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submitted 1 month ago by gerowen@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

Trump's executive order on voting rights. I may be misinterpreting this (correct me please if I am), but it sure sounds like you won't be allowed to vote if you didn't opt for a "RealID" version of your license. A regular driver's license contains no information regarding citizenship status, at least in my state, so it wouldn't count. A lot of low income people in rural America have skipped getting a "RealID" because it's more expensive. If this order goes thru, that decision may cost them their right to vote. This could disenfranchise millions of low income voters.

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[-] futatorius@lemm.ee 5 points 1 month ago

Disenfranchising voters is transparently the goal. And it'll be applied selectively where there are Dem majorities.

[-] Treczoks@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

On the other hand, it is a chance for informed people to stay ahead.

In my country, a real ID card is mandatory for all citizens, and it is actually good to have a single kind of document that is reliable instead of random driving licenses and student IDs and whatnots. And if you think that having a real ID card would infringe your freedom or something, keep in mind that the government, in this case the IRS, knows everything they need about you anyway.

So, get a proper ID and help your fellow, non-Nazi citizen to get one, too. Let Joe Farmer and Lucy Churchmom have their try at the voting booth with their unacceptable driving licence and laugh.

[-] iN8sWoRLd@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

Executive Orders are not Law. The President cannot make Law only the Congress makes Law. The President must "faithfully execute" the Law.

Article I, Section 4, Clause 1:

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.

[-] uienia@lemmy.world -1 points 1 month ago

Executive Orders are not Law.

I think you are mistaking reality for some kind of illusory fantasy world where the constitution is actually being taken seriously.

[-] watson387@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 month ago

I don't have a RealID and had no intention of getting one. It took over a month to get a replacement birth certificate last year when I needed "proof of citizenship". When my driver's license expires I may opt for the RealID if it's not a major hassle, but something tells me it's about to become one.

Out of curiosity: do you never fly anywhere? Do you not anticipate needing to fly anywhere on the near future, given the current context? Do you not have a passport?

[-] watson387@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 month ago

I do not have a passport. I've never left North America. Also, I don't fly anywhere unless there's no other option. I haven't been on a plane in 2-3 years.

In the states, I believe it’s now required to have a RealID to get on a plane now. It’s that or a passport. And you need a passport (or at least a passport card) to get into Mexico or Canada if you don’t want to deal with the customs people having to pull you aside and call the state department or whatever.

[-] IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago

You go to the DMV and provide a bill with your name on it + a government document like SS card.

It's pretty easy.

[-] tomatoisaberry@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Nothing about the DMV has ever been described as "easy".

[-] IsThisAnAI@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Both the PA, DC, NJ, and VA DMVs have been extremely easy. I haven't had a bad DMV experience in 10 years 🤷‍♂️

[-] watson387@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 month ago

"I've been to hell, I spell it..."

[-] Kualdir@europe.pub 2 points 1 month ago

Ok so I have to ask coming from Belgium where having an ID on you at all times is mandatory (and living in the Netherlands where having at least a drivers license on you at all times is mandatory since that also has all needed data unlike Belgium). Why is this even remotely a "hard" requirement? Do Americans just not need to carry ID on them?

Outside of the marked stuff it also states a Federal or State government-issued foto id is valid, hence the question.

[-] aislopmukbang@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

No, you don't need to carry ID on you — many people that don't drive (and many others that do) don't have IDs.

You'll also note that the state-issued ID must indicate the holder is a US-citizen. Most states have an upgraded version (enhanced) ID/ Drivers License that can be used to this end but it typically requires additional verification and an added fee — it is not provided by default. Non-citizens such as visa-holders and even non-legal residents are also able to obtain a state-issued ID, though not an enhanced drivers license.

The second part of that clause mentions accompanyment of proof of citizenship. This is usually a birth certificate which is often lost and costs money and takes roughly a month for states to tender a copy to the "holder". Not sure of other states, but at least the few I am aware of do not provide a legal copy by default. Instead these must be ordered from the state.

[-] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 2 points 1 month ago

The problem here really is that there's no standard national ID system in US, not that someone is asking for a proof of citizenship in order to vote.

[-] dhork@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Everyone who is not part of the GOP's demographic needs to get a passport card ASAP. It is RealID compliant, and only $30. Yeah, it sucks that you are being forced to do that, but everyone should go and do it now, before it gets DOGEd....

[-] corroded@lemmy.world -2 points 1 month ago

Out of all the things this administration has done, this one almost seems somewhat logical.

I can understand not having a RealID or passport, since both are mainly for travel. Not everyone has a need or desire to travel.

Section D says a government-issued ID and proof of citizenship is okay. Doesn't everyone at least have a state ID (probably a drivers license) and a birth certificate?

[-] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 9 points 1 month ago

Nope. Especially in poor communities. Not only may someones parents be shitty and getting the documentation alone be hard, but working multiple jobs, not driving, and needing to spend hours (and money) getting to a DMV (and, in some cases, on the ID itself?) isn't an easy task.

[-] docAvid@midwest.social 9 points 1 month ago

No. I do not have a birth certificate, I lost it several years ago and haven't obtained a replacement. More importantly, this is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Voter fraud is almost entirely non-existent. As I recall, the only instances of voter fraud that were uncovered in the massive amount of litigation after the 2020 election, were a tiny number of Trump voters, encouraged by his lies about how easy it was, and found out by his insincere attempts to prove Democrats were doing it. The risk of imprisonment is sky high, the payoff of one vote is rock bottom. But you know what does actually influence elections? Voter suppression. Trump wasn't legitimately elected. It's very clear from the statistics that if everybody who had a legal right to vote, had been able to vote, and have their vote counted, he would have lost, by a lot. And this measure is just designed to suppress more votes.

[-] forrgott@lemm.ee 8 points 1 month ago

Oh, it's very logical; but the goal absolutely is to reduce voter turnout even further (and our turnout is disturbingly bad already). But honestly, you ought to spend some time looking into ways of disenfranchising voters. You really might be surprised how devious they tactics have become. Just saying

[-] futatorius@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago

but the goal absolutely is to reduce voter turnout even further

And that will be enforced selectively.

this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2025
51 points (96.4% liked)

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