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A near impossible literacy test Louisiana used to suppress the black vote

(www.openculture.com)
319 points rcarmo | 15 comments | 21 Oct 24 21:29 UTC | HN request time: 2.807s | source | bottom
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purpleblue ◴[21 Oct 24 23:27 UTC] No.41909618[source]▶
The sheer unadulterated racism from the past is horrifying and sickening. Sure, we still have work to do, but I'm glad we've come so far in the last few decades.
replies(3): >>41911077 #>>41911200 #>>41914318 #
Spooky23 ◴[22 Oct 24 04:02 UTC] No.41911077[source]▶
It’s still here. We dress it up as voter ID or something similar.
replies(6): >>41911460 #>>41911500 #>>41911651 #>>41912445 #>>41914877 #>>41914967 #
anonfordays ◴[22 Oct 24 05:28 UTC] No.41911460[source]▶
Voter ID is not racist.
replies(6): >>41911488 #>>41911544 #>>41911673 #>>41911776 #>>41913112 #>>41913748 #
Spooky23 ◴[22 Oct 24 11:05 UTC] No.41913112[source]▶
Fair. It disenfranchises the poor across racial boundaries.
replies(2): >>41914093 #>>41916256 #
anonfordays ◴[22 Oct 24 16:57 UTC] No.41916256[source]▶
Voter IDs are free, they do not disenfranchise the poor.
replies(1): >>41918771 #
Apocryphon ◴[22 Oct 24 21:14 UTC] No.41918771[source]▶
Then maybe they should issue them at voting centers come election day.
replies(1): >>41920198 #
anonfordays ◴[23 Oct 24 00:23 UTC] No.41920198[source]▶
Different organization with a different scope. Would be nice to have, but you must plan accordingly.
replies(1): >>41920228 #
1. Apocryphon ◴[23 Oct 24 00:26 UTC] No.41920228[source]▶
Why not merge them? Voter IDs can be driver’s licenses, passports, etc. So much bureaucracy. For the sake of efficiency, simply have sign ups for a voter ID card (similar to state IDs) at voting centers. Two birds, one stone. Easy.
replies(1): >>41920315 #
2. anonfordays ◴[23 Oct 24 00:37 UTC] No.41920315[source]▶
I'm with you, it's sadly the nature of the beast. Think about the federal government alone: DoD military ID, veteran's ID, passport, social security card, etc. are all separate organizations with different scopes. It's madness.
replies(1): >>41920333 #
3. Apocryphon ◴[23 Oct 24 00:40 UTC] No.41920333[source]▶
So what’s one more, for voting? Or better yet, allow a way to quickly issue people state ID cards at DMV voting centers and other similar facilities. That way you get an ID for voting, and for other state identification purposes. Easy-peasy.
replies(1): >>41920735 #
4. anonfordays ◴[23 Oct 24 01:30 UTC] No.41920735{3}[source]▶
Texas does just that! When you apply for a driver's license or other state ID, you can elect to register to vote at the same time. Two birds, one stone.
replies(2): >>41921003 #>>41921184 #
5. Apocryphon ◴[23 Oct 24 02:05 UTC] No.41921003{4}[source]▶
Yeah and what would be even better is when you go to vote you can get an ID.
replies(1): >>41921157 #
6. anonfordays ◴[23 Oct 24 02:28 UTC] No.41921157{5}[source]▶
Would be nice, but most states do not allow same day registration (New York does not as an example), or same day registration is extremely limited (in California you need your ID to vote and register on the same day).

The aforementioned problem persists, different organizations with different scopes.

replies(1): >>41921314 #
7. dragonwriter ◴[23 Oct 24 02:33 UTC] No.41921184{4}[source]▶
Texas is hardly unique in this, since every state except those which continuously since 1994 have either not required registration or offered election day registration is required to do this under the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (the “motor voter” law.)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Voter_Registration_...

replies(1): >>41921624 #
8. Apocryphon ◴[23 Oct 24 02:57 UTC] No.41921314{6}[source]▶
Stronger voter ID laws are nice too, until the political will was expended into making it happen. By the same token, smarter ID laws can also be enacted if appropriate effort is undertaken.
replies(1): >>41921571 #
9. anonfordays ◴[23 Oct 24 03:41 UTC] No.41921571{7}[source]▶
Stronger voter ID laws are not nice to haves, they are the law in many states like Texas. Just like anything else surrounding government and laws, you must plan accordingly, appropriate effort is required by the voter.
replies(1): >>41921590 #
10. Apocryphon ◴[23 Oct 24 03:43 UTC] No.41921590{8}[source]▶
Right, and the same can be said of providing the service of issuing a voter ID at the voting center on Election Day, once it is passed as legislation.
replies(1): >>41921652 #
11. anonfordays ◴[23 Oct 24 03:49 UTC] No.41921624{5}[source]▶
Figured it was something federal, I've lived in multiple states and they've all been the same/similar.
12. anonfordays ◴[23 Oct 24 03:53 UTC] No.41921652{9}[source]▶
Since many states don't allow registration on the same day as voting, I'd say the government has planned accordingly after passing the aforementioned voter ID laws. Just found out this is a a standard federally: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41921184
replies(1): >>41921675 #
13. Apocryphon ◴[23 Oct 24 03:58 UTC] No.41921675{10}[source]▶
Great! So then when they change it to allow for the issuing of voter IDs on election day, it can be done at the federal level in one fell swoop. And who knows, maybe this voter ID can be a national one so no need to deal with state bureaucracies.
replies(1): >>41928654 #
14. anonfordays ◴[23 Oct 24 19:44 UTC] No.41928654{11}[source]▶
I wouldn't hold my breath.
replies(1): >>41928685 #
15. Apocryphon ◴[23 Oct 24 19:48 UTC] No.41928685{12}[source]▶
And that’s fine. As Bismarck said, politics is the art of the possible, and what becomes possible ebbs and flows with the shifting of the Overton window. Stronger voter ID laws one decade, smarter voter ID laws the next.