[EL] Chafee signs voter ID
Lori Minnite
lminnite at gmail.com
Wed Jul 6 12:08:56 PDT 2011
So the big change is that now poll workers have to look at your mug on a
card you dig out of your wallet, that is, if you happen to have your ID
with you. I feel, well, assured pride and confidence in the integrity
of the electoral process in Rhode Island. I haven't wanted to admit it,
but this has been bothering me for some time.
If you run out of the house without your wallet, as my 11-year old
nephew would say: it's all good - we're back to signature matching. The
law allows voters who "fail to provide," not "do not possess" ID to vote
a provisional ballot which is deposited in the ballot box. It's not
saved in a mayonnaise jar for a rainy day. It's not filed with the
extra pencils. It's deposited into the box, just like all the other
little ballots. I don't see in the law where the voter has to sign an
affidavit attesting to a lack of ID. Perhaps that will come. Perhaps
it must come. According to the rules governing the provisional ballot
application in Rhode Island, Section 5. Provisional Ballot Application
And Instructions (Section C) says that the voter attestation clause is "
where the provisional voter shall attest that he/she is a registered
voter in the city/town & precinct and is eligible to vote in the
election and acknowledges that inserting a provisional ballot into the
voting machine will result in its disqualification." So - another thing
for the poll workers to do, touch and bless the ballot as they slip it
into the box as only they can do.
Here is what the rule book used to require:
*"§ 17-19-24 Procedure for voting. -- *(a) Each person desiring to vote
shall state his or her name and residence, including that person's
street address, if he or she has any, to the pair of bi-partisan
supervisors, who shall then announce the name and residence in a loud
and distinct voice, clear and audible.
(b) A bipartisan pair shall locate the voter's name on the certified
voting list for the voting district. Upon finding the voter's name on
the certified voting list for the district, the voter shall sign their
name on the line next to their printed name on the certified voter list,
and the bipartisan pair shall initial the certified voter list in the
place provided next to the voter's signature entered on the certified
list of voters. The bipartisan pair shall also make a proper notation on
the certified voter list that the applicant has voted in the election.
If the bipartisan pair cannot locate the voter's name on the certified
voting list for the voting district the bipartisan pair shall direct the
voter to the clerk who shall review the certified list for the city or
town and determine if the voter is registered to vote and in which
voting district they are eligible to vote."
I wonder what the penalty to the two bi-partisan poll workers is for
failing to announce the name and residence in a loud and distinct voice,
clear and audible (to whom, one wonders). It's important that these
important rules be followed.
Lori Minnite
On 7/6/2011 1:09 PM, Norden, Lawrence wrote:
>
> Eric says "there is a big difference between Michigan and the states,
> like Indiana, Georgia, now Rhode Island, and the others that have a
> strict photo ID requirement."
>
> In fact, as Eric agrees, Rhode Island's new ID requirement will be
> far closer to Michigan's ID law in practice than the very restrictive
> requirements in Indiana and Georgia.
>
> Until January 1, 2014 a RI voter (in addition to an acceptable photo
> ID) may provide a birth certificate, social security card or
> government issued medical card to confirm identity. After January 1,
> 2014, to cast a regular ballot, a voter must show a current document
> with a photograph of the person to whom the document was issued,
> including _without limitation_:
>
> (i) Rhode Island driver's license;
>
> (ii) Rhode Island voter identification card;
>
> (iii) United States passport;
>
> (iv) Identification card issued by a United States educational
> institution;
>
> (v) United States military identification card;
>
> (vi) Identification card issued by the United States or the State of
> Rhode Island;
>
> (vii) Government issued medical card.
>
> *Note that the "without limitation" language suggests that ANY photo
> ID that is valid and current will be accepted.
>
> Most importantly, if a voter does not have any current photo ID, she
> can sign an affidavit to that affect and cast a provisional ballot.
> That provisional ballot _will be counted _if the signature matches the
> signature on the voter registration.
>
> Lawrence Norden
>
> Deputy Director, Democracy Program
>
> Brennan Center for Justice /at NYU School of Law/
>
> 161 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor
>
> New York, NY 10013
>
> (P) 646-292-8326*** (M) 646-463-1579 (F) 212-463-7308***
>
> **Note that my phone and fax numbers have recently changed*
>
> *From:*law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu
> [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] *On Behalf Of
> *Eric Marshall
> *Sent:* Wednesday, July 06, 2011 10:18 AM
> *To:* Estelle Rogers; D. Stebenne
> *Cc:* law-election at department-lists.uci.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [EL] Chafee signs voter ID
>
> There is a big difference between Michigan and the states, like
> Indiana, Georgia, now Rhode Island, and the others that have a strict
> photo ID requirement. Michigan is requested, but not required. If a
> voter doesn't have photo ID she or he can sign an affidavit and still
> cast a regular ballot.
>
> *From:*law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu
> [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] *On Behalf Of
> *Estelle Rogers
> *Sent:* Wednesday, July 06, 2011 10:15 AM
> *To:* D. Stebenne
> *Cc:* law-election at department-lists.uci.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [EL] Chafee signs voter ID
>
> Although it hasn't been updated in a few days (RI signing isn't on it
> yet), this NCSL chart might be of interest to you--Michigan is the one
> that strikes me.
>
> http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16602
>
>
> Estelle H. Rogers, Esq.
> Director of Advocacy
> Project Vote
> 202-546-4173, ext. 310
>
> /The information contained in this email is confidential and may
> contain proprietary information. It is meant solely for the intended
> recipient(s). Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorized. If
> you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying,
> distribution or any action taken or omitted in reliance on this, is
> prohibited and may be unlawful./
>
> On Jul 6, 2011, at 9:50 AM, D. Stebenne wrote:
>
> Does anyone know offhand if any other strongly "blue" state has
> recently adopted a voter id law; or is RI unique in that respect?
>
> David Stebenne
> Associate Professor
> of History and Law
> Ohio State University
> (614) 292-5359
>
> At 07:02 PM 7/5/2011, David Segal wrote:
>
> http://newsblog.projo.com/2011/07/ri-tea-party-lauds-chafee-for.html
>
>
> Update: R.I. Tea Party lauds Chafee for signing voter-ID bill
>
>
>
> 1:47 PM Tue, Jul 05, 2011 | Permalink
> <http://newsblog.projo.com/2011/07/ri-tea-party-lauds-chafee-for.html>
> Katherine Gregg <a272e.jpg> <mailto:kgregg at projo.com> Email
> <mailto:kgregg at projo.com>
> PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island Tea Party is cheering Governor
> Chafee for having signed legislation his office did not acknowledge he
> had signed, on Saturday, until mid-afternoon Tuesday.
>
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