Those of us in Arizona have heard quite a bit about prop 200 which is on the ballot. I personaly see alot of problems with it, and there are areas which I simply do not understand (maybe someone can explain them to me.)
Is prop 200 a form of republican voter supression? Yes it is. How? It would require a proof of citzenship when registering to vote. This entailes having to copy and send in a form of your citzenship.
But wait theres more...
Whats the problem with that? I sat at the Glendale public libary waiting for a ride and I watched various individuals sitting down and registering voters. The voters would come up, fill out the form and then their registered to vote. It is extremely simple. We've all registered to vote, its pretty damn simple.
Yet prop 200 would make it extremely diffucult. If they had to go into the libary, copy a form of citzenship. Then come back outside the libary give it to the person registering voters and then finaly fill out the form... well thats just annoying. I bet the common man/women would simply not bother with anything like this and instant and easy registration would go away. I also think it could destory any form of interenet registration in the state. You'd have to print out the form and send it in, I do not think you can prove citzenship over the internet(s).
If the republicans are so worried about illegal immegrents registering to vote then maybe we should have an office thats checks the registration form, not one that supresses it.
Note : The ballot reads; 'REJECTION OF VOTER REGISTRATION NOT ACCOMPANIED BY PROOF OF CITZENSHIP.' they're going to throw it away people! Would they make everyone reregister just because they need to make sure your an american?
The showing identification to vote is annoying, but that is not nesscaryly a bad thing. Asking people for identification though in order to use an amblance or other 'local public benefits' is simply stupid. What if you are nto carrying identification? Will they really refuse you the ambulance?
Areas that need explaination from my point of view; what does "[7] permitting private lawsuits by any resident to enforce provisons relating to public benefits." mean to the law?
This prop also does absolutly nothing to stop illegal immegration. Even John McCain said that during his recent debate in Tucson!
For those of you who want to know the exact wording :
"A "yes" vote shall have the effect of [1]requiring a person to submit evidence of United States citzenship when registering to vote, [2] requiring the county recorder to reject any voter rgistration that is not accompanied by proof of citzenship, [3] requiring voters to present a photo identification with name and address or two other forms of identification with name and address before receiving a ballot at the polling place, [4] requiring state and local governments to verify the identity and eligibility of applicatnts for state and local public benefits that are not federally mandated, [5] requiring government employees to report violations of Uted States immigration law by applicats for public benefits, [6] making it a class 2 misdemeanor if a government employee fails to make the required report and [7] permitting private lawsuits by any resident to enforce provisons elating to public benefits."
First diary.