“Voter ID” refers to the fact that the voter must have an ID card. You can use any ID and some ID-like documents as well (such as a firearms license). In states where these laws are in place, voters who do not possess an ID card or passport book when they go to the polling station will not be allowed to vote. The part I highlight is that there are no acceptable ID cards for voting that can be easily obtained free of charge. Some states that have voter ID laws will allow people to obtain a “voter identity certificate” that can be used to vote, however, obtaining one usually requires a trip to the motor vehicle agency.
This is a voter suppression tactic. The goal is to make it more difficult for people whose political leanings you want to discriminate against to vote. In all cases in the US, these tactics are used against left-leaning voters or those who live in left-leaning areas. A common voter suppression scheme usually has these properties:
You must register to vote. This involves filling out a form and submitting it to the local elections authority. In some states, you cannot submit the form electronically and must send it by post to the elections office.
People who register to vote but don’t vote will have their registrations cancelled and must register again. Voters who vote for right-leaning parties generally vote every single election so this will not affect them as much.
Polling stations are open for one day during normal working hours (usually 09:00 to 18:00). The goal is to make it difficult for people who have to work during these hours to vote. Election day is always on a Tuesday and is not a public holiday.
Postal voting is restricted. You must apply to receive a postal ballot and provide an excuse as to why you cannot vote in person. The elections office can reject your application if they do not like your excuse. Left-leaning voters generally prefer postal voting while right-leaning voters prefer to vote in person, thus the goal is to make postal voting harder.
The number of polling stations are reduced in large cities because large cities generally vote for left-leaning politicians and parties.
All election material is published in English only. Citizens who do not speak English and only speak another language typically are left-leaning and thus the goal is to make it more difficult for them to vote.
You must bring an acceptable identity document to vote
State-issued ID cards can be obtained from the motor vehicle agency. The motor vehicle agency offices are deliberately located far away from minority neighbourhoods and are only open during normal working hours. The queues are also very long, meaning it is an all-day affair to obtain an ID card. The purpose is to discriminate against the poor, who are less likely to be able to take a day off to go obtain one. There is also a fee to obtain an ID card.
Passports and passport cards can be obtained by post but cost a lot to obtain if you haven’t had one before (165 USD for passport book or 65 USD for passport card). Poor people tend to lean left and generally don’t have a passport because they can’t afford international travel.
Military ID cards are acceptable. This voter group happens to lean right.
The elderly are allowed to use expired documents. This voter group happens to lean right.
Student ID cards issued by universities are not acceptable. This voter group happens to lean left.
Firearms licenses are acceptable. This voter group happens to lean right.
The election authority can invalidate ballots for trivial reasons (e.g. the square next to the candidate’s name is not completely filled in, the voter use the wrong colour ink or used pencil, the voter forgot to write the date next to their signature on a postal ballot, a ballot punched by a machine did not fully punch through the paper, etc.)
Ok yeah that’s a different story, also the prices for passport and passport ID for first issues are ridiculous, that is twice as much as I’d have to pay to have my passport-issuing expedited, which I already find ridiculous. First issuing is done when you are mandated to be able to present an ID, i.e. at 14, and it’s free of charge as far as I can remember, everything after is a renewal.
Having to register to vote is in and of itself, the self-proclaimed origin and beacon of democracy is an opt-in democracy which throws logs in your way to hinder you from voting apparently.
Voting by mail is also much simpler here, you just apply, a few weeks later you get the forms, no reason required - it is your constitutional right to vote after all.
And in any case, voting is always on a Sunday, which is always a mandatory holiday, most of the population doesn’t work that day. Hours are the same though. And I believe that all the IDs you have listed besides an actual ID and a passport are not enough to vote here. I am not sure if election papers are translated, but since the communal elections are the only ones open to non-Germans i.e. EU-citizens that live here, and speaking German is mandatory to get a citizenship, that is not that mich of an issue. Frankly speaking, while I see the point you raise, nowadays with camera translations, that is generally not that much of a hurdle.
Polling stations reflect the election areas, whereas each one represents one distinct area. They are directly linked to the population density.
“Voter ID” refers to the fact that the voter must have an ID card. You can use any ID and some ID-like documents as well (such as a firearms license). In states where these laws are in place, voters who do not possess an ID card or passport book when they go to the polling station will not be allowed to vote. The part I highlight is that there are no acceptable ID cards for voting that can be easily obtained free of charge. Some states that have voter ID laws will allow people to obtain a “voter identity certificate” that can be used to vote, however, obtaining one usually requires a trip to the motor vehicle agency.
This is a voter suppression tactic. The goal is to make it more difficult for people whose political leanings you want to discriminate against to vote. In all cases in the US, these tactics are used against left-leaning voters or those who live in left-leaning areas. A common voter suppression scheme usually has these properties:
Ok yeah that’s a different story, also the prices for passport and passport ID for first issues are ridiculous, that is twice as much as I’d have to pay to have my passport-issuing expedited, which I already find ridiculous. First issuing is done when you are mandated to be able to present an ID, i.e. at 14, and it’s free of charge as far as I can remember, everything after is a renewal. Having to register to vote is in and of itself, the self-proclaimed origin and beacon of democracy is an opt-in democracy which throws logs in your way to hinder you from voting apparently.
Voting by mail is also much simpler here, you just apply, a few weeks later you get the forms, no reason required - it is your constitutional right to vote after all.
And in any case, voting is always on a Sunday, which is always a mandatory holiday, most of the population doesn’t work that day. Hours are the same though. And I believe that all the IDs you have listed besides an actual ID and a passport are not enough to vote here. I am not sure if election papers are translated, but since the communal elections are the only ones open to non-Germans i.e. EU-citizens that live here, and speaking German is mandatory to get a citizenship, that is not that mich of an issue. Frankly speaking, while I see the point you raise, nowadays with camera translations, that is generally not that much of a hurdle.
Polling stations reflect the election areas, whereas each one represents one distinct area. They are directly linked to the population density.