Marshall, MN – National pro-immigrant Republican group Cafe Con Leche Republicans today endorsed Minnesota’s voter ID constitutional amendment.
Voter ID is an excellent way of restoring public confidence in our elections. Vote fraud suppresses legitimate votes and can illegitimately throw close elections, and reasonable photo ID requirements for voting will reduce one form of vote fraud. Numerous audits of voter rolls in various states have found dead people and ineligible felons registered to vote. For example, a New York Daily News investigation found 46,000 voters registered to vote in both New York and Florida, and hundreds voted in both NY and FL! The Supreme Court agreed, in upholding Indiana’s photo ID requirement:
Unfortunately, the United States has a long history of voter fraud that has been documented by historians and journalists” – Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens
[C]onfidence in the integrity of our electoral processes is essential to the functioning of our participatory democracy. Voter fraud drives honest citizens out of the democratic process and breeds distrust of our government. Voters who fear their legitimate votes will be outweighed by fraudulent ones will feel disenfranchised.
Minnesota leads the nation in documented cases of vote fraud with over 200 recent convictions, and has the least secure election system. For example, a person can register on election day without ID if someone “vouches” for them. Only two states allow for vouching, and just six states do not provide for provisional ballots. Each year, approximately 6,000 verification cards from voters who registered on election day are returned non-deliverable indicating more than likely they used an invalid address, and perhaps a fake name as well, making it near impossible to identify and prosecute fraudulent voters.
Opponents of voter ID have constructed largely baseless arguments, claiming voter ID requirements have a disparate impact on minorities, the elderly, etc. There is nothing racist about requiring everyone to show photo ID at the polls or to register to vote. As long as states do not charge a fee for a photo ID for voting and do not create unreasonable barriers in obtaining photo ID, there is no reason why states should not require photo ID for voting.
Most voter ID laws have been upheld by the courts, which generally have found no unreasonable impediments to obtaining ID for the small minority of Americans who do not already have photo ID. Opponents of photo ID often cite a study be the Brennan Center, claiming up to 10% of voters lack photo ID. We find it hard to imagine that 10% of our adult population cannot cash a check, buy liquor, or pass an airport TSA checkpoint because they lack photo ID, and we doubt polls sponsored by advocacy groups, especially since there are credible polls showing less than 1% of registered voters lack photo ID. For example, American University found that less than one-half of 1 percent of registered voters in Maryland, Indiana, and Mississippi lacked a government-issued ID. A 2006 survey of more than 36,000 voters found that only 23 people in the entire sample would be unable to vote because of an ID requirement.
We know of no state that unreasonably denies photo ID to Latinos and other minorities. However, the Obama State Department routinely denies passports to midwife birthed Latino citizens. A recent report showed 93% of those arrested under Secure Communities are Latino, though Latinos are 78% of the unauthorized immigrant population, and almost 50% of those arrested were not arrested for criminal acts, confirming widespread complaints that Latinos are often arrested rather than cited for minor traffic infractions in order to investigate their immigration status. The same study found 3,600 U.S. Citizens have been falsely arrested under Secure Communities. Few self respecting adult Latinos go out in public anymore without ID since a routine encounter with police for a traffic infraction as minor as frost on the windows can result in arrest rather than traffic citation. The Obama administration has very aggressively rolled out Secure Communities nationwide despite widespread complaints.
Strangely, Obama’s DOJ has sent hundreds of agents to investigate legitimate voter ID laws in dozens of states and files generally fruitless lawsuits to delay voter ID implementation, but is nowhere to be found investigating passport denials to midwife birthed Latino citizens, or the disparate impact of the Secure Communities program on Latinos. This same DOJ refused to prosecute a flagrant case of voter intimidation by New Black Panthers, after the case was largely already won by the Bush DOJ. Apparently, laws, policies, etc. that have a disparate impact on minorities are only of interest to the Obama administration when it comes to protecting vote fraud. The DOJ needs to investigate discriminatory practices, but the emphasis on voter ID at the expense of protecting citizens against racial profiling and citizenship stripping is entirely misplaced, and highlights the politicization of Obama’s DOJ.
The voter ID amendment addresses the lack of security in Minnesota’s elections, while not erecting unreasonable barriers to voting. We fully support voter ID.
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About Us – Cafe Con Leche Republicans is a national organization of Republicans who welcome “New Americans”, defined as immigrants and family of recent immigrants. Our mission is to make America and the GOP, more welcoming to “New Immigrants” through political activism, “in-reach” and education within the Republican Party, and lobbying government to adopt more immigrant friendly policies. We also seek to bring more conservative and moderate “New Americans” to the Republican Party. These efforts will strengthen the GOP, and lead more Republicans to embrace welcoming policies for immigrants and their families. We have members nationwide, with chapters in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and California. Our members and leadership are predominantly Hispanic, though we define ourselves by mission and guiding principles, not ethnicity, and we welcome all who share our goals. Our leadership is 100% Republican.
There’s another thread on the Cafe Con Leche Republicans Blog Space – http://cafeconlecherepublicans.com/picture-idsyes – that deals with this Picture Voter ID thingy. To date – there are 7 comments in that other thread. One of the comments indicate that on 8/30/12 – the Federal government struck down the Texas Voter ID thingy. One of the comments indicates that on 9/19/12 – the Pennsyvania Supreme Court (in a Majority Vote, 4-2) sent the Pennsyvania Voter ID thingy back to the lower courts. I understand that the lower court have prevented the Voter ID thingy from taking effect this year. One of the comments on 9/28/12 indicated that the Wisconson Supreme Court judges have prevented the Voter ID thingy there from taking effect this year. AND – one of the comments deals with the issue that Voter ID won’t mean much of anything – when there is FRAUD in the area of Voter Registration – and this comment points out in a linked newspaper report – http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-voter-registration-florida-republicans-20120928,0,7654954.story – that FLORIDA is INVOLVED with FRAUD in VOTER REGISTRATION in 10 Counties. The FRAUD was committed under the direction of Republicans!
SO – there certainly has been a NUMBER of ISSUES/QUESTIONED raised already within the Cafe Con Leche Republicans Blog Space – over this Voter ID thingy!
Strategically, Obama is fighting each and ever photo ID measure, knowing full well they will ultimately lose in court, but whenever they can get in front of a friendly judge they will be able to delay voter ID at least for this election, with the full knowledge that SCOTUS has already set precedent in the case from Indiana and ultimately they will lose. This is desperation to protect voter fraud!
Bob – it is my understanding that the Picture Voter ID thingy deals with the idea that there is actually a large amount of voter impersonation at the voting place.
From what I’ve heard so far – the numbers in the area of voter impersonation stuff – going on in each state – amounts to a hundred or so – while the COSTS for Picture Voter ID – for each state – will number in the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, if not MILLIONS of DOLLARS – for EACH STATE – for EACH ELECTION YEAR.
Don’t you think, Bob, that there IS a BETTER WAY – to SPEND TAX DOLLARS ???
Requiring a photo ID is in itself of little consequence. What is of consequence is the fact that the GOP controlled legislature in Minnesota allotted zero funds to help citizens obtain the ID, and this includes requirement of birth certificate. Whatever the opposite of patriotic is this is what the GOP has become. Imagine being led by a homophobic fool with no sense of democracy.
Not so long ago a peaceful peoples were led stray by a cabal of conservative theologians and greedy industrialists. This is fact, this is history.
Respectfully
M Elness
Why would the legislature allot funds before the amendment passes? I don’t buy the argument that voter ID is costly, and opponents have been erecting ridiculous arguments against this common sense measure.
As for being led by fools, we have an excellent example in the White House, who will be retiring in a few weeks. Americans have had enough of ‘hype and blame’ and class warfare. Time for a real leader!
Look at the following stuff, Bob – on Voter ID COSTS –
In Minneapolis – start of quote – “MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The office responsible for administering elections in Minneapolis released a report Wednesday saying that the proposed voter ID constitutional amendment could cost, if passed, an estimated $50 million in startup costs.
The report, which was released by the City Clerk’s office, examines the wording of the amendment and how similar laws have impacted other states.” – end of quote – Source – http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/08/01/city-releases-report-on-voter-id-amendment-costs-changes/
Or this, Bob – start of quote – “Voter ID implementation costs in dispute
by Tim Pugmire, Minnesota Public Radio
September 13, 2012
ST. PAUL, Minn. — If Minnesotans approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would require voters to present identification at the polls, many government officials say it will come with a multi-million dollar price tag that will ultimately fall to taxpayers.
State Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a Democrat, has warned for months that the costs could be at least $50 million.
A Minneapolis-based advocacy group that opposes voter ID suggests even higher costs. The group Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota estimates combined state and local costs of from $36 million to $78 million.” – end of quote – Source – http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/13/politics/supporters-opponents-voter-id-requirement-cost-disagreement/
OR THIS, Bob – start of quote – “Debate Over Voter ID in Minnesota Extends to Cost Minnesota
The debate over requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls usually revolves around arguments about whether such laws prevent fraud or impede legitimate access to the polls.
In Minnesota, however, a debate has also emerged over how much implementing such a requirement would cost, with two recently released reports offering very different assessments.
The advocacy group Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota estimates that implementing voter ID could cost the state and counties a combined $36 million – $78 million. The group includes costs such as producing photo IDs, conducting voter education and outreach, the potential need to move to provisional balloting, and the possible shift to electronic rosters for polling places.
A separate report from the Center of the American Experiment comes to a very different conclusion and estimates implementing photo ID in Minnesota will cost less than $3 million, including the cost of producing photo IDs, conducting voter education and outreach, and the potential need to move to provisional balloting. The report adds that photo ID could provide savings, such as increased efficiencies if electronic poll books are used.” – end of quote – Source – http://www.pewstates.org/research/analysis/debate-over-voter-id-in-minnesota-extends-to-cost-85899423754
AND, Bob – The above COSTS – are ONLY within the state of Minnesota.
There are 50 states in the union, Bob – so MULTIPLY these costs by roughly 50 – AND THAT is the ROUGH NATIONAL COSTS for Picture Voter ID !!!!!
AND, Bob – as Mitch points out – the Minnesota Legislature – FAILED to ALLOCATE – EVEN ONE PENNY – for the Picture Voter ID costs – FOR the STATE of MINNESOTA – which is projected to RUN IN TO MILLIONS – YES – MILLIONS of TAX-PAYER EXPENSE.
THESE TAX-PAYER EXPENSES – in Minnesota – BROUGHT to you BY the Minnesota REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE !!!!!!!
Yup – MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS – the no-tax BUT BIG SPENDING PARTY !!!!!!
Here’s another thought, Bob Q., on the Minnesota Voter ID thingy passed by the Minnesota Republican Legislature – As both Mitch and I point out – the Republican Legislature FAILED to authorize OR allocate ANY FUNDS for this Voter ID thingy – which WILL COST MILLIONS to impliment throughout the state.
THUS – THESE MILLIONS of dollars WILL BE CHARGED AGAINST the General Fund for the state of Minnesota. THUS, Minnesota will GO INTO DEBT on this Voter ID thingy (because there are NO TAXES to pay for the cost).
HOWEVER – Minnesota – WILL be able to barrow money – FROM BANKS to pay for the Voter ID Thingy. BARROWING the MONEY – means that Interest will be paid on the money to the Banks – which means – since a large number of Bankers are Republicans – the Republican Legislature – by FAILING to allocate funds for this Voter ID Thingy – WILL CREATE JOB SECURITY for Bankers – who will make money from the Interest Charged to PAY FOR the Voter ID Thingy !!!!
THUS – by PASSING the Voter ID thingy in Minnesota – the Republican Legislature did a JOB SECURITY thingy – for Bankers!!!!
Great JOBS bill, Republicans!!!!
And HERE’S the latest from OHIO – start of quote -
“Nov. 6 — OHIO — Poor voters unnecessarily ‘pushed’ to provisional ballots? That’s what Ohio’s Senate Minority leader says. Voters in poor and traditionally African American neighborhoods are being asked “for photo ID, you don’t need that in Ohio, but they’re requiring that in certain instances. They’re requiring that the address on the ID match the address in the book — that’s not required,” state Sen. Eric Kearney told Buzzfeed.” – end of quote. Source – http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/11/06/roundup-voter-irregularities-2/?hpid=z3
YUP – just like many expected – the Repubicans ARE using Voter ID – to keep poor folk AWAY from Voting !!!!!!!