Friday, June 1, 2007

Voter ID: My Take

After the recent arrest of Milwaukee alderman Michael McGee, and the allegations that his uncle paid $5 to several undercover agents for their votes in the (then-upcoming) recall election, there has been renewed fervor over the issue of requiring a photo ID in order to vote. Here's my take:

I take Claritin-D for my allergies. It's an over-the-counter medicine, but because it contains pseudoephedrine, I have to go to the pharmacy counter to purchase it. When I do so, I am required to show my driver's license, and sign my name, either on an electronic screen or on paper in a log book.

When I go to vote in Greenfield, WI (where I live), I go to a nearby elementary school. I walk in, go to the table for the appropriate ward, tell them my name, and they give me a ballot.

What's wrong with this picture? I have to show my ID to buy my allergy medicine, but not to VOTE?

1 comment:

rocksalive777 said...

I still don't get why we don't have a national ID that serves as a driver's license, proof of identity, and proof of legal status/citizenship (and maybe even possibly military/government employee/dependent status).

It just makes so much more sense to consolidate all of those things into one.