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Comment by chestertn | Hacker News Reader

Most european countries require some sort of government ID before voting. I don't see what the big deal is.

They also provide ID for free. A lot of these countries have some form of government-sponsored health care, for which people already have ID by default.

Not all European states provide free IDs, and some US states which require IDs provide them for free.

Can you give me examples of European countries where there are no forms of ID that are free and accepted at the polls?

In Germany the ID card costs 37 EUR and is valid for 10 years, reduced to 22.80 EUR and 6 years of validity if you're under 24. A passport is even more expensive. No other forms of identification are accepted, but it's also not really necessary since you're required to get an ID card anyways.

> you're required to get an ID card anyways

The US doesn't require citizens to have ID to exist. That's part of "freedom" in America (I mean this genuinely).

So it is an additional step if you want to vote. Cynical state governments have tried to shape who can vote for them by making IDs mandatory and strategically closing ID offices in certain areas, reducing office hours (among other barriers). It's not a hypothetical situation.

In Spain, the national ID (DNI) costs 12 euros. They wave the cost under certain conditions.

Is DNI the only acceptable form of ID for voting? Are there no free IDs that are also accepted? How long does it take to get a DNI? How convenient is it?

Voter ID laws in the US are weaponized to reduce turnout. Make ID compulsory, then make getting ID really cumbersome (reduce office hours, increase wait times, increase costs).

DNI, passport or drivers license. All of these IDs cost money. DNI is compulsory after 16.

> DNI is compulsory after 16.

The US doesn't require citizens to have an ID just to exist. That's part of the "freedom" Americans like to talk about. It sounds like every citizen in Spain already has a DNI so they should be able to vote without additional hassle.

It's the additional hassle to vote that opponents of voter ID laws cite as the crux of the issue. If you pair mandatory voter ID laws with strategic ID office closures (among other barriers), you can influence who can vote. This has already happened; it isn't hypothetical.

Not American, but from what I understand you would need an ID for e.g. foods stamps and unemployment benefits (searched via Google). I think the same is true when you are hired for a new job as well(?). These are just examples. Can you really live a normal life in the US without a passport, driver's license or State ID?

I have read many times that requiring an ID card to vote in the US is seen by many as undemocratic as certain demographics are hindered from voting. To me this is absurd. To create trust that elections are held without fraud, IDs are an essential building block.

> requiring an ID card to vote in the US

Requiring an ID card without taking steps to ensure those IDs are available easily and for cheap. There are almost no "election security by voter ID" bills that provide the latter. On the other hand, making voter ID mandatory has been accompanied by closure of offices or reduction of hours, increasing wait times and so on. It's clearly a dirty trick.

IDs are essential. It works in other countries. Fix it.

The ACLU cites a 2006 study which says that 25% of African-American eligible voters lack government-issued photo ID, and 8% of white eligible voters. Those are pretty huge numbers, not to mention the conspicuous ethnic disparity.

Where exactly? I had to pay for all my government IDs.

Unlike many countries, US doesn't have a national required ID card, so voter ID schemes must resort to other kinds of identification. Republican-controlled states have often restricted forms of identification to those sorts that many democrats may not have in an attempt to discourage them from voting.

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