Why is this Information Not Offered?

[paft.livejournal.com]

Back in July, I posted a video a woman took while trying to get her son a voting ID in Wisconsin. At the time what I emphasized was the fact that the DMV apparently considered “bank activity” a requirement for voting. But there was more to the conversation. Given information that’s recently linked about about DMV employees being instructed NOT to offer certain information, it’s worth seeing again. The pertinent part of the conversation begins at about the 4.30 mark:

Woman: If someone were to just say thet needed a state ID card, would they know it was free, if it was for voting?

Man at DMV: Uhhh, unless they tell us it was for voting, we charge ‘em. Cause it’s….

Woman: Why is that, because with the new law, the Voter ID bill…

Man at DMV: It’s going to discourage them.

Woman: They’re…It’s supposed to be free.

Man at DMV: If it’s for…

Woman: So why wouldn’t you tell them that, right from the start, “Voter ID is free.”

Man at DMV: They’re the same card, so, unless you come in and specifically request it, we charge you for it. Like, let’s say you’re 20 and you’re going on a trip. You may not vote, so we’re still going to charge them for that card.

Woman: But would you ask them? Would you say “is this for voting, or…

Man at DMV: If they check the box, so…um, it’s, you know, one of them where… They shouldn’t even be doing any of it, but it’s one of them where they wanted to make this law, and now it’s going to affect a lot of people, so if it’s for voting, we do it for free, but we don’t know that they’re going to use it for voting.

Woman: Why don’t you have that as a, you know, I would like to ask your supervisor, why don’t you ask people, “Is this for voting? Is this ID for voting or is it for something else?”

Man at DMV: They put it on here and that satisifies the state statute so, um you know I can’t really answer that question.

Woman: I would like to ask your supervisor that question.

Man at DMV: Okay, I’ll go get him...

Supervisor: They need to ask for it. It’s something that is available but they should ask for it.

Woman: But why not ask them, “Is this a voter ID card or a regular ID card?”

Supervisor: Because… the, the, pol… (seems at a loss)

Woman: I mean, have you been given instructions?

Supervisor: Yeah, the problem, the instruction is that if someone comes in and says “I need an ID card to go and vote,” that it’s free. If it is an original issuance or a renewal. But if someone comes in and they’ve lost their ID, it’s not within its renewal period and they need a replacement, then we have to charge for it. So a replacement, a duplicate...

Woman: But couldn’t you ask them, “Is this a renewal or a replacement or is this for a Voter ID?"

Supervisor: Our instruction is to let them ask.

Woman: And so who gave you that direction?

Supervisor: Well, it’s from the powers-that-be.

Woman: Who would that be?

Supervisor: Well, that would be, the next step in my chain of command would be Tracy Howard…

In fact, it was recently revealed that the instructions came from a top Department of Transportation official Steve Kreaiser:

While you should certainly help customers who come in asking for a free ID to check the appropriate box, you should refrain from offering the free version to customers who do not ask for it.

If the DMV officials in the video seem a wee bit ambivalent to you, it’s probably not your imagination. Recently a Wisconsin state employee was fired for sending out an email calling people so spread the word about the free IDs.

An interview with the employee can be heard here.

Whether or not the employee was wise to do what he did, this raises questions about the motives behind this voter ID law. Why would specific instructions go out for DMV officials not to offer information that would prevent applicants from essentially paying for the right to vote?

Crossposted from Thoughtcrimes

Comments

The political sphere is a funhouse.

[montecristo.livejournal.com]

So...why not just charge everyone and be done with it?

Re: The political sphere is a funhouse.

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

bc it acts as a poll tax. no hoochie bueno

"You are required to pay." is the difference between the public and private sector.

Private sector has no penalty for screwing people over. Public sector has our precious Constitution.

Re: The political sphere is a funhouse.

[paft.livejournal.com]

Because that would qualify as a poll tax. People should not have to pay to vote.

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

'Why would specific instructions go out for DMV officials not to offer information that would prevent applicants from essentially paying for the right to vote?'

Nothing's being prevented. It's reasonable for a manager to advise employees to not extend their workload unless asked to by the customer.

[blueduck37.livejournal.com]

Yes, truly doing this...

Woman: But why not ask them, “Is this a voter ID card or a regular ID card?”

...would "extend" their "workload".

And how ironic to see you encouraging gov't employees to do their jobs less effectively!

[paft.livejournal.com]

How is it extending someone's workload to ask simply "Is this a voter ID card or a regular card?"

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

A general ID is not free. An ID specifically for voting is.

What's the problem here?

[blueduck37.livejournal.com]

Because the DMV employees are not asking them which of those IDs you mentioned the customer is looking for. The customer may not realize they have the option of the latter. Silly Jeff... a market/system works best when the consumer is aware of all the choices that are that available to him!

[bikinisquad3000.livejournal.com]

People unaware of that will not find it out from the DMV because the DMV has been instructed not to tell them, is the problem. For some this will mean that they don't vote because they mistakenly believe they can't afford it--a misunderstanding the state should be trying to correct, not ignoring and/or actively keeping alive.

That said, this post ignores what the checked box is all about. If there's a form that clearly says "check here for the free voter ID" that's basically the same as telling them verbally, so I dunno. I would be interested to find out how easy it is to discover that voter ID is free without depending upon a DMV employee to tell you. (Based on Walker's track record with this so far, though, the safe bet is probably that it's not easy.)

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

The history behind both the concept and its application. Neither of which are positive and both of which give the concept a negative sense beyond what people would think. It's like somebody advocating to establish cross-burning as a tradition.

[paft.livejournal.com]

The system is set up so that many people could end up paying for a voter ID that's supposed to be free.

[il-mio-gufo.livejournal.com]

wtf? a bank statement being furnished at the friggin DMV? Am I missing something here??? Or.... is there suddenly a chip in my forehead?

[il-mio-gufo.livejournal.com]

oh no, wait, there it is....it's in my forehand!

[dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com]

The reason people have to specifically request a voter I.D. card instead of the DMV employees asking them is because it's part of the requirement to get one.

Free Wisconsin ID cards for voting

A free ID card is available under Wisconsin law to anyone who:

* will be at least 18 years of age on the date of the next election and;
* requests an ID card for the purpose of voting.

A free ID card is NOT available under the following circumstances:

* If you currently have a valid, unexpired driver license (DL), you are not eligible under Wisconsin law to obtain an ID.
* If you will not be at least 18 years of age on the date of the next election.
* If you already have a Wisconsin ID card that is not eligible for renewal (you may renew your ID card up to one year prior to its expiration date).
* If you are not eligible to vote in Wisconsin.

DMV does not have information regarding voter eligibility, poll locations, voter registration information or other election information. Please contact your local election officials or county clerk for election information. The Government Accountability Board is another useful source of information:

* Website: http://gab.wi.gov
* Email: gabhelpdesk@wi.gov
* Call: (608) 261-2028

If you have further questions about this page:

* Email: driverrecords.dmv@dot.wi.gov
* Call: (608) 266-2353

Are the I.D.'s for voting different than the I.D. for driving? If you already have a driver's license, it's primary purpose is a license to operate a vehicle, while its secondary purpose is to serve as identification for alcohol/tobacco purchases and voting.

This is common sense information, not rocket science.

[mylaptopisevil.livejournal.com]

The reason people have to specifically request a voter I.D. card instead of the DMV employees asking them is because it's part of the requirement to get one.

I don't see anything in that law saying that DMV employees shouldn't make sure people know they can request it for the purpose of voting. I do see the law saying the person has to request that the want the specific one, as opposed to getting it automatically.

They're not opposites.

[paft.livejournal.com]

How is it "common sense" to tell DMV employees NOT to ask applicants "Is this ID for voting?"

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Even if this is somehow individual incompetence that someone would interpret this thus is not a good sign. At all. Voter disfranchisement is one American tradition that should be justly mouldering in the grave.

Is it just me?

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

Somehow I'm not real comfortable with the idea that someone who can't figure out they can get a free voter ID card can figure out ballot initiatives.

Re: Is it just me?

[paft.livejournal.com]

Yes it's you.

Re: Is it just me?

[oslo.livejournal.com]

Personally, I don't understand why they let anyone vote on legislation besides lawyers, policy wonks, and the like, who are in a better position to assess an initiative's constitutionality, actual impact on government, coherence with existing regulatory regimes, etc., than your typical voter. But hey, as long as we're letting the proles in, why should we distinguish between among them on the basis of whether they understand whether and how they can get free voter IDs?

[mylaptopisevil.livejournal.com]

There sure a lot of people trying to explain and excuse away why someone at the DMV shouldn't ask if the person is looking for a free voter ID or a paid non-drivers ID.

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

I know, it's almost as if there's a lot of sensible people who don't freak out over gnats while being blaise about Godzilla.

[bikinisquad3000.livejournal.com]

IT'S HARD TO ASK OKAY, IT'S A VERY PERSONAL QUESTION

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

I find it strange that the default position is paranoid.

First there's paranoid fear of voter fraud requiring voter ID

Then there's paranoid fear of voting fee, and this paranoid fear runs so deep that it prohibits the fees of the required voter ID

Thirdly there's paranoid fear that DMV clerks are being instructed to RIP OFF the public (especially Liberals, people of colour, and queers)

It's easier just to extend a little trust occasionally

[paft.livejournal.com]

ahnc: find it strange that the default position is paranoid.

It wasn't. The first time I saw this video, I was more struck by the fact that people were being asked to show bank activity before being given their cards. The woman's questions about the free ID didn't strike me until news hit about them memo from on high SPECIFICALLY TELLING DMV WORKERS NOT TO ASK APPLICANTS IF THEY WERE APPLYING FOR VOTER ID.

Now, why would someone do that?

ahnc: First there's paranoid fear of voter fraud requiring voter ID. Then there's paranoid fear of voting fee, and this paranoid fear runs so deep that it prohibits the fees of the required voter ID

Not real familiar with the history of voter suppression, are you?

ahnc: Thirdly there's paranoid fear that DMV clerks are being instructed to RIP OFF the public (especially Liberals, people of colour, and queers)

Except, that, you see, they ARE being instructed to do this.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

Any efforts to mislead voters should be illegal. Take the blank slate of a voter and assume they're absolutely, completely retarded. Then apply the law accordingly. The notion that 'the voter should be smart enough to figure it out on their own' is the same logic that enabled the literacy tests.