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[Razgriz-Specter]

Eh, they already closed many of the offices in heavily populated and white areas over the last few years.
Situation just sucks in general.

Kinda ridiculous that you have to drive 20+ minutes AWAY from Birmingham just to find a decent place.

 

[scurker]

I didn't have a driver's license facility in my County in Tennessee either. Is every County supposed to have one because that's definitely not the case in Tennessee as well?

There's many people in this state who have never left the state much less their county. It's a big enough issue that even someone is trying to solve the problem make services more accessible. Even with offices in every county, sometimes that could still be 45 minutes to over an hour away. Since a valid id is required when voting, this makes it significantly more difficult for some of the more remote population to actually vote.

 

[poppabk]

So are the 31 closed offices all in different counties? If so then what are the demographics of the other counties that saw offices closed?
How many counties have greater than 75% black registered voters?

 

[RDreamer]

Eh, they already closed many of the offices in heavily populated and white areas over the last few years.
Situation just sucks in general.

So how about let's not require something we can't actually provide to people in order for them to vote.

 

[Zoe]

So how about let's not require something we can't actually provide to people in order for them to vote.

Can these offices not provide state ID's?

The offices themselves are not going away. They're just losing the examiners.

 

[marrec]

So are the 31 closed offices all in different counties? If so then what are the demographics of the other counties that saw offices closed?
How many counties have greater than 75% black registered voters?

http://media.al.com/news_impact/photo/dl-office-closingsjpg-4a360c74cb93a2d4.jpg

Above is the list of all 31 offices that were closed and where they are located. It looks like they are all in 31 different counties.

 

[shadowkat]

Wow. the shenanigans are palpable. I hope this goes to court.

My issue with voter id laws is that they're obviously made to decrease turnout.

Other countries have voter id laws, Canada for example, but i'm sure it's not a pain to get an ID.

If you're curious, this is what you need for ID in Canada:

http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=id&document=index&lang=e

You have quite a few options.

 

[scurker]

So are the 31 closed offices all in different counties? If so then what are the demographics of the other counties that saw offices closed?
How many counties have greater than 75% black registered voters?

Not sure what the general demographics are, but they tend to be poorer, more rural areas of Alabama.

 

[PSqueak]

How the fuck is this even possible to do, like, how is it even allowed? Im not from the US, so help me understand, because that shit is fucked up.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

How many counties have greater than 75% black registered voters?

 

[RDreamer]

Can these offices not provide state ID's?

The offices themselves are not going away. They're just losing the examiners.

It says in the article that you'd have to drive to another county to get a license.

 

[Zoe]

It says in the article that you'd have to drive to another county to get a license.

License != State ID

 

[dolabla]

Eh, they already closed many of the offices in heavily populated and white areas over the last few years.
Situation just sucks in general.

Kinda ridiculous that you have to drive 20+ minutes AWAY from Birmingham just to find a decent place.

Yep, like I said on the previous page, just the other day on the local news they said they might be closing my county as well. And they mentioned we might have to drive all the damn way to Montgomery. I live in a county next to Florida.

 

[Armaros]

License != State ID

What state issued ID that also qualifies for voter ID is more universal and as easily acquired as a Drivers license?

State ID != Voter ID

 

[Zoe]

What state issued ID that also qualifies for voter ID is more universal and as easily acquired as a Drivers license?

State ID != Voter ID

The Alabama Non-Driver Identification ID card qualifies as a voter ID.

http://dps.alabama.gov/home/wfContent.aspx?ID=30&PLH1=plhDriverLicense-DocumentRequirementsAndFees

It requires less documentation as well.

http://www.alabamavotes.gov/VoterID.aspx?m=voters

Valid ID at the Polls
A voter can use any of the following forms of photo ID at the polls starting June 3, 2014:

Valid Driver's License
Valid Non-driver ID
Valid Alabama Photo Voter ID
Valid State Issued ID (Alabama or any other state)
Valid Federal Issued ID
Valid US Passport
Valid Employee ID from Federal Government, State of Alabama, County Government, Municipality, Board, Authority, or other entity of this state
Valid student or employee ID from a college or university in the State of Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)
Valid Military ID
Valid Tribal ID

 

[Poodlestrike]

This

“But maybe it’s not racial at all, right? Maybe it’s just political. And let’s face it, it may not be either… But no matter the intent, the consequence is the same.”

is a great point to make. It doesn't matter if the original intent was racist, the outcome sure as hell is.

 

[Armaros]

The Alabama Non-Driver Identification ID card qualifies as a voter ID.

http://dps.alabama.gov/home/wfContent.aspx?ID=30&PLH1=plhDriverLicense-DocumentRequirementsAndFees

It requires less documentation as well.

http://www.alabamavotes.gov/VoterID.aspx?m=voters

And the places to obtain them? Are they as widespread as the DMVs that are being closed?

 

[Zoe]

And the places to obtain them? Are they as widespread as the DMVs?

That's why I was asking. The offices in question are not DMV offices, they're county offices which usually do process other kinds of identification.

 

[mackattk]

From last year:



Collier and those who undoubtedly support him in the Legislature have shifted resources AWAY from providing driver's licenses into additional law enforcement.

So not only do the majority black counties no longer get to apply for new licenses, but they will face increased law enforcement presence. I'm frankly shocked that they couldn't find it in the LEO budget somewhere to be able to continue to run these 31 offices.

Wait, no, I'm not shocked.

This is actually perfect. Make people who need new licenses, or those that are expired, to have to travel across counties to renew them. They will be fucked by the police, or fucked by the time it takes at the DMV. They might have to cut it short and come back another day if it takes too long because they need to work at Wal-mart at 3pm, and it takes two hours to drive there from the DMV. They will probably have to take time off and lose income for this, lest they be fired for being late at their minimum wage job. Maybe if it is their second or third offense they can throw them in jail for not having an ID while driving.. So one less democratic vote there.

No matter what happens, its a hard shot at minorities, so for the GOP its a win-win.

 

[Machina]

Woooow, how this is not effectively a legal form of voter fraud?

 

[RDreamer]

The Alabama Non-Driver Identification ID card qualifies as a voter ID.

http://dps.alabama.gov/home/wfContent.aspx?ID=30&PLH1=plhDriverLicense-DocumentRequirementsAndFees

It requires less documentation as well.

http://www.alabamavotes.gov/VoterID.aspx?m=voters

So where does one get that besides a DMV? And if one cannot get it anywhere but the DMV and you still can get them without the examiners, why would that not be the first piece of information out after these closings were announced?

This is also my problem with these voter ID laws. They're confusing as all fucking hell. The only thing people really KNOW is that their driver's license works. That's about it. If you're going to require an ID like this to vote there needs to be a fucking task force on this shit 24/7 getting information out to people in a simple and easy to understand manner.

 

[Mr. Giggles]

Now they just need to say that they are stopping the issuing of driver license in those counties to decrease carbon omissions and to support local transportation infrastructure.

Wouldn't shock me if they did tbh

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

The Alabama Non-Driver Identification ID card qualifies as a voter ID.

http://dps.alabama.gov/home/wfContent.aspx?ID=30&PLH1=plhDriverLicense-DocumentRequirementsAndFees

It requires less documentation as well.

http://www.alabamavotes.gov/VoterID.aspx?m=voters

So, any complications with having one of these and then getting a driver's licence? And what's the cost?

 

[theusedversion]

There's many people in this state who have never left the state much less their county. It's a big enough issue that even someone is trying to solve the problem make services more accessible. Even with offices in every county, sometimes that could still be 45 minutes to over an hour away. Since a valid id is required when voting, this makes it significantly more difficult for some of the more remote population to actually vote.

Yeah, there's really no excuse for it. It's disgusting to be honest. I wasnt really thinking about how it related to voting when I.posted because not having a DMV in your county is something that I figured was par for the course for many places in the US.

 

[Zoe]

So, any complications with having one of these and then getting a driver's licence? And what's the cost?

You can get them at any age, and it counts as a document towards getting your driver's license. The cost is also the same.

 

[titiklabingapat]

Hillary can't win soon enough and replace some of the Supreme Court justices so shit like this gets put in thier place once more.

If not for the South, the rest of the US would be in par with many Scandinavian countries in many quality of life metrics. Let that sink in for a moment.

 

[Enzom21]

Woooow, how this is not effectively a legal form of voter fraud?

Voter suppression, not fraud. It's legal because... reasons.

 

[Stinkles]

The part that gets me is that the ALEA budget umbrella includes so much more than just driver's license services.

How about cutting back on some of those ballooning law enforcement budgets?

Why would you cut back on law enforcement budgets when the streets are teeming with unidentifiable thugs!!?

 

[RDreamer]

Wow, I posted this to my Facebook and the first response I get is that it's racist to assume black people can't figure out how to get an ID.

So, there we go. That's the republican defense.

 

[LegendofJoe]

If I was a football player for Auburn or Alabama I'd try to get as many of my teammates as I could to boycott playing games as long as this stands. Once they start losing a bunch of games maybe the assholes in charge of this will start taking some heat.

 

[Black Republican]

Wow, I posted this to my Facebook and the first response I get is that it's racist to assume black people can't figure out how to get an ID.

So, there we go. That's the republican defense.

*Slow claps*

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Guys..stop making a big deal out of this..it's obviously nothing. Hasn't that been explained yet by anyone?

 

[zashga]

Heh. That's pretty brazen. I guess it's good that they're not smart enough to be more subtle about it.

 

[Damaniel]

Wow, I posted this to my Facebook and the first response I get is that it's racist to assume black people can't figure out how to get an ID.

So, there we go. That's the republican defense.

The racist - er, I mean Republican defense force at work. Anyone who thinks this isn't racially motivated is a moron. Sadly, the Supreme Court has implicitly supported these kinds of actions by gutting the Voting Rights Act (that is, I doubt the SC is racist, but they've sure enabled them), so what can actually be done about it short of groups organizing events to get voters from those counties to nearby DMVs to get IDs? Not much, sadly.

 

[GrizzleBoy]

It's like Obamas Acorn, but it's not actually GOP bullshit this time.

 

[RDreamer]

So, yeah, replies I've had on my Facebook post in defense of this:

Its racist to assume black people can't figure out how to get an id. There's no reason anyone over the age of 18 shouldn't have an Id of some sort. Even if they have to drive out of the county to get it

You have to have an Id to use a credit card, buy alcohol or cigarettes, or apply for a job. There's no reason you shouldn't have one for voting to avoid voter fraud.

To be a poll tax it would have to involve money. IDs are provided for free (a drivers license does have a charge though). It's simply a requirement. U need to be 18, you need to register to vote, u need to have an ID. These things seem entirely reasonable.

So there you have it, that's how Republicans are able to do this shit.

 

[riotous]

So this is for people who need a new license right?

If you already have passed a drivers test, these satelite offices can still issue a renewed one, or a simple state ID?

 

[andycapps]

I don't know why you're surprised. Didn't we have a thread about a secret prison site just for blacks somewhere in America earlier this year?

True, that was in Chicago.

Can't believe this is happening. Seems like a byproduct of a poor state, budget cuts, and voter disenfranchisement.

 

[Zoe]

So this is for people who need a new license right?

If you already have passed a drivers test, these satelite offices can still issue a renewed one, or a simple state ID?

That appears to be the case.

 

[GaimeGuy]

Every Republican I've ever met that brought up politics ALWAYS said something stupid. I kid you not. I have not met ONE intelligent Republican in my life.

I mean, we're talking about someone who tried to debate me, and when I asked him if he knew the three branches of our government, he couldn't name ONE branch.

Sorry for sounding harsh, but shit like the OP really angers me.

The senate, the president, and the prisons!

 

[riotous]

That appears to be the case.

That's probably how they'll get away with it; otherwise I imagine it would be unconstitutional.

 

[diablos991]

I tend to think this article is just written to pull the race card and rile people up.

As long as standard IDs can still be issued at the same or lower cost as a drivers license at these locations, I don't see the problem.

Now if these places are unable to issue anything that allows a person to vote, that is a pretty big issue and is definitely messed up.

And don't feed me the bullshit that people are just not knowledgeable enough to know what an ID is and how it works.

 

[Random17]

Well, if it wasn't already obvious (it was), this just goes to show how terrible voter ID laws are. Is there any way the feds can stomp down on this?

 

[Mattlikewhoa]

...This is actual fuckery on another level...

 

[poppabk]

So maybe all 1 or 2 counties with greater than 75% registered voters are having their offices closed?
The act of closing the offices seems like bullshit, but unless their is some more evidence, the racial angle seems over blown. You could probably pick any marginal demographic and pull out something vague.
'Alabama officials targeting single moms - Alabama to stop issuing driving licenses in counties with the most single mom's.'

 

[GaimeGuy]

I tend to think this article is just written to pull the race card and rile people up.

As long as standard IDs can still be issued at the same or lower cost as a drivers license at these locations, I don't see the problem.

Now if these placed are unable to issue anything that allows a person to vote, that is a pretty big issue and is definitely messed up.

And don't feed me the bullshit that people are just not knowledgeable enough to know what an ID is and how it works.

Okay, so why are they targeting black areas for the cuts? Why are they cutting services involved with getting ID immediately after passing voter ID laws which empirically have been shown to increase administrative costs of elections with no tangible benefit?

You know what the reason is. You can't be this dense

 

[JJMorris]

It is really disheartening when people are being prejudice against the entirety of the South, just as much as the ALE is being against black-dominant counties. As someone who has been called racists remarks for both sides of my heritage, both in and outside the South, and both in America and internationally, it has only completely supported the obvious that it is about your upbringing that makes someone prejudice. I would never label the entirety of a group of people as racist purely from my anecdotal experiences, or several articles stemming from a singular geographic location. We should all do the same, just as I am associating anti-South opinions exclusively to the individual, and not all Americans. The circle of hate goes nowhere.

 

[diablos991]

Okay, so why are they targeting black areas for the cuts? Why are they cutting services involved with getting ID immediately after passing voter ID laws which empirically have been shown to increase administrative costs of elections with no tangible benefit?

You know what the reason is. You can't be this dense

They are probably cutting the lowest performing locations. If that happens to correlate with race then it happens to correlate with race. It could be coincidence regarding Voter ID laws. Politically it would have been wise to spread these out a bit, but financially it may not have made sense.

I know it is possible for demographic or racial motivations. I just think this article and a lot of people are jumping to conclusions before knowing or even asking some of the questions needed to find out the motivation.

 

[MartyStu]

I am going to find a Georgia-based organization willing to bus people over to vote/get ids and donate $500 out of spite.

I may watch Fox News tonight to see their reporting on this. If it incenses me as much as I think it will I may bump this up to $1000.

 

[RDreamer]

Jesus Christ, I can't even deal with this. Now people on my Facebook post are saying that "the small amount of people being inconvenienced is better than making the whole system worthless from fraud that is already happening" and "if you are too lazy to make the simple effort to catch the bus then maybe u shouldn't be voting."

wooooooooooow