General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCan someone please explain to me how anyone in the U.S. functions without a government issued I.D.?
I am not talking about a passport or a birth certificate. Asking anyone in the U.S. to have ready access at all times to either is nonsense. What I'm talking about is either a Driver's License or a State issued Identification Card. I ask this not in support of Trump's "SAVE" Act - A stupid name for a piece of legislation if ever there was one. The "SAVE" Act, if anything, is likely to create more confusion in our voting process than anything else. Hence, I am unequivocally against the "SAVE" Act. That said, I am curious how living as an adult in the U.S. without any government issued I.D. even works.
Melon
(1,277 posts)You could make it months but years no Id? Not possible.
AZJonnie
(3,418 posts)But not impossible if you don't. Or if you didn't actually have a home at all.
RockRaven
(19,034 posts)PeaceWave
(3,008 posts)for us to get a law (Assembly Bill 1733) which allowed individuals experiencing homelessness to secure a free copy of their California birth certificate and/or free California photo ID card. I can't believe it took until 2014 to get such a basic piece of legislation passed here in this very progressive state. I can only imagine what is going on in this regards in Republican states.
https://housingca.org/resources/community/individuals/get-ca-birthcert/
AZJonnie
(3,418 posts)None of basic things necessary for a given person to continue to stay necessarily require they have possession of one of those, ergo, some people don't have one. Some people lost theirs and don't have the $35 to go get a new one for some period of time.
Haggard Celine
(17,783 posts)I don't know how you could cash a check without ID. Maybe if you know the people at the grocery store who cash it. I've never had a passport, but I'm about to get one. I want to be able to get out if I need to. I don't have a problem with them checking IDs at the polls, but think they should issue free IDs, or very cheap ones, to people who can't afford one.
Nevilledog
(54,924 posts)Only 5 states have state issued IDs that comply with this requirement.
Johonny
(25,889 posts)Who take a percentage of their paycheck. That's how they do it.
EX500rider
(12,303 posts)Haggard Celine
(17,783 posts)And the check cashing places. Of course, a lot of companies will only pay you electronically, so they get these cards that are basically prepaid credit cards and draw out a little at a time. Bernie Sanders had an idea to have the post office serve as a sort of bank for these people. I know people, however, who just don't trust banks. They could hit the lottery and they would put it all in mason jars and bury it somewhere. Some would like for us to be a cashless society. I would resist that.
Blue Full Moon
(3,350 posts)Not having money to buy documents. If they want IDs they must be free.
Skittles
(170,576 posts)maybe CHAT with these folk
Figarosmom
(11,121 posts)But the feds are in charge of who gets to apply for a federal ID. So our right to vote cannot be tied to a federal ID.
But I suppose someone that works for cash only and doesn't drive could live without an ID. Of course there would be no retirement, medicare, owning property or bank account or anything else from the government.
Easterncedar
(5,960 posts)And getting carded to buy alcohol at one local grocery store, which makes me smile, I cant think of when I recently needed ID.
Torchlight
(6,642 posts)PCIntern
(28,165 posts)BannonsLiver
(20,395 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(26,770 posts)whatever), but generally, youre cut off from some things.
dsc
(53,356 posts)Also, my valid ID, with which I can do all the things one needs to do aside from foreign travel, isn't sufficient to vote under Save.
Dave says
(5,374 posts)If the SAVE Act passes and is in effect immediately, except for the 5 states where citizenship is verified when you receive a RL
drivers license, youll need an unexpired passport or certified copy of your birth certificate to vote in the midterms and elections thereafter. Many, many people will fall short of these requirements and be unable to vote.
In addition, women who took on their husbands last names will need to produce a marriage certificate.
The more wealth your household has, the more likely youll have these papers in time for the election. And the majority of households with money are Republican, not Democrat. Ergo Republicans win again. That is the plan, anyway.
(Voter fraud occurs less than 0.001% of the time. It is an almost nonexistent problem. However, by trumping it up and getting things like the SAVE Act passed, the right is helped in their mission to retain power.)
GusBob
(8,204 posts)Native Americans will have Tribal issued ID only, sometimes they are leery about being on the white man's radar and they dont drive, vote, etc.
Conversely, I know more than a few who refuse to have a Tribal ID for some unknown reason, but that caused a ruckus when ICE was getting busy with POC and then there was a rush to the Tribal office
RoeVWade
(878 posts)yes years. But it depends on what you do. Or rather don't do.
When I rented through more than one lease, I never needed my ID for future extensions.
If you ride a bus, you can do without it most places.
Personally, I haven't been to my bank in another state in a decade. I even took out loans without it which they approved.
haele
(15,265 posts)Or they work under the table, do their own "consulting" business.
They don't go to a doctor or dentist, instead, they use the ER or a "free" clinic. They don't typically have new credit cards or loans that require them to put down anything more than a SSN.
Their bank accounts (and bank cards) are older, pre-Real ID.
You don't need need a state or Federal ID to go to public K-12, submit your taxes or get a tax refund, nor did you need one for most subscription accounts.
Some states may require a state or Federal ID for certificates and licenses, like marriage or CCs - but others might not.
It all depends on what might be required and what may be waiverable, if you need to fill out electronic forms or if you can go into a local office and sweet talk the clerk into waiving a driver's licence or Real ID that might be a requirement on an electronic form.
You only need a SSN for most things.
A lot of commercial businesses still don't require Real ID or official state/local ID to hire someone part time.
I know three people who don't have a current government picture ID. They all work under the table or for the family business, with family members who drive them around, or they use public transit or bicycles. And they get by just fine.
It's getting more difficult, but is still doable, even if you lost all your ID and are in the process of trying to replace what you need to get by.
PeaceWave
(3,008 posts)I would not in any way suggest that anyone try to...
"go into a local office and sweet talk the clerk into waiving a driver's licence or Real ID that might be a requirement on an electronic form."
I have family members who have worked in County level records offices for decades. They have seen employees fired for less than what you suggested. These folks do an important job and they take their jobs seriously. Please respect their need to comply with the law.
Quiet Em
(2,722 posts)The SAVE Act requires enhanced driver's licenses. Only Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington offer enhanced driver's licenses.
This is just one of the many extremely problematic issues with the SAVE act. Let alone that it is unconstitutional and a federal takeover from the States.
obamanut2012
(29,301 posts)A DL or state ID does not prove you are an American. A passport or BC does,.
They also are not allowing a marriage license as proof.
So, you are either being disingenuous or do not have the facts on the SAVE Act.
Your thesis is disingenuous because what you are claiming will allow you to vote does not allow you to vote under SAVE.
UpInArms
(54,622 posts)and live in nursing homes generally have no current "government i.d."
they may be very much in control of their mental facilities, but utterly unable to physically care for themselves.
They still vote, either by absentee or by a ride to the polls through the nursing home staff
lame54
(39,425 posts)Katinfl
(701 posts)When you go to vote in person you should only be required to show ID. There is no reason to have to carry around birth certificates, divorce papers, or whatever they are talking about. If you are legally registered to vote and on the voter rolls as active, that should be it. This SAVE Act is an answer in need of a question. I used to work the polls and the workers should not be required to go through all this with everyone. It would only slow the process up tremendously and it is needless. It has been proven over and over again that voter fraud is very rare.
PJMcK
(24,966 posts)I have a dozen official IDs from two states and two countries. I cannot imagine not having them given my life.