SB14 Q&A
SB14 Q&A
It requires photo ID at the polls, yet the kinds of ID are specified below:
What is SB14?
SB14 is a often called the Texas Voter ID law, passed by the
Legislature and signed into law on May 27, 2011 by Texas Governor Rick Perry
Why is SB14 in court?
SB14 is in court because it is currently covered under the
Voter Rights Act of 1965 as amended in 2006. It was amended to cover non
English speaking populations but provided English only voting materials at the
polls, which brought TX into its jurisdiction. Section 5 states that any change
in voter law in a state that has a history of discrimination has to be pre
cleared by the Department of Justice or a 3 Judge Panel in DC. It was rejected
for preclearance and the trial date expedited so SB14 could be in place for the
November election if upheld
What does SB14 do?
It requires photo ID at the polls, yet the kinds of ID are specified below:
Specifically, prospective
voters will need to provide (1) one piece of “primary identification,” (2) two
pieces of “secondary identification,” or (3) one piece of “secondary
identification” plus two pieces of “supporting identification” in order to
receive an EIC
Primary ID: Found on Page 3 of the ruling
(1) An expired Texas driver’s
license or personal identification card that has been expired for at least 60
days but not more than two years.
(2) A license to carry a
concealed handgun, also issued by DPS;
(3) A U.S.
(4) A U.S.
(5) A U.S.
You can present these at the
polls and automatically vote or obtain a free EIC to vote under SB14
If you have none of these you need the following to get a
free election identification certificate” EIC
(2). A “secondary”
identification is one of the following: Found on page 4 of the ruling
•
An original or certified copy of a birth certificate;
•
An original or certified copy of a court order indicating an official change of
name and/or gender. A court order indicating a change of name and/or gender
costs $5 for the records search, plus $1 per page for the court order
• U.S.
Everyone will need at least
one of these forms: Page 4
•
An expired Texas
•
An original or certified copy of a birth certificate costing $22-$30
•
U.S.
• A court order indicating a
change of name and/or gender which can cost 5 for the records search, plus $1
per page for the court order. Actually obtaining the name and/or gender costs
far more $152
This is what the law changes
from current election law in TX
What is pre SB 14 acceptable
ID? What was the process?
A Texan must file a registration with a county elections
registrar and it has the voter’s name, date of
birth, and a sworn affirmation of U.S.
This “certificate”—actually a
paper postcard—has no photograph, but does include a voter’s name, gender, year
of birth, and a unique voter ID number. When presented at the polls, a voter
registration certificate entitles the registrant to cast an in-person ballot.
If the application is approved, the registrar
delivers a “voter registration certificate” to the applicant, either in person
or via U.S.
Does SB14 make changes to absentee ballots?
They are unaffected by SB14
So where do they have to go to get the EIC Card?
To their county
DPS
So how would they get EIC cards if their county doesn’t have
one?
GA mandated in its voter ID law that all counties will have
a county office (TX it’s the DPS) that will be open consistent hours and make
sure that it’s covered in the state budget. That is the one of the few ways
that the TX law might have been a little better. However, because it didn’t
contain such a provision, it served that the purpose of SB14 remains to deprive
TX minorities of the right to vote. As of this writing, TX’s House Republican
Supermajority for 2013 was cut to the point where they’re not impervious to
Democrats anymore.
SB14 was struck down, what is next?
SB14 wasn’t in place for the November elections and
therefore people only needed the ID card given prior to SB14 being enacted.
What is next is the challenge from AL, TX, MS and SC being of a few that are
challenging the Voter Rights Act of 1965 which they are subject to. 5 counties
in FL are also covered under the scope of its jurisdiction. Let me also state
the GA, VA and NH have voter ID laws that were okayed or pre cleared by the
DOJ.
Why can’t people just produce ID to vote?
People can, but the kinds of ID necessary like that in the
TX law and others that are obscure pieces like a gun permit while making the ID
a guessing game of validity or not is why people are objecting to these kinds
of laws. Next is the fact that there is no such voter fraud happening and in
order for this to be really effective, it must be on a huge scale. Small local
elections may be turned by this, but something like a Governor or Presidential
election can’t be swayed by a few people pretending to be another person.
Should I be concerned with these kinds of laws?
Yes, especially if you are in the groups more likely to vote
Democratic, like students, minorities, elderly, union workers, just to name a
few. These are the main people the Republicans are trying to stop from voting
with these laws. This is an unprecedented attack on voters’ rights and is only
the latest in a series of attacks that started with stopping felons from voting
What can I do?
Well, take revenge and vote for candidates that oppose this
as well as voting in all elections, local, state and federal. This is an area
where you have to do your due diligence and you will need to keep informed.
Also urging people to vote as well is important. Let them know that in 2000 537
people made the difference between Al Gore and George W Bush…..and if we repeat
that lesson again, it will be more expensive given the sharp right they’ve
taken. You can also get people involved in watching local and state politics so
that we can make progress and elect fair minded people. When we are watching
and the elected officials know it, we can turn back laws like this
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