Historically, what are actual pragmatic ways to bring lawmakers to justice when those lawmakers themselves have made it impossible to improve things by voting?
We could just vote for politicians like those that passed that law the first time around.
Defeatism in politics is really annoying. The last several (and ongoing) serious attempts at extra-political change in this country are likely the polar opposite of what you want. Be careful what you wish for.
... And succeeded. That was the whole point.
If things can get to this point despite full availability of functioning voting booths, you need to seek the problem with voters themselves.
2020 elections in US were historic because they set a record for the most voted candidate, and the second most voted one at the same time.
You know all well who that second most popular candidate was, who didn't make it past the finish line by a shoestring.
In addition to elections themselves, gerrymandering effects the demographic makeup of your region.
However, that is one piece. I'm not sure how effective that would be in the short/medium term.
Trust me, if there's a plan to make "your guy" win, someone has seriously considered it.
It is also worth noting that redrawing lines like this do have some real benefits beyond just making a certain party have more representation. A lot of people live in DC, and it's pretty unfair that they don't have voting power in the federal government. The only reason they don't get representation is that 50% of people don't agree with the way they vote, and you need more than 50% to admit a state. It is very awkward.
Not sure what is 'more complex'?
Consider the opposite... everyone in State G gets sent a check for 2,000 - you could not require ID or signature to cash it.. that might not affect people at all - but it might get some to try to take and cash other folks check.
Sometimes it helps me to consider reverse things to see if they still make sense.
Admittedly I have not read every line of every bill to know if there are more complexity add-in issues being passed.. but I've tried to hear and consider the talking points from several different news portals.. some types of portals get very specific about things and compare them - other party's news portals just talk very broadly about how things are so much harder.
let's throw a wrench in both party's plans - if you don't want to show an ID when you vote, or have your signature verified - then you don't have to if you did not cash your payoff check.
That is very complex, and out of reach for some.
Unfortunately you need one to cash checks and do all sorts of important things - and it's a good way to prevent fraud / theft / underage activities, etc.
The good thing is that I've been seeing digital kisoks popping up at more locations that can handle this sort og thing, and take some of wait times away from the main dmv places.
Not long ago my city also opened up all county clerk desks and some other places to help people get the 'real ID' stuff together and submitted.
So there is progress in making it easier / better / cheaper.
That being said - if you are from one state to another and license was expired and you have to get special papers to show a divorce and name change - le suck!
If you have roommates and don't have utility bills in your name for Real Id - what a stupid setup the feds came up with no-fly plane with real proof you are Real..
I expect more people to come up with more ways to make these things better.
I expect to see more places like GA offer ID for free for voting, only $5 for indigent people.
It can be complex in weird situations, but I believe for most people it's just not as much fun as playing a playstation. I have seen it out of reach for a 70 year old divorcee' - but we all finally found a way to get the docs needed from another state and it all came together finally - most people would not have the same kind of problem however, I'd guess 99.5%
Are you willing to have your taxes raised to fund government buildings that have reasonable hours similar to a retail store so that all people have access?
Would you be willing to have your taxes raised to fund a national ID or give passports to everyone at birth or upon becoming a citizen with a technological infrastructure that would make it simple to replace.
In my experience when it comes to dealing with any kind of government services, the hours are meant to punish and discourage people from coming.
When I needed to actually do something in person at the social security office they had ridiculous hours like closing at 3 or 4 and if you're lucky would open an hour or two before regular working hours, which would have masses of people in line if you weren't there an hour before. They exist to punish those who don't even want to be there but need to be.
ID requirements without the infrastructure is just a good way to make sure that certain people can't vote. The laws never come with any way of making it easier to get an ID
the state should provide these docs free of charge no matter how they are paid for.
"o fund government buildings" this is changing - we now have digital kiosks in police stations and other places that can do most of the dmv work - many services no human required, some video conference.. no new building needed. Heck lyft can run a million dollar company out of the corner of a pep boys - surely there are more ways to provide more servicing without more buildings.
"when it comes to dealing with any kind of government services, the hours are meant to punish and discourage people from coming." - this is something we the people can demand change and actually make it happen.
Of course to save from blowing out state budgets we need to rehash how pensions and 401's with state workers are handled - if they continue to shake down the system like the post office, then the slow service is mainly to pad lifetime retirement gov cheese - regardless.
"the social security office" here in my city last two visits has been very efficient - not sure the hours - but they can be run well - and hours could be extended easily if we further pursue the kind of video tech in ATM machines and similar. We can demand more infrastructure for id requirements - especially easy if there is no driver test needed - which for an ID it is not. Scaling the driving testing is quite challenging and not such an easy fix.
Like I alluded to in my original comment, if you can cash a 2,000 check you already have the Id and whatever you need to vote in the most stringent voting law place. afaik.
I've seen many people point to GA as hardcore voting 'restrictions' place and make similar points about costs - I just looked at their info, it says an ID card for 8 years may be $32, yet they offer a free one if it just for voting, and if you are indigent they offer a $5 option which may be waived and billed to/paid for by a shelter.
I do not care for the 'Real ID' requirements and feel that is a hurdle - but that is from the feds, and it sucks - because having 2 docs say you live somewhere is not easy if you are roommates - but that is not a state mandating voting restriction - it's a dumb thing the feds are trying to get pinpoint proof of location for many people before they get checked to get on planes, and who knows what else.
I am a 'no new tax ever' kind of person - so I feel the sentiment you raise, yet find when it comes to rights we have no choice but to provide what is needed from the state.
Luckily many tech things, and the ability for people to more easily petition for expanded hours and such - it looks like these things will be getting easier and cheaper as time goes on.
editing to add link to Ga Id fees I found / referenced in comment - https://dds.georgia.gov/identification-cards-fees
motivation - I think it's obvious push back to a bunch of low-level tactics that were used to change the playing field for getting votes in in several places - things that were unexpected and unplanned for by many - and some of those things that could indeed be used for a lot of fraud - so they are tightening up the many of the abuse angles.
At least the playing field is basically leveled at this point - people have 2 or 4 years to get an ID - it shouldn't take that long, it shouldn't take 9 months or 3 days (events I have personally witnessed)
- I'd love some hard numbers on how many adults in GA don't have a pic ID,
And maybe it's time for an APP I was thinking about many years ago.
A DMV shame app - where people could take a pic upon arrival and share a location showing they were still at DMV X number of hours later.. and then combine that with data about income loss and tax revenue to the local and state - loss - and multiply it by the number of other suspected waiting individuals - and use it to help people find best DMV, and best times to go - but also to notify the Governors about the losses they are creating.. along with link to petitions to change / hire more - expand staff / locations.. and show alternative options is available, like county clerks, apps, digital kiosks.. I'd still love for such a thing, maybe it'd get more traction with all the hubbub about IDs these days.
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And yes, I appreciate that I could have just right-clicked the selection to Google it direct, but my brain doesn't work that way.
- ed
And I'd write it "Gil O'Teen' which whilst a bit more obvious, is a bit more Irish-looking, rather than the confusing ScotsIrish-Northumbrian name you came up with! :)
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