Illegal Alien Crime Reports

[MissBarbara]

I believe we can Trust, and Verify the votes from the last election, and Vice President Pence is heading a group to do just that, in part, while I would like to see first the removal from voting rolls of all names for those who did not vote in the last two elections, as a start.

Eligible Citizens can register anew, and demonstrate their eligibility anew, using recorded identity documents, same as they use to buy tobacco, MJ, alcohol, Rx medicines, etc.  Their attesting to Citizenship, recorded of course, would help form, along with those who have voted recently, a solid list for further review, and remove without qualification inactive registry names.

A fresh start.

Until documentation from a reputable source is produced that demonstrates fraudulent voting by illegal aliens occurred in the past two presidential elections that directly affected the outcome of those elections, the effort you describe is a colossal waste of time, money, and resources. It's a classic solution in search of a problem.

It also seems surprising to me that a Conservative would demand more government intervention, the creation of more governmental bodies, and the incursion of the federal government into state matters.

I am sure some here know individuals who are Citizens who have absolutely no documents with which they can enter a Federal courthouse, nationwide, and would love to hear the stories.

A video record of recently inactive vote eligible Citizens who reregister, attest to their identity and status, using 'routine' identity documents that would allow them to fly, for instance, or to concealed carry a firearm, or to be employed, for instance, should have no problem with this.  

Perhaps there is some tribe in one of the Alaska islands who believe their soul is lost if their picture is taken.. will be interesting to hear the variety of reasons for some sort of special review.

It's unclear to me how mocking people for their religious beliefs will serve to solve the problem that you have identified. Then again, the point many of your arguments is unclear to me, so I suppose it's par for the course.

The "routine identity documents that would allow [people] to fly" -- chiefly, state-issued driver licenses -- contain no information about one's legal status or eligibility to vote. So, that's no a solution at all. It seems what you're looking for is a federal identity card (you know, the "papers" you've mentioned several times), that must be carried on one's person at all times and that must be produced upon demand.

And there you go again: A Conservative demanding more government intervention, the creation of more governmental bodies, and the incursion of the federal government into state matters.

And more shades of 1984...or 1933...

[Katiebee]

I'm waiting for Trump's version of the Reichstag fire.

[watcher1]

In the past ten years, there have been documented 54 cases of undocumented people voting. But the fear certain people use to create an image that there are thousands of cases of voter fraud is certainly worse then the actual statistics.

[Lois]

Indeed, voter fraud is very rare. And considering that nearly half the eligible voters did not even vote in 2016 there is no need to make voting even harder. 

Voter fraud is not a problem, but lack of participation is a threat to our democracy. Think about it.  Nearly half of the eligible voters did not even bother to vote!  And this figure is even worse in non-presidential elections.

This sends a message that nearly half the country does not care how our government is run.  It says that they either have lost faith in our democracy or take it for granted.  This should be the topic of a special investigation!  This is the problem that needs a solution.

Think about it.  Trump was received less than 25% of the eligible votes.  No wonder we are in deep doo doo!

[MissBarbara]

In the past ten years, there have been documented 54 cases of undocumented people voting. But the fear certain people use to create an image that there are thousands of cases of voter fraud is certainly worse then the actual statistics.

Good point.

If "the past 10 years" includes the past three presidential elections, that means that there 54 documented cases among 400 million votes cast. That means that 0.00001% of the votes cast were fraudulent. That's a percentage I can live with.

And bear in mind that that total of 54 votes includes fraudulent votes in general, and not votes cast by illegal immigrants. As far as the numbers determine, there very well could have been exactly zero votes cast by illegal immigrants.

Again, solutions in search of a problem...

[IdleBoast]

I wish Joan would make up her mind what she's blaming immigrants for - a non-existent violent crime wave, or non-existent voter fraud?

Or maybe they're to now blame for Trump impeding the course of justice?

[JulesVern]

Mandatory is different than Freedom to Vote.

How about making it mandatory to present a Government issued ID for voting.

Same ID one uses to fill at Rx, Register your Car, Enter a Federal Courthouse, Enter a State Courthouse, hmmm... maybe move the Polls to the Courthouse, or a different Federal Government or State Government building that requires standard Photo ID for entry. That could work.

Let's make it a requirement that all citizens vote. 

I personally have no issue with requiring a valid and current ID to vote, providing that the government (Federal, State, County, etc.) issue that that ID for free. That's the key for me. If those agencies won't issue the ID for free then no, that's charging people for the ability to vote.

For those who complain that this discourages people from showing up at the voting booth, I say why? You are asked for your name and address already and it is marked that you showed up, so what's the issue with requiring ID.

Pre-voting is a whole other issue. I personally have never used it and never liked it. It is certainly something that would be more easily used fraudulently, though I have not seen significant evidence that is has been.

[Lois]

I believe the "illegal immigrants voting" is just a ruse to exclude those from voting that are not likely to vote Republican.  It is a most despicable path to follow.

[MissBarbara]

I believe the "illegal immigrants voting" is just a ruse to exclude those from voting that are not likely to vote Republican.  It is a most despicable path to follow.

Precisely!

And I strongly agree with your point above. Shockingly few eligible voters actually get off their butts and go out and vote as it is. If any efforts should be undertaken in this area, it should be to making voting -- for eligible voters -- as easy as possible, and not to put up more roadblocks.

[Lois]

Interesting article on the subject of why people didn't vote in the 2016 election:

http://craigconnects.org/2016/12/new-poll-reveals-why-people-didnt-vote-in-the-election.html

[Katiebee]

Another bit of political talk from my dad.

He said that around the time I was born he saw an ad encouraging people to vote that struck his heart and soul in a particular manner.

It was a 45 second ad, no sound, and all it did was pan across a section Arlington National cemetery, showing row after row of grave stones.

Then these words were superimposed over the scene.

"Vote. They did."

[JulesVern]

I believe the "illegal immigrants voting" is just a ruse to exclude those from voting that are not likely to vote Republican.  It is a most despicable path to follow.

I don't disagree with you about this. They have made numerous charges about this issue and have never given any proof of any significant fraud.

[Lois]

I believe the "illegal immigrants voting" is just a ruse to exclude those from voting that are not likely to vote Republican.  It is a most despicable path to follow.

Precisely!

And I strongly agree with your point above. Shockingly few eligible voters actually get off their butts and go out and vote as it is. If any efforts should be undertaken in this area, it should be to making voting -- for eligible voters -- as easy as possible, and not to put up more roadblocks.

Yep, and we've had this discussion before and Joan has never denied the real goal is to suppress citizens from voting for Democrats.

https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-05-15/supreme-court-skips-over-north-carolina-voter-id-law-as-trump-pushes-fraud-probe

[Northwest]

All of the comments on this page are on target and accurate.

Speaking as a big time fan of mysteries, voter fraud is always red herring. When someone claims that they're greatly concerned about voter fraud, they're either using it as cover for a more sinister motivation, or they're a complete idiot who can't integrate basic data.

[Elizabeth]

Interesting Topics by all............
"SO".....what happens if the government made Voting Mandatory for all citizens...??
What then...??

Love,
Liz

[IdleBoast]

It works in Australia....

[Katiebee]

Why then we could eliminate parties and have only one candidate per position.

[joan1984]

  Seems where some would like us to be heading.

[Lois]

George Washington's farewell address:

"However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1796

Wow!  Sounds spot-on.

Sadly, the common man also needs a political party to help raise funds and organize to be elected in today's America.

[Northwest]

If you are really concerned about the twin topics of voter fraud (which is in fact statistically non-existent) and increasing the percentage of people who vote, then you should look at VOTE BY MAIL.

I have lived in two Vote By Mail states, and I have not been to a polling place in twenty five years. I also vote in all elections. Both states (Washington and Oregon) have very high turnout (linked to the extraordinary convenience of by mail voting). Fraud is virtually non-existent. Businesses like it because they don't have to give people time off to vote. We never face long lines, or difficulty finding the polling station.

It turns out that the Post Office actually DOES know where pretty much everybody lives. It would be very difficult, if not impossible to defraud the system.

By default, there's a paper trail of all votes. Many, if not most, votes have already been counted by the time election day rolls around (voting is typically allowed over the two week period prior to election day), which means that results are available very quickly.

We should go to a national Vote By Mail system. We would see participation in elections shoot way up. Of course, it's harder to conduct voter caging if people can vote easily and with convenience, so I expect that Repulicans would oppose it vehemently.