Primary Voter Guilt

From the title of today’s entry, you might think that I did not vote in the Georgia Primary today. Actually, I did vote, but my guilt is coming from how I treated the little old lady who was checking my identification at the precinct. But I’ll get to that in a moment.

Doc. B. and I started the morning by getting on the Georgia Equality Project website so that we could get advice on who should get our votes. We were surprised to discover that the recommendation was to vote in every category except governor. The idea was to make our voices heard by skipping the vote for governor, whether you are republican or democrat. By showing that there were multiple votes cast for others on the ballot, but not for governor, the hope was that this would show them that they can’t just take our votes for granted. The three frontrunners (the republican incumbent and the two democratic challengers) have basically the same stance on "our" issues, so this was touted as a way to initiate a response from, and subsequent conversation with, the winner.

I should also let you know that there has been a big concern here in Georgia about a proposed picture ID requirement in order to vote. From my days back at the local community action agency, I know how difficult it is to even get a voter registration card for a low income or elderly person let alone get them an ID card with a picture on it. If they don’t drive, why on earth would they need a photo identification card that costs them cash money? At least the voter registration card itself is free and the registration forms can be hand-delivered to a person’s home. For voting in Georgia, the bottom line has always been that if you have registered to vote, all you have to do on Election Day is to show any one of 17 different forms of identification (listed below). There is no requirement for a photo though some of the forms of identification happen to include a photo.

So we made our way to the neighborhood Baptist church to vote. Does anyone else find irony in that? Just so you know, this is a cool Baptist church that withdrew from the Southern Baptist Convention. Anyway, when I got to the point in the voting process where I had to produce identification, I glanced down at the rather long list of acceptable items that was taped to the desk in front of me and that had been printed using a font so large that a legally blind person was likely able to read it. On a whim, with no planning whatsoever, I decided to present my United States Government issued picture ID card. When I handed it to the polling worker, she said "what’s this?" I said, "It’s my government ID; it’s number four on the list, right here" and I pointed right to it. She said, "but it doesn’t have your address on it". I said, "I don't think passports have addresses on them. Many of the items on this list don’t have addresses on them." She seemed flustered so I reached into my pocket and handed her my driver’s license. She seemed relieved. I felt bad for giving her a hard time. And to make it worse, as I was handing her my drivers license, she kept saying "your're so right, you're so right", just like I'm sure she was trained to do. But can you even imagine what would have happened if I had decided to present, say, my Georgia License to carry a pistol (number seven on the list below) or even better, a certified copy of court records showing I had undergone a sex change (lucky number 13 below)?

*NOTE: just for the record, I have neither of these latter two items – they were just being used as examples.

So now we wait. I've gone to my evening yoga class and am ready to sit up and watch the voting results. Or better still, perhaps I'll just go on to bed and read about it in the morning...

Direct from the Georgia Secretary of State Website
“Voting on Election Day
When you arrive at your polling place, you will complete a voter's certificate which asks for your name and residence address. You will then present the certificate and proper identification to the poll officials who will verify that you are a registered voter in that precinct by checking the voters list for that precinct. Voters are required to present identification at their polling place prior to casting their ballot. Proper identification shall consist of any one of the following:
(1) A valid Georgia driver's license;
(2) A valid identification card issued by a branch, department, agency, or entity of the State of Georgia, any other state, or the United States authorized by law to issue personal identification;
(3) A valid United States passport;
(4) A valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the elector and issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States government, this state, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state;
(5) A valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the elector and issued by any employer of the elector in the ordinary course of such employer’s business;
(6) A valid student identification card containing a photograph of the elector from any public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school located within the State of Georgia;
(7) A valid Georgia license to carry a pistol or revolver;
(8) A valid pilot's license issued by the Federal Aviation Administration or other authorized agency of the United States;
(9) A valid United States military identification card;
(10) A certified copy of the elector's birth certificate;
(11) A valid social security card;
(12) Certified naturalization documentation;
(13) A certified copy of court records showing adoption, name, or sex change;
(14) A current utility bill, or a legible copy thereof, showing the name and address of the elector;
(15) A bank statement, or a legible copy thereof, showing the name and address of the elector;
(16) A government check or paycheck, or a legible copy thereof, showing the name and address of the elector; or
(17) A government document, or a legible copy thereof, showing the name and address of the elector.
If an elector is unable to produce any of the items of identification listed, he or she shall sign a statement under oath swearing or affirming that he or she is the person identified on the elector's voter certificate.”