ID for First Time Voters

[Not Ambivalent]

(Note: the quote below is from a prior thread but I am commenting on it separately in this new post because the subject is a bit off-topic from the older thread which was already lengthy).

Another reason would be that the person is a first time voter. When you vote for the first time in Maryland you must show ID.

I worked the polls yesterday at a precinct that had at least 20 first time voters. There is nothing on the poll book screens that gives any indication as to whether the individual has voted in prior elections. We only became aware because either they told us or because one of the book judges noticed that the year of their birth was in the 1992-94 range and asked.

There is an "ID required" box on the Voter Details screen. This box was blank for every one of the new voters indicating that we were not to ask for ID.

I thought that I had read in the paper that first timer voters would need to show ID. But it is not so.

Also, I was misinformed regarding voters who had had multiple mailings returned to the Board of Elections as undeliverable. Their status is designated as "Inactive" on the screen but they are not required to show ID nor are they required to use a provisional ballot.

This last case disturbs me the most. Multiple returned mailings clearly indicates that it is highly probable the person no longer lives at that address (and might not even be alive). Yet all we can do as a book judge is ask if they still live at the address and then, if they say yes, let them vote by machine. So, if you know of someone who has died or moved out of state, you simply need to know their name, address and month and day of their birth. There is almost NO risk of getting caught.

[Saticon3]

There was a sign posted at my polling place that I read many times while standing in line, stating the ID requirements and it definitely said first time voters must show id, and listed some other conditions that trigger the id requirement, that I foret. Maybe your place was just not following policy?

[Wizard777]

There was a sign posted at my polling place that I read many times while standing in line, stating the ID requirements and it definitely said first time voters must show id, and listed some other conditions that trigger the id requirement, that I foret. Maybe your place was just not following policy?

Only first time voters who registered by mail and did not include a copy of their ID with the form are required to show their ID before voting. This not part of any voting ID law. It is part of Maryland's law that requires you show ID when registering to vote.

[Saticon3]

I wouldn't know wiz, but the sign said exactly what I said it did. There were no caveats it said first time voters must show id. Maybe it wasn't an official , approved, sign, but that is what it said.

[jtowne-swim]

I wouldn't know wiz, but the sign said exactly what I said it did. There were no caveats it said first time voters must show id. Maybe it wasn't an official , approved, sign, but that is what it said.

At the Harford County early voting facility it said MAY be asked to show ID!

[Wizard777]

I wouldn't know wiz, but the sign said exactly what I said it did. There were no caveats it said first time voters must show id. Maybe it wasn't an official , approved, sign, but that is what it said.

The sign was wrong. But I usually see things at polling places that are a No-No. Usually it's a uniformed police officer walking into a polling place with their weapon holstered. Unless you are assigned or summoned that's a No No. Buy I have heard complaints from friends going both ways. Improperly asking for ID and not even asking to see a voter registration card.

[mrsmlh]

In Harford County, the young girl next to me checking in to vote was asked for her ID.

[Not Ambivalent]

Only first time voters who registered by mail and did not include a copy of their ID with the form are required to show their ID before voting.

The article I saw in the paper simply said first time voters. But your understanding makes a lot more sense logically. Perhaps the paper's reporting was sloppy.

By the way, as a book judge, the only time we are to request ID is if it is indicated in a box on the Voter Details screens. We are not given the specific reason. So, we can only speculate as to why it was required or not required. In any event, it seems to be very rare since we did not have a single occurance out of over 700 voters.

[Saticon3]

The sign was wrong. But I usually see things at polling places that are a No-No. Usually it's a uniformed police officer walking into a polling place with their weapon holstered. Unless you are assigned or summoned that's a No No. Buy I have heard complaints from friends going both ways. Improperly asking for ID and not even asking to see a voter registration card.

Hmmmmm, you know, many election days I have drawn "poll patrol" where I was assigned to do nothing for that tour except keep an eye on my two designated polling places and was to do several walk-throughs, and do a face to face with the chief election judge and ask if everything was going all right. Maybe I should have had my weapon unholstered?

[Saticon3]

At the Harford County early voting facility it said MAY be asked to show ID!

maybe the one I saw said "MAY" as well, I'm not sure now.

[Not Ambivalent]

In Harford County, the young girl next to me checking in to vote was asked for her ID.

In training, we were given very explicit instructions not to ask for ID (including Voter Registration Cards) unless indicated on the Voter Details screen. Even then, I think most book judges would miss seeing it because most don't pay enough attention to what is on the screen.

There was one change this year. The majority of people have their ID cards out when they walk up to the table. For the 2010 elections, we were told to tell these voters that we were prohibited from looking at their cards. Some would get very agitated when we refused. To avoid this situation, we are now instructed to politely accept it as long as they voluntarily presented it to us.

This change of procedure came from the Anne Arundel County Board of Elections. I believe the counties have some latitude in interpreting State Law and may also make some modifications.


The only other situation where we are to require ID is when there has been a formal voter identity challenge. Any person who is legitimately inside the polling place may make such a challenge. I have seen an identity challenge on only one occasion. This was made by a poll watcher several years ago. It turned out that the person he challenged was actually his own wife. He said he was simply testing us to verify that we were following the procedures. Unfortunately, the process was badly botched by the judges who were involved which was embarrassing.

[Wizard777]

The article I saw in the paper simply said first time voters. But your understanding makes a lot more sense logically. Perhaps the paper's reporting was sloppy.

By the way, as a book judge, the only time we are to request ID is if it is indicated in a box on the Voter Details screens. We are not given the specific reason. So, we can only speculate as to why it was required or not required. In any event, it seems to be very rare since we did not have a single occurance out of over 700 voters.

From what I understand this part of a law passed in 2006 that requires voter to show ID when registering to vote. If you register by mail and forget to include a copy of your ID. Then they put a check in that box letting you know to ask for ID. If they show the ID at the poll then that satisfies the requirement and they can vote. It helps to not only know what you need to do but also why you are doing it. That helps prevent misconceptions from forming like first time voters need to show ID.

[Wizard777]

Hmmmmm, you know, many election days I have drawn "poll patrol" where I was assigned to do nothing for that tour except keep an eye on my two designated polling places and was to do several walk-throughs, and do a face to face with the chief election judge and ask if everything was going all right. Maybe I should have had my weapon unholstered?

As long as that is part of a regulation adopted by the State Board in connection with ballot security activities or as required by law. Then it's fine. Otherwise you may not carry or display a gun or badge with in 100' feet of a polling place. As long as you are on duty or traveling to or from duty you may wear your uniform to vote. If not, even the uniform is not allowed. This also applies to security guards.

[Wizard777]

This change of procedure came from the Anne Arundel County Board of Elections. I believe the counties have some latitude in interpreting State Law and may also make some modifications.

I don't think so. To the best of my knowledge the only real power the Local Board has is to determine the boundaries of the precincts and determine polling places. Anything else has to be approved by the State Board.

[Not Ambivalent]

From what I understand this part of a law passed in 2006 that requires voter to show ID when registering to vote. If you register by mail and forget to include a copy of your ID. Then they put a check in that box letting you know to ask for ID. If they show the ID at the poll then that satisfies the requirement and they can vote.

Thanks for the info. That makes a lot of sense. I provides at least a little bit of protection against fraud by the people who try to register new people by randomly stopping them on the street. It does, however, risk suppressing the votes of Micky Mouse, Donald Duck, etc.

It helps to not only know what you need to do but also why you are doing it. That helps prevent misconceptions from forming like first time voters need to show ID.

I had the same thoughts. However, our instructor pointed out that it is impossible for people who work at the polls only two days every two years to become experts on that level of detail. We were told that we should direct voters to call the Board of Elections rather than risk giving them faulty information due to our lack of expertise.

[Wizard777]

Thanks for the info. That makes a lot of sense. I provides at least a little bit of protection against fraud by the people who try to register new people by randomly stopping them on the street. It does, however, risk suppressing the votes of Micky Mouse, Donald Duck, etc.

You definately don't want to supress Donald Duck's vote. He was an FBI Agent so he could do something about that civil rights violation quickly.
I'm not kidding about that. There was actually an FBI Agent who's real name was Donald Duck.

I had the same thoughts. However, our instructor pointed out that it is impossible for people who work at the polls only two days every two years to become experts on that level of detail. We were told that we should direct voters to call the Board of Elections rather than risk giving them faulty information due to our lack of expertise.

I understand that a person with a little information can be a dangerous thing. So what does that say for people to whom you are giving the least amount of information? Information given to create an understanding does not have to be disseminated to the public or acted upon. You can still tell voters to call SBOE.

[Wizard777]

One other thing. I understand the temporary nature of the job. But with people willing to stand in line for 1 or 2 hours just to vote. I think the BOE is under estimating Marylanders commitment to the electoral process. You also have to keep in mind that the volunteers are voters that are willing to go the extra mile to become part of the process. I also think it's great that the BOE has a commitment to keeping the training from putting unnecessary demands on the volunteers time. I just find understanding why you are doing something to be necessary.