Agree about the SAVE Act but please go further. The states control voting and it is there that Republicans will focus their efforts to rig elections in 2026 and beyond. Yes federal officials such as AG Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel (I STILL can't believe that's who is in charge) will certainly meddle with and try to intimidate De…
Agree about the SAVE Act but please go further. The states control voting and it is there that Republicans will focus their efforts to rig elections in 2026 and beyond. Yes federal officials such as AG Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel (I STILL can't believe that's who is in charge) will certainly meddle with and try to intimidate Democratic-run states and cities, but the Republican state legislatures, governors, Republican AGs and local Republican officials are the ones to watch.
In the mean time, everyone and I mean EVERYONE, needs to be in touch with all of their family and friends networks to make sure that you and all of your circle have identification documents in case they are needed for voting. Help out neighbors and like-minded voters too. That means getting/renewing passports NOW, finding original or obtaining certified birth certificates, marriage licenses, especially for married women who changed their names, and any local IDs (driver's license, non-driver voter ID, state-approved photo ID, etc.), checking registration and anything else needed to vote in 2026 TODAY!!! Develop trusted information platforms for accurate info on polling locations, dates, times and any ID requirements. Make plans for transportation to the polls and any support functions for your district. Volunteer to be a poll worker, observer or caregiver for people who need baby sitting or help with a disabled family member while they go vote. We cannot wait until September. 2026 to be ready for the next election, if we are lucky enough not to have Trump declare a state of emergency and martial law before hand. This may be our last chance and that is not hyperbole.
Some states have ‘proof of citizenship’ laws but due to the Voting Rights Act they don’t apply to federal elections. And a birth certificate that doesn’t match someone’s legal name won’t be accepted.
Yes, people need to prepare now. ‘Proof’ could be required for other reasons. Last yr a bill was introduced in Congress re: healthcare.
I am puzzled that a birth certificate is accepted as ID.
I was an election official at every election for something like thirty years. (In Canada.) At one, in a poll in Toronto's Chinatown, a woman appeared with only a Canadian birth certificate. It could have belonged to anyone. She spoke no English, and no one in the poll – no official, no voter – spoke her language. I couldn't let her vote.
No, a birth certificate would not be accepted as ID. It would be additional documentation to prove citizenship.
To prove citizenship:
• Photo IDs don’t indicate citizenship except in a couple border states. Therefore, a birth certificate or current passport would be needed to prove a person was born in the US. — Naturalized citizens would need to present their naturalization paper or passport.
• To prove eligibility to vote in that state or polling location:
An acceptable photo ID showing the legal name matching the citizenship proof with the current address matching the voter rolls (if already registered). Some states frequently change what types of ID is accepted.
This is more of problem for women who are the most likely to have legal names that don’t match their birth certificate. There is no guidance for states on ID that are acceptable or the paperwork required to prove name changes. But it appears this would be necessary each time someone registers to vote (for instance changes their address) and must be presented to the election worker at the polls to vote.
When politicians pretend to be solving problems that don’t exist they obviously have another agenda: This time it is voter suppression.
Agree about the SAVE Act but please go further. The states control voting and it is there that Republicans will focus their efforts to rig elections in 2026 and beyond. Yes federal officials such as AG Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel (I STILL can't believe that's who is in charge) will certainly meddle with and try to intimidate Democratic-run states and cities, but the Republican state legislatures, governors, Republican AGs and local Republican officials are the ones to watch.
In the mean time, everyone and I mean EVERYONE, needs to be in touch with all of their family and friends networks to make sure that you and all of your circle have identification documents in case they are needed for voting. Help out neighbors and like-minded voters too. That means getting/renewing passports NOW, finding original or obtaining certified birth certificates, marriage licenses, especially for married women who changed their names, and any local IDs (driver's license, non-driver voter ID, state-approved photo ID, etc.), checking registration and anything else needed to vote in 2026 TODAY!!! Develop trusted information platforms for accurate info on polling locations, dates, times and any ID requirements. Make plans for transportation to the polls and any support functions for your district. Volunteer to be a poll worker, observer or caregiver for people who need baby sitting or help with a disabled family member while they go vote. We cannot wait until September. 2026 to be ready for the next election, if we are lucky enough not to have Trump declare a state of emergency and martial law before hand. This may be our last chance and that is not hyperbole.
START TODAY!
And thanks Judd and Team!
Some states have ‘proof of citizenship’ laws but due to the Voting Rights Act they don’t apply to federal elections. And a birth certificate that doesn’t match someone’s legal name won’t be accepted.
Yes, people need to prepare now. ‘Proof’ could be required for other reasons. Last yr a bill was introduced in Congress re: healthcare.
https://www.lwv.org/blog/safeguard-american-voter-eligibility-save-act-trick
I am puzzled that a birth certificate is accepted as ID.
I was an election official at every election for something like thirty years. (In Canada.) At one, in a poll in Toronto's Chinatown, a woman appeared with only a Canadian birth certificate. It could have belonged to anyone. She spoke no English, and no one in the poll – no official, no voter – spoke her language. I couldn't let her vote.
No, a birth certificate would not be accepted as ID. It would be additional documentation to prove citizenship.
To prove citizenship:
• Photo IDs don’t indicate citizenship except in a couple border states. Therefore, a birth certificate or current passport would be needed to prove a person was born in the US. — Naturalized citizens would need to present their naturalization paper or passport.
• To prove eligibility to vote in that state or polling location:
An acceptable photo ID showing the legal name matching the citizenship proof with the current address matching the voter rolls (if already registered). Some states frequently change what types of ID is accepted.
This is more of problem for women who are the most likely to have legal names that don’t match their birth certificate. There is no guidance for states on ID that are acceptable or the paperwork required to prove name changes. But it appears this would be necessary each time someone registers to vote (for instance changes their address) and must be presented to the election worker at the polls to vote.
When politicians pretend to be solving problems that don’t exist they obviously have another agenda: This time it is voter suppression.