Should voters be required to show photo ID?

[derspiess]

Recently-enacted laws in some states (and subsequent DOJ action in some cases to nullify the laws) to require voters to show photo ID when voting have created some controversy here in the US.

What is Languish's opinion on the matter?

[CountDeMoney]

Opponents don't necessarily have a problem with the concept of providing photo ID, in and of itself (even THE MOST REVEREND Al Sharpton agrees on this point);  where the problem lies is the parameters states are attempting to establish regarding which photo IDs are acceptable, and which are not. 
And not all Photo IDs are created equal.

[Valmy]

So long as they never require them to be Government ID Cards or Driver's License.  Wasn't that part of the deal that we would never require people to get those sorts of things?

[Eddie Teach]

Somewhere between "Yes" and "Don't care".

[The Brain]

Does it matter? Elections in the US are decided by courts anyway.

[DGuller]

This requirement sounds fine in theory, but the devil may be in the details.  Given how Republicans are far more disproportionally motivated to enact such requirements, my guess is that there is a serious voter suppression effect at stake that's biased in one ideological direction.

[Sheilbh]

No.

[CountDeMoney]

So long as they never require them to be Government ID Cards or Driver's License.  Wasn't that part of the deal that we would never require people to get those sorts of things?

That's part of the problem;  look at the new photo ID voter law passed in Texas:  Concealed carry gun permit?  Yes.  Student photo ID from a state university? Nope.

And then Texans wonder why the DOJ gets involved.

[derspiess]

So long as they never require them to be Government ID Cards or Driver's License.  Wasn't that part of the deal that we would never require people to get those sorts of things?

That's part of the problem;  look at the new photo ID voter law passed in Texas:  Concealed carry gun permit?  Yes.  Student photo ID from a state university? Nope.

And then Texans wonder why the DOJ gets involved.

It's been a while since I was in college, but do university IDs contain any address info?

[Valmy]

It's been a while since I was in college, but do university IDs contain any address info?

And what IDs would contain that info besides government issued IDs?

[derspiess]

It's been a while since I was in college, but do university IDs contain any address info?

And what IDs would contain that info besides government issued IDs?

Dunno.  What's your problem with government issued IDs?

[Sheilbh]

It's been a while since I was in college, but do university IDs contain any address info?

Do passports?

[MadBurgerMaker]

It's been a while since I was in college, but do university IDs contain any address info?

They don't (or at least the ones I still have) contain anything except my name and student ID numbers, with one having the date it was issued as well.

[CountDeMoney]

So long as they never require them to be Government ID Cards or Driver's License.  Wasn't that part of the deal that we would never require people to get those sorts of things?

That's part of the problem;  look at the new photo ID voter law passed in Texas:  Concealed carry gun permit?  Yes.  Student photo ID from a state university? Nope.

And then Texans wonder why the DOJ gets involved.

It's been a while since I was in college, but do university IDs contain any address info?

No.
And neither do concealed carry permits.

[derspiess]

It's been a while since I was in college, but do university IDs contain any address info?

Do passports?

No

I guess they at least prove citizenship though, which is what the Texas law is trying to do.