If you just simply register that doesn't mean you are actually going to vote. So, anyone can say your name and vote for you on voting day. You just say your name and address to vote. Pretty easy to say you are someone else.

Correct, but once you are registered, ANYONE can show up and say they are you. Many of the "get out to vote" drives, register people who will never even vote. All you need to do is get them on the voter rolls, and anyone can check through the rolls to find the people who never vote. You then simply have operatives show up and say you are one of those people, on the rolls. It's a very simple thing to do under the current structure.

Most just want fair elections, and know that their vote is not being wiped out by some political operation casting hundreds of elicit votes under the flawed system. I think that is why you see the now 84/16 margin FOR the voter ID bill in this poll.

You have to show a ID when you REGISTER to vote. Is it really a big deal to show it when you CAST a vote? And if it is a big deal for the elderly to get a valid ID than they can always get a absentee ballot sent to their house.

Most don't realize how easy it is to scam the current system. Many of the "get out the vote" campaigns are nothing but voting scams. All you need to do is get people registered, and on the voter rolls. Once they are on the rolls, you just need an operative (who has volunteered to work at the polls) to see who has not showed up to vote. Relay the information to one of your people, and then send in your own mass of operatives to show up and say you are so and so (off the list you compiled).

It's a very easy way to cheat the system, and it's done over and over. Perhaps the NRA, WI right to life, and other conservative groups should start to use the same tactics. Maybe then Doyle and Co would care.

All voters are honest?
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx...

I find it odd that so many endorsed the Clinton National Health Care Plan in 1992, that among other things, required a national photo ID to receive benefits, but are opposed to a photo ID as proof of residency and citizenship to vote.
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We do so little to safeguard the validity of our voting process, from allowing paper ballots and punchcards when technology has advanced nearly every other area of our culture.
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We can do better than the curent process - and what is more important than protecting our most hallowed right - the right to vote and know our elections matter?

I think Doyle understands the limitations many elderly and homeless have in maintaining a valid photo ID. They may be living in a nursing home and haven't driven in years - but they still qualify to vote.

And NO, you don't have to carry any ID. This isn't Germany 1940...

this is a RED herring.. a distraction,, voter are honest, but for a very very small few. this minor issue is a distraction from how this administration has broken the law by in so may ways and ignored the constitution to the point where it will take a generation to straighten it out. if it ever can be. i cry and weep for what our founders forsaw and layed out for us and what this president has distroyed,

Doyle is an idiot for not seeing that this will help make elections fair.

If communism is equated to democracy and Reagan knocked down communism, does that mean that Reagan actually knocked down democracy?

83% in this pool want the photo ID.
I'm sure it's about a 80/20% margin state wide.
However; it will never be passed! Doyle and Co working FOR YOU! Forget what the people want, we want all the illegitimate votes we can get!
Communism, errrrr... I mean democracy at it's finest!

I believe that some sort of ID should be required when voting; I am haven't considered when it should be simply photo ID or proof of citizenship.

It is true that we have a right to vote, making our wishes known--but with the rights that we enjoy, there must be some responsibility demonstrated by us as well. Is it really such a big deal to require a photo ID for such purposes??

As citizens, we have expectations of your government; providing for the public safety, public health, and social services when needed. That is why we pay our taxes.

As to the immigration situation, I don't know that there will ever be a good solution in handling this issue. Having done research on this issue for a college paper I do know that most of the illegals in this country have been here long enough to have completed the Legal Immigration process. They have also been working hard while in this country. The process can be costly, but budgeting on the 5-10 year plan for citizenship would pay for that. Young men/women who enter our Armed Forces could be 'grandfathered' in at some point. There are alot of good ideas out there. If these people believe that they are living a better life in our country, they need to be responsible enough, and respectful enough, to be here as full-fledged citizens. That is what will give them the RIGHT to vote in our country.

Last election I simply walked up to the table and gave them my name and address. The ladies working the table did know me from Adam. I commented to my daughter that we should go vote somewhere else. - At least the photo ID will match the face to the name.

why are we talking about illrgal immigrants? i thought this blog was about voting. ??? is anyone going to mention the voting tapes in Florida that were found in a trashcan?
Photo ID cannot stop outright voter fraud!!The Florida count is still in dispute, i believe.ALSO, Photo ID controversy is possibly a smokescreen to cover-up all of the computer situations that already have a fixed winner.

A much better way to prevent vote fraud is to publish the names and addresses of those registered voters who voted. The public could then detect any bogus votes cast in the name of people who didn't vote. Since this info is on computer files, newspapers could easily set up such lists. The lists could also be made available on the Internet.
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There should be two lists, one in voter name order and one in street address order. Voters could opt out of having their address published. In that case, names would be published without addresses in the name order listing, and street addresses would be published with only voter initials in the address order listing.
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This would not only help prevent fraud perpetrated by voters but also fraud perpetrated by poll
workers.

... and (to finish my thought :) these types of restrictions continue to lessen the level of trust between and amongst the citizenry and their government. Vote fraud, like ANY other crime, will always be comitted by those who truly wish to do so: no matter how many restrictions are put into place, there is always a way to bend or break a law. Frankly, IMHO, the best defense is a well-informed citizenry (as the founders had hoped) as well as stronger communities. Do the people at the polling station know you by name when you walk in?

Bill - with all due respect, I do not believe that vote fraud is the rationale for voter ID laws and I would argue that some of the comments herein bear that out. Besides, as others have pointed out (and as any kid with a fake ID has discovered) it is very easy to obtain a forged photo ID. In fact, it has already been conclusively demonstrated that even IDs with biometric data are easily forged. So it would seem that the idea that presenting photo ID will somehow prevent vote fraud is just a canard.

Voting is not only a right but it can also be viewed as a certain level of trust between citizens and their (not the, their) government. We, the people, trust the government to continue to hold elections and to abide by the results; the government trusts that citizens will actively participate and to not partake in fraud. I'd argue that for the most part, this holds true.

The right to vote can be considered to fall under the 9th Amendment and derived from English common law whereby citizens have the "freedom to elect members of Parliament without interference from the Sovereign". Since voting is a right then the government should NOT be able to compel one to identify themself at the polling station. Indeed, as you point out, registering to vote is the system that exists to determine if someone is qualified to vote (a citizen of a particular district, at least 18 years of age, not a felon, etc). I feel quite strongly that restrictions at the actual polling place are inherently unconstitutional and as I previously pointed out have been historically problematic for citizens who were not white nor male.

I'll bet there are illegal immigrants in Janesville who have much better spelling and grammar skills than many of the bloggers on this site.

joeflint:
I believe you are right in that when a person is in public, such as on a sidewalk or in a public place, if approached by a police officer and asked for I.D., we are not compelled to give it. However, when exercising a privilege (such as driving a motor vehicle on a public roadway), or a right (such as voting), the government can compel us to identify ourselves, which is why we must register to vote, so that they know who is voting and that we are residents of the district in which we wish to vote. The photo I.D. law that most here support does not create a new requirement to identify ourselves, but it institutes a more reliable and verifiable method that makes fraud much more difficult and makes it easier to hunt down the fraudulent which will in itself deter this fraud.

ask11,
Also, voting is a right, not a privilege.
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I would like to see more proof of illegal immigrants all over Janesville. Remember, the population of Janesville is over 60,000. Even 100 illegal immigrants would still just be .16% of the population. Relatively, that isn't a lot (and I'd venture to say there are less illegal immigrants than that in Janesville.) Don't forget that Janesville is over 90% Caucasian, and less than 3% Hispanic. By comparison, Beloit is 71% Caucasian, 15% African American, and 9% Hispanic, and Delavan is 75% Caucasian and about 21% Hispanic.

NVgrf- #4 or the rest doesnt work cant prove they are illegal with those. As well as dl. Still cant prove theyre illegal. I think that would help. But they get fake soc sec numbers and take to dmv to get license so that prob wont work either.

thekai- there are illegals all over jvl- there were some where my husband worked and nobody knew till another person of same ethicity ratted them out.

Also what is the big deal about getting a photo id if you dont have a dl. It would also be for your own safety in case you were in an accident (not driving) so they could id you.

chelleandlou- true but to get a id you should be a us citizan. I dont know why but there are people here illegally WITH drivers license. WHAT SENCE DOES THAT MAKE?????

sounds like the correct way to prove who you are to me.

The following are all acceptable for proof of residency in Wisconsin in order to vote. Showing a gas bill doesn't seem like much proof of citizenship. I'm torn on this one.

1. A current and valid Wisconsin driver’s license.
2. A current and valid Wisconsin identification card.
3. Any other official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit.
4. Any identification card issued by an employer in the normal course of business and bearing a photo of the card holder, but not including a business card.
5. A real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election.
6. A residential lease which is effective for a period that includes election day (NOT for first-time voters registering by mail).
7. A university, college or technical institute fee card (must include photo).
8. A university, college or technical institute identification card (must include photo).
9. A gas, electric or telephone service statement (utility bill) for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before election day.
10. Bank statement.
11. Paycheck.
12. A check or other document issued by a unit of government.

we need people to get out and vote and making them show ids only gives them a reason not too because, getting proper id would be a hassle and cost money to do so... And there are many many older people who no longer drive so they don't haYou'd be stuck there for Hours... Can get a fake one quicker seriously.

ask11,
How do you know Janesville has many illegal immigrants? I don't think there are many at all in Janesville.
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I would put yes, except that I think for some obtaining a photo ID would be a big hassle. I will continue to suggest that a photo ID or [some other solution] being required would be a good idea. To simply require a photo ID isn't a good idea, though.

Proof of ID is a must unless you want Illegal Immigrants(in which JVL has many of) voting. Voting is a *privilege* to US taxpayers not for Illegals!!!!

NOOOOO! There are no Federal or State laws anywhere that require one to have identification; in fact, quite a few court cases lend credence to exactly the opposite. Believe it or not, you do NOT have to show ID to the police, either... we have been conditioned to not know or appreciate our hard-won rights. I am absolutely stunned at the results of this poll.

Wow. I think a few of us need to go read up on (the history behind) the 15th and 24th Amendments.

Isn't it a law that you must carry some form of photo ID when you are an adult anyways? Either a drivers license or a state issued ID? Maybe I am wrong, but I don't think its that big of deal to verify someones identity before they vote.

I think proof of being a United States Citizen is more important than proof of ID.

I know,... I'll just use the same picture ID I have to show to cash a check, get on a plane, get a job, take a state or college exam .......