Support NeoGAF

[GaimeGuy]

As an Alabamian (I think that's the right word?) I have no doubt that this decision will highly and unfairly affect blacks and the poor, It also sucks for everybody to have so few offices for the whole state. Also the budget cut statement is legitimate, we're facing a massive budget shortfall and might even open up a lottery to try and combat the debt. We knew the Dmv was going to face budget cuts, and closing them in counties with low populations often means in high percentage black communities.


However I absolutely agree with the last line, the results are the same either intentional or not, and they should have found somewhere else to cut.

I just did some numbers, and Minnesota (my state) has about 40% more DVS locations than Alabama, adjusted for population. But since Alabama'spopulation is more spread out than Minnesota's, Alabama should have more locations than we do, not less.

And looking through the schedule, your hours of operation are pathetic.

 

[Lonestar]

Not saying I agree with anything but these cuts and closures have been happening continuously for the last few years.
Its not something that just poped up after that law was passed.
The Homewood courthouse which was like the most active in the Birmingham(Jefferson County) region was just closed like 2-3 years ago with a few others,
now I think the one most of those people go to is in Shelby County.

Nearest one here is Bessemer Courthouse, about 10 miles or so away. The only other one is downtown Birmingham. Bessemer Courthouse usually has a loooong line. They really want you to renew online.

Currently attempting to plot out rough estimates of ID offices in relation to the counties losing the offices, to gain a sense of how far they are expecting people to travel.

 

[Version 3.0]

The first paragraph of the article makes it sound like that was the wording of the announcement. Like some guy comes out on a stage and says "We are no longer issuing driver's licenses in predominantly black counties. Black people don't deserve driver's licenses (or votes)."

So that made me chuckle, a tiny bit. Otherwise, this is horrifying. And it makes me wonder what other kind of budget starvation these evil politicians have in store for those counties.

 

[AlexMeloche]

I said what the fuck out loud.

Like... really?

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

I read the title and thought, surely, the OP is just using a clickbait headline.

Another domino in the "herp derp as long as you don't use racial language these policies aren't racist" line of thinking falls.

Repeal voting rights act for Southern states -> implement voter ID laws -> campaign against absentee ballots, early voting, and extending voting hours -> close DMVs in undesirable areas.

I'm sure the next step will be to bring back poll taxes and citizenship tests and having to be vouched for by an already eligible voter.

There license is the poll tax.

 

[scurker]

Nearest one here is Bessemer Courthouse, about 10 miles or so away. The only other one is downtown Birmingham. Bessemer Courthouse usually has a loooong line. They really want you to renew online.

Renewing online also has its weird rules. Not sure how it is in other states, but you can only renew online once every 8 years along with some other odd restrictions. You can renew state issued ids online, but I'm not sure what the requirements are for actually visiting an office when you can't renew. If you're still required to see an examiner even for just an id, that's a pretty big deal.

The issue here shouldn't be, "Is it racially motivated?" It's hard to prove, and doesn't really matter. It is an issue that there's a potential undue burden to execute one's constitutional right to vote regardless of any political or racial factors.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

Nearest one here is Bessemer Courthouse, about 10 miles or so away. The only other one is downtown Birmingham. Bessemer Courthouse usually has a loooong line. They really want you to renew online.

Currently attempting to plot out rough estimates of ID offices in relation to the counties losing the offices, to gain a sense of how far they are expecting people to travel.

I went to Bessemer's one time for some reason and the wait was ridiculous.
Homewood used to have lines around the building but they moved at least and were completely staffed.
Shelby County(Pelham) basically has a skeleton crew everytime I have been there, like 3 people for the entire building.

 

[akira28]

No seriously, guys am I reading this thread title in 2015

has nothing to do with race. it's all about cost cutting.

unless you look at the facts and most people never do.

Screwing over minorities just happens to be sound and tested economic policy. Can you argue with results, in 2015?

 

[Andodalf]

I just did some numbers, and Minnesota (my state) has about 40% more DVS locations than Alabama, adjusted for population. But since Alabama'spopulation is more spread out than Minnesota's, Alabama should have more locations than we do, not less.

And looking through the schedule, your hours of operation are pathetic.

Absolutely, you have to wait forever. The Montgomery dmv is horrible. You have to get lucky to even take the written test.

 

[CrimsonCommie]

In my county you could only get licenses on Wednesday but now it's closed and it looks like most of the counties around us are too. I can't wait to get back out of this shithole

 

[Andodalf]

We're also closing state parks. Any agenda behind that?

 

[Lonestar]

Park's can't talk, easy to silence.

21 or so National Guard Armories are closing, though not sure what all they actually store, or how many people work there.

In my looking at the various license offices, Randolph County's (which is still open), is ONLY open on every 2nd Thursday of the month. Heck, most of these closings were only open 1 or 2 days a week.

 

[mre]

Can these offices not provide state ID's?

They can.

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

Correct.

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

Correct.

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.

Correct.

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?

The examiners will no longer be travelling to satellite offices, but each county will be able to (1) renew your license or (2) issue you a state ID. They will not be able to issue NEW driver licenses.

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?

Correct.

I normally like John Archibald's columns, but he's creating a controversy where none exists. The satellite offices that are closing are, by and large, in low-population counties, which will inconvenience the hell out of a lot of people, including myself: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Sx1rHaSIXikHYPyuzxCsmCN4gkQRXGS5JrUsDfok3BQ/edit?usp=sharing It just happens that most of the counties that are majority black are low popultion, but this includes a LOT of counties which are majority white as well.

 

[TemplaerDude]

There are some people who really need to take a baseball bat to the face and be exiled to some island full of people like them.

 

[Ikael]

Guys it's just budget cuts!

Apparently, horribly discriminatory practices are far more palatable for the American public when they are meant to punish poor people rather than punish people from a certain ethnicity. I mean, this measure is already horrible enough without the racial angle :S

 

[Deified Data]

I mean, I'd show a story like this to the "like and share if you think people should have to show a valid photo ID to vote" folks in my life but it simply wouldn't matter. At the end of the day, it'll always come down to "if they want to vote then they can go one county over and update their license". Because it just sounds so simple. Why wouldn't you be able to pile into your car, drive to the nearest BMV, and get up to date? Thinking about factors like not being able to afford a car, or not being able to get time off work, or being too old to drive anywhere is a lot harder than just painting someone as lazy.

I don't invoke the founding fathers often - if ever, really - but I can only imagine them rolling over in their grave if they saw us treating voting in a democracy as a privilege and owning a deadly firearm as an inalienable right.

 

[Mrs. Manky]

Uh, those are some highly populated counties that are being shut down. Can't see how this is a positive for the state.

Is there a concern in the remaining DMV locations w/examiners about overrun from the other counties?

 

[Lonestar]

the various little stars are about where the current DID offices are, black circles and green arrows are the counties with no current DID examiners/offices. There are some long ass drives there. Some easily over an hour away.

 

[davepoobond]

1. Require ID to vote
2. Limit access to acquiring IDs
3. ????
4. Profit.

 

[poppabk]

Is this a trick question?

It's a genuine question. There are some more detailed statistics a few posts up regarding which counties are affected. It's not obvious from the data that this is specifically targeting black populations. Of course overall it is targeting lower income individuals. Presumably blacks are a disproportionate number of those with lower incomes and are so affected that way.

 

[hydrophilic attack]

But the Supreme Court told me that 'pervasive,' 'flagrant,' 'widespread,' and 'rampant' discrimination were "40 year-old facts having no logical relationship to the present day"? So surely this shouldn't happen?

 

[Deified Data]

1. Require ID to vote
2. Limit access to acquiring IDs
3. ????
4. Profit.

If you're a Republican there is no step 3, it's just direct profit. The less people voting, the better for the GOP. They've acknowledged this in some startlingly lucid episodes of self-awareness.

 

[mre]

http://i.imgur.com/K27wSKv.jpgthe various little stars are about where the current DID offices are, black circles and green arrows are the counties with no current DID examiners/offices. There are some long ass drives there. Some easily over an hour away.

I'd rather drive an hour than deal with Jefferson County for anything. I just renewed in St. Claire county, thankfully.

 

[Lonestar]

I'd rather drive an hour than deal with Jefferson County for anything. I just renewed in St. Claire county, thankfully.

Pell City?

Also, here's a nice census map system with all the little breakouts you can have.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

They wonder why they can't get our votes.

 

[Bel Marduk]

We're also closing state parks. Any agenda behind that?

Yes. A conservative Republican agenda. Alabama votes for it time and again. Has since the civil rights act in the 60s.

Conservative policies that benefit the rich even though its one of the poorest states in the country. I guess its easy to exploit an uneducated population's fears and prejudices, particularly when your universities are far more known for football than academics.

Alabama is a state that has so much to be ashamed of.

 

[Muppet of a Man]

All I have to say is fucking racist assholes, more brazen now-a-days than for a long time.

 

[Gattsu25]

Fucking hell.

Today has been pretty hellish

 

[Jombie]

I fucking hate the South.

I'm from Alabama, and I hate the South as well.

 

[mre]

Pell City?

Also, here's a nice census map system with all the little breakouts you can have.

Started there. Got sent to Ashville because I was trying to get the Star ID. Saw the line, said fuck that and just renewed my regular license.

 

[Lonestar]

Yes. A conservative Republican agenda. Alabama votes for it time and again. Has since the civil rights act in the 60s.

Conservative policies that benefit the rich even though its one of the poorest states in the country. I guess its easy to exploit an uneducated population's fears and prejudices, particularly when your universities are far more known for football than academics.

Alabama is a state that has so much to be ashamed of.

People in power here, no matter their race, barely show any concern for the poorest of the state. I can introduce you to the city council of the most populous city in the state and their recent vote to give themselves a 233% raise while fighting to not give the city workers a 3% pay increase.

mre : well then, that ashville office is now closed.

 

[ezekial45]

This is fucking bullshit.

 

[Big Baybee]

Giving more money to law enforcement rather than the offices (such as having the district examiners rotate to each location) is suspect, but as long as the other ID services are still as readily available in every office, then I wouldn't claim that anybody's been disenfranchised.

Smh. Not surprising coming from you, though.

 

[mre]

All I have to say is fucking racist assholes, more brazen now-a-days than for a long time.

Total:	869955	644311	202098
% Effected	18.20%	19.16%	16.05%
	Total	White	Black

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1S1mq-JNUtmz3bDuQC4JsfZ6CHLwFUUKShmTt5GGvqBM/edit?usp=sharinge.

mre : well then, that ashville office is now closed.

Yeah, I know, which is why I said in my first post here that I was affected by this.

 

[akira28]

We're also closing state parks. Any agenda behind that?

hunting and sport and land development lobbys have been trying to get state parks closed for years. You didn't know that but your comparison had a point. What was it?

Park's can't talk, easy to silence.

21 or so National Guard Armories are closing, though not sure what all they actually store, or how many people work there.

look into the history of those armories. Apparently a lot of them were built to control American citizens and slaves in the event of riots.

The armory here is used for music concerts and to host events.

 

[Clockwork]

Remind me to never discuss politics on Facebook.

I posted the article in the OP with the following comment: "Hooray for Voter ID! It's working just as the Republicans intended."

Shortly after, this discussion ensued:

Cousin: It's about time we try to preserve the decency and integrity of this country.

Me: Wait, what? I am not sure I understand that statement. How does disenfranchising voters accomplish this?

Cousin: The folks in these communities rely heavily on the government to survive, therefore, their vote is biased.

...


I have no words nor can I even begin to provide a response to such nonsense. I'm seriously mindblown the thoughts that go through some people's heads, especially family members.

 

[Da_Bears]

Does this not count for anything?

http://www.wsfa.com/story/30166803/dmv-offices-closing-will-not-affect-receiving-voter-id-card

“The closure of 31 DMV offices will not leave citizens without a place to receive the required I.D. card to vote,” said Secretary Merrill. “All 67 counties in Alabama have a Board of Registrars that issue photo voter I.D. cards. If for some reason those citizens are not able to make it to the Board of Registrars, we'll bring our mobile I.D. van and crew to that county. By October 31 our office will have brought the mobile I.D. van to every county in Alabama at least once. One of the most fundamental rights we as Americans are afforded is our right to vote. As Alabama’s Secretary of State and Chief Elections Official, I will do everything within my power to ensure every Alabamian is able to exercise their right to vote.”

 

[Bel Marduk]

Does this not count for anything?

http://www.wsfa.com/story/30166803/dmv-offices-closing-will-not-affect-receiving-voter-id-card

“The closure of 31 DMV offices will not leave citizens without a place to receive the required I.D. card to vote,” said Secretary Merrill. “All 67 counties in Alabama have a Board of Registrars that issue photo voter I.D. cards. If for some reason those citizens are not able to make it to the Board of Registrars, we'll bring our mobile I.D. van and crew to that county. By October 31 our office will have brought the mobile I.D. van to every county in Alabama at least once. One of the most fundamental rights we as Americans are afforded is our right to vote. As Alabama’s Secretary of State and Chief Elections Official, I will do everything within my power to ensure every Alabamian is able to exercise their right to vote.”

One van for 31 counties? They'll just send it anywhere somebody requests? In a state that has historically had more voter suppression that any other? No, it doesn't count for anything.

 

[Raistlin]

This isn't about race, at least not directly. It's about demographics as they pertain to party leanings.

If blacks predominately voted Republican, this would not be happening.



It's shady AF no matter how you slice it though

 

[Retromelon]

Um what
Not issuing id's in predominantly black counties has nothing to do with race
Lol

 

[diablos991]

Um what
Not issuing id's in predominantly black counties has nothing to do with race
Lol

You didn't read any of the articles or look this up did you.

Nothing is stopping them from issuing IDs or renewing existing licenses. They just can't issue new licenses unless the person goes to another county.

 

[Rest]

So, how long until the South "rises again?" I'd join the army if it meant I got a chance to launch artillery at states that do this kind of crap.

 

[Retromelon]

You didn't read any of the articles or look this up did you.

Nothing is stopping them from issuing IDs or renewing existing licenses. They just can't issue new licenses unless the person goes to another county.

Your attempt to portray me as ignorant does nothing to deny my point.

 

[Shaanyboi]

But its not about race of course

Oh in Alabama? Absolutely not!

 

[Vicetrailia]

Does this not count for anything?

http://www.wsfa.com/story/30166803/dmv-offices-closing-will-not-affect-receiving-voter-id-card

“The closure of 31 DMV offices will not leave citizens without a place to receive the required I.D. card to vote,” said Secretary Merrill. “All 67 counties in Alabama have a Board of Registrars that issue photo voter I.D. cards. If for some reason those citizens are not able to make it to the Board of Registrars, we'll bring our mobile I.D. van and crew to that county. By October 31 our office will have brought the mobile I.D. van to every county in Alabama at least once. One of the most fundamental rights we as Americans are afforded is our right to vote. As Alabama’s Secretary of State and Chief Elections Official, I will do everything within my power to ensure every Alabamian is able to exercise their right to vote.”

How primitive.

 

[GoldenEye 007]

So, how long until the South "rises again?" I'd join the army if it meant I got a chance to launch artillery at states that do this kind of crap.

Hopefully you get the mental help you clearly need.

 

[poppabk]

Um what
Not issuing id's in predominantly black counties has nothing to do with race
Lol

The majority of counties affected are predominantly white according to the information posted in this thread.

 

[ZackieChan]

Next the DMV will only use old Kinect cameras that don't see black people.

 

[BladeoftheImmortal]

We're also closing state parks. Any agenda behind that?

So they can sell them for profit to the highest bidder. With a kickback, of course.

 

[Palette Swap]

Taking a step back, it's even more disgusting when you remember these voter ID laws solve a non-existent problem in the first place.

This is some Jim Crow bullshit.