What to do about victims of Helena voting rights, who have lost everything?

[trblmkr]

We are 30 days out from a general election. Tens of thousands of residents of four states may have lost their passports, birth certificates and other documents and quite likely cannot replace them in time, if at all.
So if you are a fan of proving citizenship to vote, how would you suggest we ensure we honor these resident's right to vote?
I would suggest an expedited system allowing the use of driver's licenses, bank statements, power bills, rent receipts, etc.

 

[Grand Mal]

We are 30 days out from a general election. Tens of thousands of residents of four states may have lost their passports, birth certificates and other documents and quite likely cannot replace them in time, if at all.
So if you are a fan of proving citizenship to vote, how would you suggest we ensure we honor these resident's right to vote?
I would suggest an expedited system allowing the use of driver's licenses, bank statements, power bills, rent receipts, etc.

How about three registered voters vouch for them?

 

[trblmkr]

Wait, are they republicans or democrats? Just kidding. Actually, that works for me. Unless they are all from the "villages" , then no.

 

[Integrityrespec]

We are 30 days out from a general election. Tens of thousands of residents of four states may have lost their passports, birth certificates and other documents and quite likely cannot replace them in time, if at all.
So if you are a fan of proving citizenship to vote, how would you suggest we ensure we honor these resident's right to vote?
I would suggest an expedited system allowing the use of driver's licenses, bank statements, power bills, rent receipts, etc.

This is an incredibly technological world. I'm pretty sure there are records, state, local, and federal that can be accessed to expedite the needed proof of identity. The voter records are there, all that's needed is positive ID and there are many ways to establish that.

 

[trblmkr]

This is an incredibly technological world. I'm pretty sure there are records, state, local, and federal that can be accessed to expedite the needed proof of identity. The voter records are there, all that's needed is positive ID and there are many ways to establish that.

Yes it is a tech world and because of that your assumptions could be somewhat mistaken. I had to contact Phoenix AZ to get a copy of my birth certificate to get a GA DL. It cost 25 or 50 bucks and took several weeks. I had an internet connection and functioning mail service. Many of these folks do not. They don't even have cell service. And, it is sort of an illegal pole tax. You also assume that local government offices have power or are even existing to be of any assistance. My local county seat was without power for 6 days. My SREMC, (power), office was running on generators for over a week. I got power back when they did.

 

[Isidore]

Some states appear to have considered this possibility. For example, North Carolina:

ID Exceptions​

• The voter was a victim of a natural disaster within 100 days before Election Day that resulted in a disaster declaration by the President of the United States or the Governor of North Carolina.

https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/voter-id#exceptions​

In other states that require photo ID in order to vote, but don't appear to have any relevant exception, I'm not sure if anything can be done. The states are required to follow their laws.

 

[trblmkr]

Some states appear to have considered this possibility. For example, North Carolina:

ID Exceptions​

• The voter was a victim of a natural disaster within 100 days before Election Day that resulted in a disaster declaration by the President of the United States or the Governor of North Carolina.

https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/voter-id#exceptions​

In other states that require photo ID in order to vote, but don't appear to have any relevant exception, I'm not sure if anything can be done. The states are required to follow their laws.

Thank you, I hadn't seen that, but that is what I was getting at. States that do not have such provisions are going to disenfranchise thousands of voters. Come to think of it, how many polling places no longer exist in these states. I would bet that even in Valdosta, GA, a city of 55K that was hit very hard may have polling places that no longer exist. City offices were due to open today.

 

[BirdinHand]

What are these states doing to make sure their people can vote?

 

[Radical Red Radish]

I'll tell you how you can know if somebody is an American citizen. You ask them what their political platform is. If they have five planks to their platform that they can use to prove that they could not possibly have come from any other country because they would be shot on sight, and those planks come from ideologies that vehemently disagree with each other as such, but the planks make sense together, that's an American. If at least one government agency considers them a terrorist because of their skill level at or enthusiasm for their occupation and is afraid they'll become something useful sounding like a construction worker, that's an American. If the police try to limit how much coffee they drink or how many used books they order off the Internet, that's an American. If their family art of war includes instructions for building an aircraft carrier, that's an American. If you know that this person could get rich selling gummi worms overseas, that's an American.

It doesn't matter if they're registered voters or not, because they should be. Oh, and to those who deport Ninjas for being good at politics, that is a disgrace on you and your benches.

 

[Luce]

Presumably they are already registered.

Provisional ballots are going to be a thing.

 

[Luce]

I'll tell you how you can know if somebody is an American citizen. You ask them what their political platform is. If they have five planks to their platform that they can use to prove that they could not possibly have come from any other country because they would be shot on sight, and those planks come from ideologies that vehemently disagree with each other as such, but the planks make sense together, that's an American. If at least one government agency considers them a terrorist because of their skill level at or enthusiasm for their occupation and is afraid they'll become something useful sounding like a construction worker, that's an American. If the police try to limit how much coffee they drink or how many used books they order off the Internet, that's an American. If their family art of war includes instructions for building an aircraft carrier, that's an American. If you know that this person could get rich selling gummi worms overseas, that's an American.

It doesn't matter if they're registered voters or not, because they should be. Oh, and to those who deport Ninjas for being good at politics, that is a disgrace on you and your benches.

wut

 

[VySky]

We are 30 days out from a general election. Tens of thousands of residents of four states may have lost their passports, birth certificates and other documents and quite likely cannot replace them in time, if at all.
So if you are a fan of proving citizenship to vote, how would you suggest we ensure we honor these resident's right to vote?
I would suggest an expedited system allowing the use of driver's licenses, bank statements, power bills, rent receipts, etc.

I asked this a few days ago.

They don't care.

How do We ensure Those in North Carolina impacted by Helene have the Opportunity to Vote

Simple question. As a result of the response to Helene from the Biden/Harris administration, I'm sure they want to have their voice heard. Will they be given that opportunity?

debatepolitics.com

 

[Roadvirus]

We are 30 days out from a general election. Tens of thousands of residents of four states may have lost their passports, birth certificates and other documents and quite likely cannot replace them in time, if at all.
So if you are a fan of proving citizenship to vote, how would you suggest we ensure we honor these resident's right to vote?
I would suggest an expedited system allowing the use of driver's licenses, bank statements, power bills, rent receipts, etc.

Right now, their right to vote is probably at the very bottom of their worries.

 

[Phys251]

Right now, their right to vote is probably at the very bottom of their worries.

You speak for every disaster victim?

 

[Mika-El]

We are 30 days out from a general election. Tens of thousands of residents of four states may have lost their passports, birth certificates and other documents and quite likely cannot replace them in time, if at all.
So if you are a fan of proving citizenship to vote, how would you suggest we ensure we honor these resident's right to vote?
I would suggest an expedited system allowing the use of driver's licenses, bank statements, power bills, rent receipts, etc.

I agree with you. I would add medical records, tax receipts, fingerprints, affidavits from employers, clergy.

The tragedy is for sure Trump will exploit this to claim any or all votes from these 4 states were rigged just as he has lied about Trump and Fema not providing assistance to exploit the issue. As we speak citizens believing Trump are not asking Fema for help because of his lies. How many of them will needlessly suffer, maybe die not realizing they can get help from Fema?

The worst thing is Trump has set up a phony collection agency to collect and intercept hurricane donations that he should have told his audience should go directly to the relief agencies and Red Cross now desperately around the clock to save people. He has lied about Fema. Fema has not taken funds for hurricanes and spent it on any immigrants. The funds for Fema and for hurricane relief or immigrants was passed by congress not Biden or Harris based on bi-partisan agreement and the funds were never the same. Fema has reserved money it has not spent on earlier hurricanes for the victims of those hurricanes and not forwarded that money to the current victims of Helena. That is what is causing an issue which is not a political one but a budgeting one. Fema has and if need be can get more funds from congress for Helena and probably Hurricane Milton coming soon and maybe others to come.

The person Trump appointed to his supposed hurricane relief collection agency is a fundraiser for him. How will anyone know what she does with any money received as there is no open accountability like there are with the Red Cross or the other relief agencies of Fema?

Trump has set up a phony front to yet again rip off his voters. It just never ends and his Maga sheep just drink the koolaid.

 

[george48]

We are 30 days out from a general election. Tens of thousands of residents of four states may have lost their passports, birth certificates and other documents and quite likely cannot replace them in time, if at all.
So if you are a fan of proving citizenship to vote, how would you suggest we ensure we honor these resident's right to vote?
I would suggest an expedited system allowing the use of driver's licenses, bank statements, power bills, rent receipts, etc.

How about automatic registration and hence vote?

 

[uptower]

We are 30 days out from a general election. Tens of thousands of residents of four states may have lost their passports, birth certificates and other documents and quite likely cannot replace them in time, if at all.
So if you are a fan of proving citizenship to vote, how would you suggest we ensure we honor these resident's right to vote?
I would suggest an expedited system allowing the use of driver's licenses, bank statements, power bills, rent receipts, etc.

Well they've lost their paperwork and IDs and shit, so we can't be sure who they are. Their homes have been destroyed so those addresses are invalid now. Obviously they need to be struck off the rolls just as a precaution and spend the next 6 months lobbying to get re-registered. Especially if they're in districts that normally vote blue. In fact if it can wait till after the midterms, even better.

 

[reinaert]

It's almost like making voting harder is something that is easily worsened by climate disasters.

 

[LouC]

We are 30 days out from a general election.

Ayup.

Tens of thousands of residents of four states may have lost their passports, birth certificates and other documents and quite likely cannot replace them in time, if at all.

That only becomes an issue if they are doing same day Registration to Vote.

So if you are a fan of proving citizenship to vote, how would you suggest we ensure we honor these resident's right to vote?

If they are already Registered they should be good with their current photo ID if that is what their State requires to check in to vote.

I would suggest an expedited system allowing the use of driver's licenses, bank statements, power bills, rent receipts, etc.

If those states are like mine, and the state where I previously lived, to Register to Vote on election day a current Photo Drivers license with all current information is all one needs to complete a registration and vote.

Many States cut off allowing Registration a month or more before an election.

 

[roguenuke]

This is an incredibly technological world. I'm pretty sure there are records, state, local, and federal that can be accessed to expedite the needed proof of identity. The voter records are there, all that's needed is positive ID and there are many ways to establish that.

It took me weeks to get my ID card from NC before the hurricane hit and even where our state capitol is. We don't have nearly enough DMVs available during normal times and likely most of those in the western areas were taken out. That means far less people available.

Now, my state, led by our Dem Governor, has given an alternative. If a person doesn't have an ID card, they can go to the county board of elections to get one.

Get a Free Voter Photo ID | NCSBE

Don’t have an acceptable photo ID for voting? North Carolina registered voters can get one from their county board of elections.

www.ncsbe.gov

This will mean though that the state will need to provide equipment for voting and may/likely even some additional equipment to get ballots printed, volunteers to help run it, and so much more from other counties, maybe even states or the federal government, which of course will likely then come under fire if Trump doesn't win NC.

I'm more worried about the fact that there were likely people who had their ballots or sent out their ballots right before the hurricane hit and are they going to be able to prove they lost it. I also hope that they (the legislature) will allow them to setup temporary voting areas, give adequate funding for it, so that people can vote.

 

[Beruit 1978]

Presumably they are already registered.

Provisional ballots are going to be a thing.

I believe Luce has given the only real response here. Officials should turn no one away. If the voter has proper ID on him, he votes, no problem. If he is missing proper ID, he is given a provisional ballot. It is then up to the officials to verify that the voter is indeed registered, and eligible to vote.

A lot of state and local officials are going to be overworked for a few weeks, but, hey, that's what they get the big money for.

 

[ColdHardTruth]

We are 30 days out from a general election. Tens of thousands of residents of four states may have lost their passports, birth certificates and other documents and quite likely cannot replace them in time, if at all.
So if you are a fan of proving citizenship to vote, how would you suggest we ensure we honor these resident's right to vote?
I would suggest an expedited system allowing the use of driver's licenses, bank statements, power bills, rent receipts, etc.

The correct procedure here is to hold the GQP scumbags in the government of Flor-I-DUH accountable what occurred.

If the people down there, after being continually victimized by racist GQP KKK scum, are not wise enough to vote the GQP out of office, then they will be stuck living in hell.

 

[Beruit 1978]

Presumably they are already registered.

Provisional ballots are going to be a thing.

I believe Luce has given the only real response here. Officials should turn no one away. If the voter has proper ID on him, he votes, no problem. If he is missing proper ID, he is given a provisional ballot. It is then up to the officials to verify that the voter is indeed registered, and eligible to vote.

A lot of state and local officials are going to be overworked for a few weeks, but, hey, that's what they get the big money for.