I thank my parents and dumb luck that with all the moving around I’ve done I still have my original birth certificate. If I had spent my youth in foster homes, survived a house fire, or had a moment of carelessness during the stress of packing and moving I might not be able to prove I’m American. Public radio had a story about a musician who left a Stradivarius violin in a cab (it was returned). So stuff happens to people.
I guess I’d better get a passport, in case I have to show my papers.
The battle over voting rights will expand this week as lawmakers in Missouri are expected to support a proposed constitutional amendment to enable election officials to require proof of citizenship from anyone registering to vote…
Measures requiring proof of citizenship raise the bar higher because they offer fewer options for documentation. In most cases, aspiring voters would have to produce an original birth certificate, naturalization papers or a passport. Arizona and Missouri, along with some other states, now show whether a driver is a citizen on the face of a driver’s license, and within a few years all states will be required by the federal government to restrict licenses to legal residents.
This New York Times article includes a picture of a woman who can’t prove she exists.
Lillie Lewis, a voter who lives in St. Louis and spoke at a news conference last week organized to oppose the amendment, said she already had a difficult time trying to get a photo ID from the state, which asked her for a birth certificate. Ms. Lewis, who was born in Mississippi and said she was 78 years old, said officials of that state sent her a letter stating that they had no record of her birth.
“That’s downright wrong,� Ms. Lewis said. “I have voted in almost all of the presidential races going back I can’t remember how long, but if they tell me I need a passport or birth certificate that’ll be the end of that.�
I’ve met some older veterans who feel they have some long-term health problems that are service-related, but have no way of proving it. Their records were burned…
The 1973 National Archives Fire, a severe blow to the National Archives and Records Administration of the United States, was a disastrous fire that occurred at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 12, 1973. NPRC, the custodian of military service records, lost approximately 16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files as a result of the fire.
So yes, stuff happens.
Isn’t it an old movie cliche, where the jackbooted guy with the monocle barks at you to ‘show your papers’? Now, in time for the November elections, states are putting up obstacles to voting. The popular vote was thwarted in 2000, when the Supreme Court stopped the Florida recount. In that election, thousands of eligible voters were taken off the rolls because of a purge by a partisan secretary of state, based on data from a consulting firm she had hired. Imagine showing up at your polling place and having to prove you’re not a felon. If we value the right to vote that so many died for, we won’t let frightened politicians raise the bar so high that law-abiding citizens are disenfranchised.
Kmareka.com 
Twice out of my last 3 voting adventures ( West End, Providence) I’ve been asked to show proof of residence.
There was a symbol next to my name suggesting need for further documentation. This did not happen to the people immediately ahead or behind me in line.
Have you hear about the new docudrama about the Florida “election” of 2000? sorry I don’t have a link handy, but it’s getting lots of press…
Does this mean the Govt will now have to issue these papers for free. Or will some clever lawyers fight them as the “poll taxes” they are.
Under federal law,only US Citizens can vote.Period.A naturalized citizen actually has an easier time than most,because the US District Court where the person was naturalized has a number specific record of the proceeding,and so does BCIS(the successor agency to the INS services branch).
The following documents are acceptable for proof of citizenship:
Birth Certificate
Passport
Certificate of Naturlaization
Certificate of Citizenship(issued to derivative citizens and US citizens born abroad)
Consular US Citizen ID document issued by a US Embassy(I saw exactly one of these in 21 years as an INS agent)
US Citizen ID card previously issued by INS to people in border areas who requested one(I don’t think they issue them anymore-I believe the form is an I185.)
Aside from a birth certificate which is issued at a nominal charge and doesn’t constitue a poll tax,the other documents are those which the person would already have,so there would be no additional expense.
In the rare case of missing records,an affidavit could be used,and common sense should prevail.
In case anyone thinks this is a minor issue,I would like to remind people that falsely claiming US citizenship is a felony(8USC911)and I put quite a few people away for that specific offense.
In 1982 I was involved in a voter fraud investigation in Chicago which revealed that non-citizens were routinely voting.At that time Illinois required proof of citizenship to get a voter registration card.Many people were found to be using counterfeit or imposter birth certificates,so the system will never be foolproof.
I know this is a liberal blog,but there is no civil right for non-citizens to vote.
A military dischagre is not acceptable becaause many non-citizens serve in the US military.I would give them the right to vote,but that’s another issue.
One recalls the maxim of the Late Richard Daley (the elder, not junior who remains alive): “Vote early,” he said. “And vote often.” With perhaps somewhere between 6 and 20 million or more non-citizens roaming the land (it is amazing that we do not know how many), the right to vote becomes significant if aliens can alter the election of officials. Of course, if we had a Congress with the national interest in mind, we would not have this issue to deal with. But of course, if we had a Congress with the national interest in mind, we would not have this energy quagmire, or bridges to nowhere to deal with. As important or more important as any other “freedom” of significance is the right to vote. That right is a right of citizens. I do not believe the government of Mexico, Taiwan, or Norway would be too thrilled having Americans (or any other nationality) voting in their elections. One cannot drive a car without an eye test, a driving rules quiz and a road test, usually proof of insurance, and in theory proof of residency and citizenship. All this to drive a car–and it makes sense. I believe one needs to prove birthplace to gain a passport (and pay a lot of money); or to gain Social Security benefits (and receive money). Why would it seem somehow “undemocratic” to demand at least a minimum of documentation for the right to vote?
demanding an original birth certificate is not ‘minimum’. and before we put restrictions on the right to vote we should demand evidence that unregistered people are illegally voting, and that this is a big enough problem to justify passing new laws. anecdotes and old sayings don’t amount to evidence.
i’m much more worried about the fact that about %60 of registered voters don’t go to the polls, and i’m worried about electronic voter fraud by hackers or biased voting machine providers.
Anecdotes?I was referring to an investigation that was carried out jointly by the FBI and INS after being initiated by an investigative reporter who realized that they were in over their heads.It involved a lot more than just illegal aliens voting.People went to prison after being convicted in US District Court.We cannot stand common sense measures on their head because somebody,somewhere might be a little put out.
I truly believe all the opposition to the necessity to prove citizenship to vote is being initiated by politicians who intend to benefit from the votes of unqualified people and the ACLU and their sympathizers who are determined to make immigration status a matter of no consequence.
If somebody claims they cannot afford a bith certificate,I’d like to check whether they have a cell phone,smoke cigarettes,drink liquor,gamble,wear expensive jewelry or otherwise use money for expensive options.A BC probably costs about $10 in most localities.I believe there are state legislators in RI who are elected by people who aren’t qualified to vote,at least to some degree,perhaps making the critical difference in some contests.I cannot prove this of course,it is simply a matter of opinion buttressed by my experience.
An addendum-how do you provide “evidence”without examining the qualifications of voters?
can you give more specifics about that investigation? is there anything on the net, or in a newspaper archive?
Yes,it was in 1982 in Chicago.Roberta Baskin was the investigative reporter and I believe she was with ABC at the time.I was attached to the Chicago District Office of INS in the Anti Smuggling Unit(now called Human Trafficking)and our squad was assigned to the case not because it involved smuggled aliens per se,but we were usually assigned to any major investigations because agents got into that unit based on a history of agressive performance of duties, competence and ability to work well with other agencies.The FBI concentrated on voter fraud perpetrated by citizens,while INS of course targeted aliens involved in unauthorized voting.I know the case was highlighted on a tv investigative series after it was completed,but I could not tell you exactly when that was.
Interestingly enough the same investigative reporter in the previous year,came across a massive driver’s license fraud scheme involving driving schools and Secretary of State(equivalent to Registry here)employees who were corrupt.INS and SoS Police conducted an investigation which resulted in the closing of 13 or 14 driving schools and the arrest of over twenty state employees.We took that case down in early 1981.
Do you notice the dates here?Have you heard about a similar driver’s license case here?Everything happening with regard to immigration in RI now had been going on in Chicago almost 30 years ago.
I guess you could check the Chicago Tribune archives or the Sun Times for the periods I mentioned.
I retired almost 12 years ago so I couldn’t tell you much about ICE as I never worked for that agency.