How does requiring photo ID disenfranchise the black/minority community? - Edit 2
Before modification by LadyLorraine at 15/01/2012 06:19:57 PM
<<WTCRAP not only did I not intend to edit the original post, but post a reply to it, but for some reason I can't access what I originally posted!!! GRR!!!>>
Recreated-sorta-OP: The article below goes over this law that South Carolina is trying to pass to require photo ID. The federal government is stepping in and being all "THIS WILL DISENFRANCHISE BLACK AND MINORITY VOTERS!!!" and South Carolina is getting pissy because it views this as a state's right law that the government is interfering with. I'm just struggling to see how this disenfranchies blacks/minorities.
EDIT: Okay, I chatted with my mom and she pointed out a few things. I think they're fair points.
1) The reaction to this law is somewhat understandable because it harkens back to the old Jim Crow laws and their effects, which aren't even out of the memories of the living.
2) The low income bracket that is likely representative of the minority demographics likely lives on a cash basis and therefore wouldn't necessarily have an ID for things like the bank. I didn't think about that.
3) The accessibility of the DMV is probably lacking, as well as the information regarding how one goes about acquiring a photo ID for free. I brought up public libraries, but my mom pointed out that many of the areas of relevance probably don't have readily accessible public libraries either.
With those considerations, I guess I can see where the federal government is coming from in regards to these people not having IDs and not being able to get them. It still seems like something that a compromise could be reached on, though. Maybe have ID centers besides the DMV? Opening up ID centers could provide jobs (if only a few) for those areas as well.
Recreated-sorta-OP: The article below goes over this law that South Carolina is trying to pass to require photo ID. The federal government is stepping in and being all "THIS WILL DISENFRANCHISE BLACK AND MINORITY VOTERS!!!" and South Carolina is getting pissy because it views this as a state's right law that the government is interfering with. I'm just struggling to see how this disenfranchies blacks/minorities.
EDIT: Okay, I chatted with my mom and she pointed out a few things. I think they're fair points.
1) The reaction to this law is somewhat understandable because it harkens back to the old Jim Crow laws and their effects, which aren't even out of the memories of the living.
2) The low income bracket that is likely representative of the minority demographics likely lives on a cash basis and therefore wouldn't necessarily have an ID for things like the bank. I didn't think about that.
3) The accessibility of the DMV is probably lacking, as well as the information regarding how one goes about acquiring a photo ID for free. I brought up public libraries, but my mom pointed out that many of the areas of relevance probably don't have readily accessible public libraries either.
With those considerations, I guess I can see where the federal government is coming from in regards to these people not having IDs and not being able to get them. It still seems like something that a compromise could be reached on, though. Maybe have ID centers besides the DMV? Opening up ID centers could provide jobs (if only a few) for those areas as well.