While I feel badly for the young lady's plight to vote, be it in NY or TN I also think it should spark a discussion on research and responsiblity. She should have checked the requirements for each state to determine in which state she was/would be eligible to vote. She could have registered before she left town, as long as she would be 18 at the time of the election. If you want to vote and by law meet the requirements to vote, it is up to the individual to be responsible enough to find out what steps to take. The Knox County Election employee, well there are people like that in every walk of life.
Submitted by WhitesCreek on October 2, 2012 - 6:33pm.
If you meet the requirements to vote, it's the duty of your government to count your vote, not put up roadblocks to your rights as a citizen. It certainly isn't legal for an agent in the elections office to tell you that since you are a Democrat you don't need to worry about it since TN is going red no matter what.
Don't disagree with you about the conduct of the Election Commission employee, it is inexcusable. My feeling is, if the young lady was so interested in voting, why didn't she call back and get another employee? If her mother was so bent out of shape about the matter (I am supposing she does live in the Knoxville area), why didn't she call or go to the Election Commission. People want things done for them without them having to be put out in any way. If you want to vote, and you want to make a difference then put forth some effort rather than running to get somebody to publish your perceived tale of woe.
Submitted by onetahiti on October 2, 2012 - 7:26pm.
One should not have to "put forth some effort."
I'm not even clear on why registration should be required.
That said, I'm not sorry I spent many hours back in the 60s going from door to door gathering signatures to help get the right to vote for 18- to 20-year-olds.
Have to register so you can vote at the appropriate polling place. We don't vote county, district, state or nationwide for all offices. Back in my day you had to be 21 to vote. Nobody had to come around and sign me up. I was taught to exercise my franchise and vote. I am the one who is responsible for making sure I am properly registered. I don't need nor want a voting nanny coming around me.
Either take your right seriously or lose it.
I didn't need a photo ID, but my sister in-law did. We went to the Anderson County Clerk's satelite office in Oak Ridge (we live in Roane County) and were in and out in about 15 minutes. There was no charge. You never seem interested in the scenarios that go well and without incident, and I just imagine there are more of them than the nightmares you relate.
As for the young lady off to college...she lived in Knox County from what I gleaned from the article. And a photo ID didn't seem to be her problem, it was lack of researching her circumstances in a timely manner.
Personal responsibility..apparently a rare commodity.
Submitted by onetahiti on October 4, 2012 - 12:12pm.
I am very happy for your sister-in-law, since she is apparently rich enough to be able to afford to drive out of the county to Oak Ridge, and because she is fortunate to have only responsibilities that allow her to take time off to visit the county clerk's office during business hours. Also I applaud her good fortune at being healthy enough to make the trip.
However, not everyone is that fortunate. :(
This voter ID law seems designed to disenfranchise precisely those among us who are less fortunate.
There are ETHRA and other similar agencies that can help with that. Please read the statute and the exceptions for certain individuals. Those who claim poverty and some other exceptions exist, and they are not prevented from voting.
Taking care of a sister in-law and my mother prior to her death I understand limitations for many, but they are not insurmountable. There is still a way for those who are referred to as disenfranchised to vote.
Another thing that I think should be looked into for all counties, is having satelite offices in small communities rotating during the month. These offices could contract with Department of Safety (as Anderson County does), County Clerk (as Roane County does in OS now), Election Commission etc. In most places the County has an empty building floating around, it could even be a mobile unit, a utility providers office with some space to let the County use. But the fact is people don't want to look at most of these options...off topic, but just like the schools. They keep getting bigger( equals less personal) when they could have some special and/or advanced teachers divide their time between two schools.
Submitted by onetahiti on October 4, 2012 - 12:08pm.
A clarification: I was not a "voting nanny" going from door to door registering people to vote. I was gathering signatures back in the 60s to help change the law that said only people age 21 and up could vote. I'm glad our efforts succeeded. :)
While I feel badly for the young lady's plight to vote, be it in NY or TN I also think it should spark a discussion on research and responsiblity. She should have checked the requirements for each state to determine in which state she was/would be eligible to vote. She could have registered before she left town, as long as she would be 18 at the time of the election. If you want to vote and by law meet the requirements to vote, it is up to the individual to be responsible enough to find out what steps to take. The Knox County Election employee, well there are people like that in every walk of life.
If you meet the requirements to vote, it's the duty of your government to count your vote, not put up roadblocks to your rights as a citizen. It certainly isn't legal for an agent in the elections office to tell you that since you are a Democrat you don't need to worry about it since TN is going red no matter what.
Don't disagree with you about the conduct of the Election Commission employee, it is inexcusable. My feeling is, if the young lady was so interested in voting, why didn't she call back and get another employee? If her mother was so bent out of shape about the matter (I am supposing she does live in the Knoxville area), why didn't she call or go to the Election Commission. People want things done for them without them having to be put out in any way. If you want to vote, and you want to make a difference then put forth some effort rather than running to get somebody to publish your perceived tale of woe.
One should not have to "put forth some effort."
I'm not even clear on why registration should be required.
That said, I'm not sorry I spent many hours back in the 60s going from door to door gathering signatures to help get the right to vote for 18- to 20-year-olds.
-- OneTahiti
Have to register so you can vote at the appropriate polling place. We don't vote county, district, state or nationwide for all offices. Back in my day you had to be 21 to vote. Nobody had to come around and sign me up. I was taught to exercise my franchise and vote. I am the one who is responsible for making sure I am properly registered. I don't need nor want a voting nanny coming around me.
Either take your right seriously or lose it.
But did you have to drive to the next county, wait in line for hours, and pay for a photo ID to go along with your voter card? I think not.
I didn't need a photo ID, but my sister in-law did. We went to the Anderson County Clerk's satelite office in Oak Ridge (we live in Roane County) and were in and out in about 15 minutes. There was no charge. You never seem interested in the scenarios that go well and without incident, and I just imagine there are more of them than the nightmares you relate.
As for the young lady off to college...she lived in Knox County from what I gleaned from the article. And a photo ID didn't seem to be her problem, it was lack of researching her circumstances in a timely manner.
Personal responsibility..apparently a rare commodity.
I am very happy for your sister-in-law, since she is apparently rich enough to be able to afford to drive out of the county to Oak Ridge, and because she is fortunate to have only responsibilities that allow her to take time off to visit the county clerk's office during business hours. Also I applaud her good fortune at being healthy enough to make the trip.
However, not everyone is that fortunate. :(
This voter ID law seems designed to disenfranchise precisely those among us who are less fortunate.
-- OneTahiti
There are ETHRA and other similar agencies that can help with that. Please read the statute and the exceptions for certain individuals. Those who claim poverty and some other exceptions exist, and they are not prevented from voting.
Taking care of a sister in-law and my mother prior to her death I understand limitations for many, but they are not insurmountable. There is still a way for those who are referred to as disenfranchised to vote.
Another thing that I think should be looked into for all counties, is having satelite offices in small communities rotating during the month. These offices could contract with Department of Safety (as Anderson County does), County Clerk (as Roane County does in OS now), Election Commission etc. In most places the County has an empty building floating around, it could even be a mobile unit, a utility providers office with some space to let the County use. But the fact is people don't want to look at most of these options...off topic, but just like the schools. They keep getting bigger( equals less personal) when they could have some special and/or advanced teachers divide their time between two schools.
I would hope that in a free country no one would be forced to "claim poverty" just to be able to vote. :(
-- OneTahiti
A clarification: I was not a "voting nanny" going from door to door registering people to vote. I was gathering signatures back in the 60s to help change the law that said only people age 21 and up could vote. I'm glad our efforts succeeded. :)
-- OneTahiti
No offense intended.