[Summit] voter ID

[barfootjim]

I have a part time job delivering prescription medicines from various  
drug stores. In this work, I see many people who, for one reason or  
another, find it extremely hard or impossible to get out to get food,  
health care, or anything else. Quite a few of them have difficulty  
even crossing the room to open the door. Many are elderly, but not  
all. Many have no transportation available, and need to rely on  
others to go out and get things for them. That's what absentee  
ballots are for. Getting an absentee ballot does not require a  
picture ID. Why should voting in person? If the real purpose of ID is  
to prevent voter fraud, the issue of absentee ballots is a gaping  
hole in the solution.

Here are the rules in RI:

Am I eligible to vote by mail ballot?
To request a mail ballot, you must be unable to vote in person for  
one of these reasons:

1. You are physically unable to vote in a polling place because of  
illness or physical or mental disability.

2. You are confined to a nursing home, convalescent home or hospital  
within the State of Rhode Island.

3. You are a Military or Overseas voter away due to employment or  
service connected with military operations or because you are a  
spouse or legal dependent who lives with that person or you are a  
U.S. citizen who will be outside the United States.

In addition, there is a new, fourth category. Thanks to a recent  
change in state law, you can request a mail ballot if you think you  
may not be able to vote at your assigned polling place on the day of  
election. Many people refer to this as a “no-excuse“ mail ballot.

How do I apply for a mail ballot?
Mail ballot applications are generally available at least two months  
before regularly scheduled elections. Your completed application must  
be received by your local board of canvassers at least 21 days before  
the election. Your completed mail ballot must be received by the  
state Board of Elections by 9 p.m. the day of the election.

If you are permanently disabled, you may arrange to have mail ballot  
applications (not the actual ballots) mailed to you automatically for  
five years.

What if I have an emergency after the mail ballot deadline and I  
can't vote in person?
If emergency circumstances arise after the regular mail ballot  
application deadline, you can apply for an emergency mail ballot at  
your local board of canvassers until 4 p.m. on the day before the  
election. Your emergency mail ballot must be received by the state  
Board of Elections by 9 p.m. the day of the election.

How do I complete a mail ballot?
You should start by reviewing your ballot and all enclosures. Follow  
all the instructions for voting your ballot that are enclosed. After  
completing your ballot, insert it into the small envelope and seal  
it. Fill in the information on the outside of the envelope as  
required. Then sign the envelope. Unless you are a Military or  
Overseas voter, two individuals or a notary must witness your  
signature. Place the sealed envelope containing your ballot into the  
large envelope that is addressed to the state Board of Elections. The  
state Board of Elections must receive your mail ballot by 9 p.m. on  
the day of the election.

What if I do not receive my mail ballot or if I make a mistake or the  
ballot is damaged?
Request a replacement mail ballot by contacting us at 401-222-2340 or  
elections at sos.ri.gov

Am I able to receive assistance casting my mail ballot?
The law does permit you to get help completing your ballot from a bi- 
partisan pair of supervisors. Contact your local board of canvassers  
for more information.


I see several openings for possible fraud.


On Oct 7, 2012, at 11:18 PM, Craig Borges wrote:

> Liberty, I could not have said it better. Middle class assumptions  
> is right. What seems to be a rather simple task -- getting an ID --  
> is not so simple for some and requiring such is an indirect way of  
> denying them one of their basic rights as an American -- to vote.  
> Carrying an ID is not a requirement to be a US citizen nor should  
> it be to exercise your right to vote. Voter ID laws do but one  
> thing -- alienate those who are already on the fringes of society.  
> They are discriminatory in that they hurt the poorer classes almost  
> exclusively.
> Craig Borges
>
>>
>> There are a few very middle class assumptions being made here.
>> Just getting the info on how to get an ID can be difficult for
>> many.  Guess what - not everyone has access to internet and
>> would know to go to the SOS.ri.gov site.  Even if people did
>> find out the requirements, getting to the appropriate place
>> to get the ID, with photo could mean taking time off from
>> a job - impossible for many.  Getting to the polls is not
>> comparable - there is a polling place within easy walking
>> distance in all neighborhoods, and the lengthy voting hours
>> avoid time conflicts.
>>
>> Finally, the multiple John Smiths at a single address over
>> the years doesn't make sense as a problem.  The election
>> workers would have a record of that John Smith having
>> voted, and a signature.
>>
>> By the way, I have been wanting to get my mother's death
>> certificate for years, but she died in NYC and the process
>> is so complicated that even I, quite well educated and
>> literate, have found it too much of a burden to do it.
>> Dealing with this stuff is not a walk in the park.
>>
>> Blessings,
>>
>> Liberty G
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