my address on the voter card didn’t match my license (college student at the time, and had to move a lot). I never understood why showing ID was such a big deal. Its not like they take your ballot and mark down who you voted for so it goes on your Permanent Record! or anything.
kmaster31 on September 10, 2008 at 9:58 AM
I’m in a unique position, my precinct workers are my neighbors and we all know each other on sight.
I’m all for voter ID laws however. Chicago’s favorite election slogan, “vote early, vote often” is well known for a reason.
southsideironworks on September 10, 2008 at 9:59 AM
According to the governor of New York, this is a racist remark.
MarkTheGreat on September 10, 2008 at 9:59 AM
I was in Florida a couple of weeks ago working for a week and I was amazed at how many Illegals there were, they were everywhere. I stopped at a store I was working in and thought there was a bike shop nearby because literally, any kind of pole sticking out of the ground had a bike chained to it, trees, telephone poles, even a fire hydrant. I didn’t know what to think, until I saw about 30 Mexicans standing in front of a store waiting for work. Unbelievable.
Geronimo on September 10, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Yes I’ve always had to show my ID when voting in Florida. The real problem we have is with people here with second homes that vote in two states. To make it worse, most of them are from northern (liberal) states. It’s the same reason Wexler is able to live in Maryland and be a Congressman from Florida.
We need to do something to close that loop.
orlandocajun on September 10, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Well…good. I don’t mind showing my ID to vote…except that I don’t have to. I believe that in Sacramento County you must show it the first time you vote, but after that, no.
Bob's Kid on September 10, 2008 at 10:02 AM
This only reduces some of the in-person voting fraud. It doesn’t affect the mail-in voting fraud, which is where a lot of the action is now. But it’s a step in the right direction.
AZCoyote on September 10, 2008 at 10:02 AM
In St. Louis you can also show your death certificate
flyoverland on September 10, 2008 at 10:03 AM
I live in Indiana and there was a HUGE outrage when we passed voter ID laws that eventually were challenged in the Supreme Court (which were upheld!). Even if you don’t have ID in Indiana, a person can cast a provisional ballot. The ballot is not counted until proper ID is provided and the voter has (I think) up to 2 weeks to show ID. Do you have a program in FL that will provide IDs for the poor and homebound? If so, then I applaud your state. There’s no way to argue with this as being an unfair burden on the citizens.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on September 10, 2008 at 10:03 AM
It will be ugly this year, though, I am sure. I was an active volunteer back in 2004, and some of the precincts I was assigned to in Delray Beach were pretty nasty. Aside from the fact that we were grossly outnumbered (no surprise there) by the Kerry people, most of the opposition’s supporters were ambushing voters as they made their way into the building. They were so incredibly obnoxious (especially when the media began to announce the results of the exit polls, which we only knew later to be wrong), it was really hard to take at times. When I finally went inside to complain, I met a volunteer attorney for the RNC, a really nice lady, who helped calm things down. In spite of this Voter ID requirement, I hope the RNC is still planning to send legal represents to oversee these precincts — we’re still going to need them.
Dariaanne on September 10, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Too bad we don’t have any way to see how many illegal voters Obama registered when he was with ACORN.
Hawthorne on September 10, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Speaking of that….why is that guy still in office? Doesn’t anyone see that as a scam he’s running? Are they that stupid?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on September 10, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on September 10, 2008 at 10:03 AM –
Provide ID’s for the poor and homebound? Sure. And fairly easy.
The Board of Elections issues ID’s. [There are several birefcase IDent-kits on the market so one can produce an ID in the field for the homebound.] All can be done at no direct cost to the voter. All costs assumed by the BoE.
Now, for the prison bound…once upon a time they didn’t have the right to vote. Today, they are in some states a major consitituency. The Dems depend on them.
coldwarrior on September 10, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on September 10, 2008 at 10:05 AM –
Yes. Apparently someone keeps electing him.
coldwarrior on September 10, 2008 at 10:10 AM
I’ve always had to show a photo ID here in florida. For at least 20 years that I can think of. Either way, I was glad to do it and ever happier now that it will be enforced.
roninacreage on September 10, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Dr. Cwac,
I can’t answer you question with certainty, but I would make an educated guess and say, yes, Florida makes those kinds of provisions. I have an older brother with Down Syndrome and though he’s been hugely successful in life (and a joy to our family), he doesn’t drive. The state of PA (where I grew up, and where most of my family still lives) issued him a non-driver picture ID when he became voting age. He’s almost 49 now, so that was quite a while ago.
Dariaanne on September 10, 2008 at 10:10 AM
P.S. And yes, my brother is a Republican! :) In fact, he and my mom are stuffing envelopes today at their local McCain-Palin campaign office!
Dariaanne on September 10, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Now you have something to HOPE for.
pistolero on September 10, 2008 at 10:12 AM
I never had to show an ID when I voted in Tampa.
MarkTheGreat on September 10, 2008 at 10:13 AM
I’ve never had to show ID to vote in North Carolina. Scary.
NeighborhoodCatLady on September 10, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Fan damn tastic…… now if only other states would!
MNDavenotPC on September 10, 2008 at 10:14 AM
It’s the same here in Nebraska. The only people who are offended by this IMO are those who are here illegally or are otherwise not allowed to vote but are trying to vote anyways. With that in mind, I can completely understand why liberals are pissed off.
Yakko77 on September 10, 2008 at 10:14 AM
I fail to see the perceived controversy. Either you are a legal registered U.S. CITIZEN of your district, or you’re not.
+1
Rovin on September 10, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Hmmm, they’ve asked for my ID in Tampa for the 3 years I’ve lived here.
RW Wacko on September 10, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Still doesn’t solve the problem of dual residence New Yorkers (and other snowbirds) who vote absentee in one state and in person in another.
highhopes on September 10, 2008 at 10:17 AM
ID is the only way to verify the person showing up to vote. In Illinois we only use signatures and it’s up to the election judge to ‘match’ the signature of the person with the signature on the voter registration card. I was a judge for years and some of these signatures weren’t even close to being similar but since I was the only Republican election judge out of 5 or 6 Dems, I was always overruled. That might explain some of Chicago dirty politics and how they operate.
JetBlast on September 10, 2008 at 10:19 AM
If one has to show an ID in a state like Louisiana, which has a long history of voter fraud, it sure as heck is a standard that should be mandated for all federal elections. If local/state governments want to look the other way in those races but not for the national races.
highhopes on September 10, 2008 at 10:20 AM
You know…..I’m so sick and tired of all these fringe groups and some poor black people (remember the stunt they pulled in Florida) whining about voter disinfrancisment. These same people have no damn problem whipping out thier I.D.s when they file for welfare, SSI, renew their driver’s licenses or when they want to buy booze!!!!!!!
Screw them!!!!!
This should be required in EVERY state!!!! No brainer!
Winebabe on September 10, 2008 at 10:21 AM
The same could be said if looking at my signature from 20 years ago and today. That being said, aren’t voter registration cards are bit archaic in this day and age?
highhopes on September 10, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Based on the comments here, it sounds like ID is required in a lot of places. I’m just curious if anyone who said they needed ID tried saying they didn’t have it with them. Were you still allowed to vote? In other words, the question isn’t wether or not they ask for ID, the question is what happens if you don’t have ID? Is your vote counted anyway? Is it considered a provisional vote? Are you prevented from casting a vote at all?
taznar on September 10, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Not that I would encourage voter fraud, but I wonder what would happen if 1000’s of white, conservative voters descended on voting precincts in, let’s say, Philidelphia without ID. And lets say they claimed to be somebody that is registered to vote, but doesn’t show up. It would be the media circus of the year.
But this is exactly what happens in Philadelphia each voting cycle, except replace “white” with “black”, and “conservative” with “liberal”.
As long as the fraud is in favor of liberals, there is not an outrage.
lionheart on September 10, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Quite the stereotype.
highhopes on September 10, 2008 at 10:27 AM
You’ve touched on a pet peeve of mine- provisional votes. I say they shouldn’t be allowed. Part of the responsibilities of citizenship is to confirm you are registered to vote before election day.
highhopes on September 10, 2008 at 10:29 AM
To not require I.D. is criminal.
Anyone that thinks differently is wanting to leave a door open to cheating.
TheSitRep on September 10, 2008 at 10:32 AM
It might be the sterotype……..but try to prove me wrong. The truth is ugly, I understand that, but it is what happened. Why can’t I point out the obvious without me being sterotyped a “racist”? It HAPPEDED! And just wait until Obama loses the election. We will hear from all these same people about how unfair they have been treated during the voting process. I’m sick of it!
Winebabe on September 10, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Citizenship having value? Having to prove ones citizenship to avail oneself of the privileges of citizenship? Having to present a recognized, official picture ID as this proof?
…the next sound you hear will be the society evolving just the least little bit as common sense triumphs over the politics of emotion.
*WHUMP*
Thank you.
Puritan1648 on September 10, 2008 at 10:40 AM
I fail to understand what the issue is here.
Up here in America’s hat (what we call Canada, eh?) we HAVE to produce valid ID, ie: photo driver’s licence, before we can vote.
That’s just the way it is.
Seriously. How is this even an issue? Seems like common sense to me.
MT
Mistahtibbs on September 10, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Showing ID to vote should be required in all states. Bet it won’t happen here though. I live in NJ and its capacity for corruption and voter fraud is mind boggling.
Willie on September 10, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Here in AZ, if you don’t have ID you’re given a provisional ballot and allowed to vote, but before your vote is counted you have to show up (within a certain number of days) with an ID. But the law here has a pretty expansive definition of ID. If you claim that you don’t have a gov’t-issued ID, you are allowed to submit things like utility bills as ID. As we all know, anybody with a computer and scanner can produce very realistic-looking utility bills, etc., with any name and address on them that they want. We know that organized fraudsters like ACORN have plenty of money (courtesy of us taxpayers), so they can be cranking out as many forms of these fake “IDs” for non-eligible voters as they please.
AZCoyote on September 10, 2008 at 10:46 AM
If California had a rule like this — and enforced it, which is a different matter — the state might finally go red.
Though vigorously denied, it is (and has been) clear to many Californians that the illegal-alien vote has put several people in office….
MrScribbler on September 10, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Sorry Ed, but where in the Constitution is it a right?
Hint: It isn’t.
Tim Burton on September 10, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Democrats are having to re-work their Florida strategy.
I guess they won’t be needing all of those chartered buses afterall.
moxie_neanderthal on September 10, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Palm Beach County is mostly made up of rich white liberals from the north. Yes Doc…they’re that stupid.
orlandocajun on September 10, 2008 at 11:03 AM
ID is also required in Northern Virginia.
But a question (hopefully not tooo OT): In th elast few months, I’ve notice alot of Obama/ACORN people on the streets trolling ostensibly to “register” voters.
Were they to be so decrepit (I use the linguistic “conditional” to be generous…),
1) could they misuse such “registrations” to vote-by-mail for these signators and
2) could one trace such abuse realtively easily to prove voter fraud?
Lockstein13 on September 10, 2008 at 11:04 AM
They have always required IDs in my precincts in Northern Florida. My guess is that it is in the demofascist controlled southern counties where IDs weren’t required.
peacenprosperity on September 10, 2008 at 11:14 AM
You should see Texas.
Johan Klaus on September 10, 2008 at 11:29 AM
The Indiana voter ID law was upheld and in use. Only the Democrats seem to hate it (scratches head).
SKYFOX on September 10, 2008 at 11:47 AM
In Minnesota, we don’t have to show ID. They have an alphabetical list of everyone and you sign in on the line next to your name.
Every time I vote, I purposely ask, “Don’t you want to see my ID?” They just say no thanks.
Well, this year I’ll be asking that question again. Then, I’m going to ask them how they know that I’m who I’m signing against. I’m going to grill them out loud so that everyone hears me.
I’m sick to death of this, and I know that fraud is happening. We are basically a sanctuary state for illegals.
13Girl on September 10, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Only the Republicans seem to like it (scratches head).
crr6 on September 10, 2008 at 12:55 PM
So you think that non citizens should be allowed to vote?
Johan Klaus on September 10, 2008 at 1:00 PM
When it comes to some of the states in this land, my friend, you can throw common sense out the window.
Geronimo on September 10, 2008 at 1:08 PM
I can only imagine. I thought there were a lot up here in New England. Not even close to down south, and especially on the border.
Geronimo on September 10, 2008 at 1:10 PM
I live in CA and I can tell you if this was inforced in my state it would be a red state. We have all he kooks in the S.F. Bay area that lie, steal & cheat. There were ballots found floating in the bay after the 2004 election.
And let’s not forget WA state.
Winebabe on September 10, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Fine, but what’s the i.d. required? Will it still be possible for a New York resident with a second home in Florida to obtain and show Florida i.d. and register to vote there?
glendower on September 10, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Voters will be required to show a valid Identification at the Polls or get a provisional ballot. You were not wrong on this Ed. I wrote about this on my blog in August.
NorthWest Florida Republican
If you end up with a Provisional Ballot, your vote will only count after your credentials are verified. So the short answer is to bring a valid ID.
Dannic on September 10, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Forgot to provide a link to where I got this.
Voters Guide
There was an article as well but it looks like I forgot to link to it.
Dannic on September 10, 2008 at 4:37 PM
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