Wednesday November 13, 2013

1. Wednesday November 13, 2013 • OBJ: SWBAT understand how views on voting laws differ across party. • Drill: What is taking place here? Why would these “hurdles” be applied to minorities? What party would agree with this? • HW: Read No longer a Solid South” Summarize, focus on how it might change the election process, Congressional/Presidential

3. Making Voting Easier/Preventing Fraud • What are some ways governments have been making voter registration easier? • What are some ways they are making it more difficult?

4. New Restrictions Emerge • Photo ID • Indiana (2005) • Georgia (2006) • Missouri (2006; successfully challenged in state court) • Idaho (2010) • Proof of Citizenship to Register • Arizona (2004; litigation ongoing) • Georgia (2009; not in effect) • Restrictions on Third Party Voter Registration • Florida (2005)

5. 2011-12: The Whole Package Strict Photo ID bills Proof of Citizenship to Register Ending Election Day/Same Day Registration Shortening Early Voting and Changing Absentee Rules Restrictions on Third Party Voter Registration Groups

6. Photo ID 2011 saw new laws in AL, KS, MS, RI, SC, TN, TX, WI Laws passed but vetoed in MN, MO, MT, NH, NC 2012 ? – MN, MO, NE, NH, PA, VA Over 20 other states also saw bills introduced during 2011-2012

7. Photo ID Model • Default Model • Photo • Current – unexpired, showing expiration date • Issued by the state or U.S. government • Driver’s license or non-driver’s ID issued by DMV • U.S. passport • U.S. military ID • Variations • Student ID sometimes allowed • ID from other state sometimes allowed • U.S. naturalization documents sometimes allowed • Tribal ID sometimes allowed • Exemptions, safety net for voters without qualifying ID

8. What ID bills could include • ID issued by other states • Student ID • Employee ID • Tribal ID • Generally recognizable photo ID • Non-photo ID (utility bill, government document, paycheck, etc.) • Exemptions • Non-photo ID safety net

9. Impacted Groups • Compared to 11% average without current government-issued photo ID- • 25% of African Americans • 18 % of elderly Americans (65+) • 15% of low-income Americans • Urban dwellers • voters with disabilities • out of state students • movers

10. Photo ID: Myth vs. Fact Myth: Everyone has a photo ID, it’s no big deal. Fact: A 2006 national survey by the Brennan Center found that11% of voting age citizens don’t have current government-issued photo ID

11. Myth vs. Fact Myth: It’s the same as having to show an ID to buy alcohol, cash a check, or board a plane. Fact: Voting is a fundamental right that shouldn’t be burdened. [And you don’t need photo ID to fly somewhere]

12. Myth vs. Fact Myth: Everyone can get a free photo ID anyway. Fact: There are practical barriers, as well as underlying financial costs involved in getting an ID.

13. Myth vs. Fact Myth: Photo ID laws are needed to combat voter fraud. Fact: The only fraud problem a photo ID requirement could address is voter impersonation, which is less likely than getting struck by lightning.

14. Proof of Citizenship • New laws passed in AL, KS, TN • Legislative efforts in at least 9 other states • Documentary proof • Driver’s license or non-driver’s ID if it indicates proof of citizenship was supplied to get the ID • U.S. birth certificate • U.S. passport • U.S. naturalization documents • Some tribal IDs, etc.

15. Shortening Early Voting and Changing Absentee Rules • New laws shortening early voting passed in FL, GA, ME, OH, TN, WV • Efforts in MD, NC, NM, NV • Eliminating Sunday voting • OH prohibited Sunday voting; NC bill & MO ballot initiative would do same • FL eliminated last Sunday before Election Day • Other Changes • OH prohibited counties from sending unsolicited absentee ballots and prepaying return postage.

16. Impact • Access • Reduces opportunities • Relied on by some voters more than others • Confusion • Changing systems people are used to • Variance in voter education efforts

17. Restrictions on Third Party Voter Registration • New restrictions passed in FL and TX • FL • Registration and reporting requirements • 48 hour turnaround time • TX • Deputy and training requirement • New rules regarding who can register voters and how they can be paid • Other efforts in CA, IL, MS, MI, NV, NM, NC, SC

18. Impact • Third party registration reaches potential voters that don’t intersect with registration opportunities as much as others • Low-income voters • Minority groups • Students • Black and Hispanic Floridians and Floridians from Spanish-speaking homes are over twice as likely to register to vote via third-party groups as white Floridians or Floridians from English-speaking households.

19. Review: Impacted Groups • Minority Groups • Young People • Students and Non-Students • Mobile Voters • Low-Income Voters • Disabled Voters • Elderly Voters

20. Voting Policies • In Small groups: • You will imagine you are a subcommittee of the state legislature. You will discuss a voting policy and decide whether to support, oppose, or change your assigned policy. • After you decide you need to find pieces of evidence from your article to support this. • Once a decision is reached your group will create a poster that includes: • The Proposed Policy, Your stance, a (an APPROPRIATE) slogan, your supporting evidence and a reason for your choice. • Hang your poster up, and take notes on other groups policies

21. As A Class • Did our policies make voting and registering easier or more difficult? How so?

22. Wrap Up • What does a party stand to gain by making it difficult for certain groups to vote? • Does this in anyway relate to Gerrymandering?