A Glimpse At What It Will Be Like To Get A Voter ID In Texas
If Eileen's experience with renewing her Texas driver's license is any indication, folks are in for a fun time getting an ID to vote in Texas:
The woman asked me for my license, social security number, and current address, then told me to look into that weird telescope-y thing and read the fourth row of numbers and letters. Squinting, I did the best I could, given that the letters were about as legible as those Facebook partial-word confirmation messages. Apparently I missed two, but she shrugged, as if to say, oh well, the state needs your $24, Meemaw.
I was almost done. Until she looked at her computer screen, then looked at me. “Are you a U.S. citizen?” I stared back at her. “You’re kidding, right?”
Her: “No. It says here that your lawful status has not been verified.” Me: “Look at me.” Her: “You’re going to need to bring in your birth certificate as proof of citizenship.” Me: “My birth certificate. Do you know what my birth certificate says?” Her: (blank stare) Me: “It says my name is Baby Girl Smith. First name, Baby. Middle name, Girl. Last name, Smith.” Lady: “Uh-huh.” Me: “My parents couldn’t decide on a name because they thought I was going to be a boy.” Her: “Ma’am…” Me: “They were going to name me Bernie.” Her: “You could also bring in your passport.” Me: “Trust me, I’m American.” Her: “No.” Me: “I can’t speak Spanish for shit!” Her: (looking over my shoulder) “Next?” Me: “BUT I’M BLOND!” Her: “NO NOT REALLY!”
DAMMIT.
And then treehugger in the comments says:
Treehugger says:
Spouse of Treehugger’s name on her SS card did not exactly match her name on her DL. Talk about a pain…local, state, AND federal government. The holy trinity of BOB (burden of bureacracy)
So, when our precious legislators wave the voter ID flag all around the Texas Capitol this session, envision the above experiences being repeated over and over again as folks try to get the required ID to vote. Picture senior citizens going through this. If you don't think it will be one huge city/state/federal/homeland security clusterf%*#, then you haven't been to your local DPS recently.
This brings back REALLY BAD MEMORIES of standing in a ridiculously long line to get the son's first driver's license. All the while hoping, hoping, hoping you are clutching all of the correct papers in your hands.
I'd like to see a resolution that all House and Senate members have to go to the DPS and stand in that line for a couple of hours prior to the vote on Voter ID.
Seriously. And then they can explain why they want to put Texans through that for a non-existent problem.
6 comments:
That sounds like a good Democratic amendment. Everyone who votes yes has to go to DPS with their birth certificate to have them verify the name matches their driver's license and their voter's registration and to lose both until they correct them.
But, but, but if it stops just one Canadian from voting, it is all worth it!
(Even it if knocks off a 100,000 old ladies off the voting rolls. I mean what are they going to do? Vote them out of office?)
Is Senator Dan Patrick a legal citizen?
Dan Patrick's birth certificate says "Daniel Patrick Moynihan". Which has been a source of embarrassment for DP (which is a whole other problem, having a sex act as your nickname.)
And at the DPS he's always quizzed about "what is your last name?" "You've got two first names and no last name. That ain't gonna work, dude. Call the cops; get out the handcuffs."
I'd like to see a resolution that all House and Senate members have to go to the DPS and stand in that line for a couple of hours prior to the vote on Voter ID.
Uh, they do. Legislators get driver's licenses just like the rest of us.
Oh, good grief. You miss my point. Most of us automatically renew or license and don't have to go to DPS.
I'd like the entire Legislature to go to the DPS THIS SPRING and stand in the line, deal with the incompetent people, not have everything go the way it should, not have all their paperwork . . .in short, just take a 16 year old with them and see how easy/not easy it is to get a state ID.
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