How does voter verification work in California?

SSG Jessica Bautista — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 00:25:45 -0500

This seems to be a huge mystery in mainstream media and the general populace.

At this point, we know that California does not require ID to vote in most polling stations. We also know that illegal immigrants can get driver's licenses in California. What measures are in place to prevent voter fraud?

Response by SFC George Smith made Dec 22 at 2016 12:36 AM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 00:36:53 -0500

as Per Jerry "Moon Beam "Brown... None...

Response by SSG John Jensen made Dec 22 at 2016 2:01 AM

SSG John Jensen — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 02:01:34 -0500

California uses biometric data - they're called signatures

Response by Maj John Bell made Dec 22 at 2016 4:11 AM

Maj John Bell — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 04:11:00 -0500

This article purports to explain it all. I find the lack of detail on how citizenship will be verified, discouraging to say the least.

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-me-pol-ca-motor-voter-law-20151016-html-htmlstory.html

Here's how California's new voter registration law will work

California has received a lot of attention in recent days for its new voter registration law, which is intended to streamline the process of signing up to vote and encourage more participation in elections.Here’s what we know — and don’t know yet — about the new law: What is the process? When...

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Dec 22 at 2016 9:03 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 09:03:15 -0500

Dem tattoos dough.....

I'm not opposed to ID required to vote, but feel that IDs should be provided (free of charge) to all legal citizens once they turn 18.

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Dec 22 at 2016 9:40 AM

PO3 Donald Murphy — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 09:40:52 -0500

Having worked for the elections board in my state/county, here's how the USA's voting process works in a nutshell...

1. You show up to vote with no I.D.
2. As you have no I.D. you are given a bright orange "provisional ballot."
3. The ballot says that you are voting with no I.D. and that ****BY LAW**** you have three days to come in after the election and bring proof of I.D.
4. Should you fail to show up after three days, your ballot is nulled and void.

BUT WAIT!!

You are now a "fraudulent voter." So as you are a fraudulent voter, I must provide your ballot to the state attorney's office for prosecution ($x fine plus x days in jail). Want a good laugh? Go to your local SA's office **RIGHT NOW** and ask them how many they prosecute. The answer is, they don't. And thats reps as well as dems.

So now you know why so much fradulent voting takes place...

By the way - gorgeous tats

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2016 10:17 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 10:17:48 -0500

I think the true answer to the question is ... NONE ... at least not effective ones.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2016 12:49 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 12:49:35 -0500

First, you need to determine what *kind* of voter fraud you're talking about. What's done about it depends on this. Kinds of fraud, in order from what the available data indicates are the most common to least common, are:
-- Voter suppression.
-- Voter registration fraud.
-- Voter intimidation.
-- Voter ineligibility.
-- Double-voting.
-- Voter identity fraud.
There's also two more, which are difficult to rank in that list due to the sparsity of data:
-- Absentee ballot fraud.
-- Vote selling.

The reason that first distinction is important is because all the hoopla over Voter ID only ever addresses one item on the list, the last one (Voter identity fraud), which is also by far the smallest source of fraudulent activity on the list, but also tends by its very nature to increase dramatically voter suppression. And depending on the extent of the suppression caused, combating ID fraud may count as fraud in its own right (as happened with North Carolina). The evidence is exceptionally clear, however, that if you care about the *full* integrity of the vote, which means also ensuring access to the vote for eligible persons rather than only restricting ineligible persons, then Voter ID is proven (as in mathematically certain, not merely an opinion) to be a far worse cure than the disease it remedies.

As for the specifics, the approach varies -- not just in the sense of between the states, but that it varies highly even in different regions of California (which is ultimately what you asked about) or even between one year and the next in the same region. But, there are some pretty clear trends.

Generally, voter suppression as an issue is ignored by conservatives and highlighted by liberals, specifically because suppression tends to hit heaviest on minorities and the poor, but outside of a few federal court cases, virtually nothing has been done about it.

Voter registration fraud is usually split, with enforcement (arrest/prosecution) given few if any resources, and instead efforts here focus on the back-end cleanup to ensure that fraudulent registrations don't make it on the list, such as checking it against other databases (including the national ones), which is a required action for the CA Sec State to do.

Voter intimidation depends on the particular precinct, and generally if the efforts are overt then arrests are made but covert ones are usually left alone.

Voter ineligibility is, interestingly, almost never about non-citizens voting. Instead, the majority of cases -- amounting to perhaps half a dozen per election -- involve felons who had been stripped of the right to vote. In most cases, they are successfully prevented from voting (or are forced to vote provisional, which won't be counted once their ineligibility is confirmed), and prosecution and conviction rates are very high.

Double-voting usually only occurs in a few cases nationwide per election, and interestingly, the majority of double-voters since stats have been kept (going back to the early 1980s) have been Republicans. The two cases I'd heard for this election both were. This is often, but not always, combined with absentee fraud, as usually the absentee ballot is one of the votes. Prosecution and conviction rates are very high.

Voter identity fraud, the only kind that Voter ID laws would stop, has been shown in multiple analyses to be nearly non-existent -- as in, less than a dozen or so since the 2000 election, including mid-terms in the count. Contrary to popular opinion, Chicago's cemeteries don't actually come out to vote, and people with integrity know not to cite that. When a credible case is discovered, prosecution and conviction rates are very high.

Absentee ballot fraud is difficult to detect, except when used as part of double-voting, which is why it is listed separately above. Because of that, it can be difficult to prosecute, but cases where there was decent evidence (non-matching signatures, wrong person signing, etc.) have been successfully prosecuted while non-conforming ballots (missing signature, etc.) are simply not counted. What has been done, though, is a mathematical modeling of risk range as it relates to the overall number of absentee ballots, and because such ballots are a small percentage of the overall vote, there is high confidence that it has never tipped a single federal office's race.

Vote selling is technically illegal almost everywhere, but is also almost impossible to prove, and is thus almost never prosecuted. Further, if the principle of voting includes that a person's allowed to do what they want with their own vote, then it's not really an electoral *fraud* at all, and merely just a particular kind of black market that the government doesn't want to condone.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Dec 22 at 2016 1:49 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 13:49:02 -0500

New Mexico has the same basic system. When you get your drivers license, the DMV clerk asks (in Spanish if need be) do you want to be registered to vote? If the Citizen/Migrant/Immigrant/Illegal Alien/Whatever says Yes or Si, they are registered to vote. No verification of birth status is needed or asked for. Fortunately, next year the state will come into compliance with the "Real ID" act, which means the Citizen/Migrant/Immigrant/Illegal Alien/Whatever will need to show proof of US Citizenship and if they can't their drivers license will say "Not a Valid Proof of Citizenship". FYI: Fake Birth Certificates can be had for less than 100 dollars.

Response by A1C Charles D Wilson made Dec 22 at 2016 2:03 PM

A1C Charles D Wilson — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 14:03:11 -0500

The federal system needs to be fixed. You need to be an American citizen to vote no ifs ands or buts about it. We could be flooded with illegals in all states and then they would try and control our system. I do not see democrat or republican when it comes to votes ... I see American citizens. I can not go to another country to vote and not be a citizen of that country. We are a Nation of laws and the hill (Congress and Reps.) need to get on the band wagon or we need to vote them out of office. Trey Gowdy can fill many of them in but he does not have the pull to make them do as they are supposed to do. I was looking for him to be A.G. but he turned it down!?!?

https://youtu.be/8Yk2bEa1zNE

This man would clean ... drain ...and flush the swamp.

Chuck D

Chairman Gowdy: We are a Nation of Laws

Chairman Gowdy questions Bishop Minerva Carcaño of The United Methodist Church during the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security hea...

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Dec 22 at 2016 2:21 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 14:21:25 -0500

Maybe it was a coincidence that this was the largest gap between presidential candidates as well? Do you think it has anything to do with not requiring an ID? If it is a right we really cherish, we probably ought to take corrective actions so that our citizens are exercising the freedoms our troops put their asses on the line for.

Response by SSG Gregory Robideau made Dec 22 at 2016 2:21 PM

SSG Gregory Robideau — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 14:21:36 -0500

Sadly MILLIONS of illegals voted in California mostly in support of Clinton due to Trumps immigration policy and many Veterans who voted didn't even have their vote tallied.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2016 3:26 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:26:32 -0500

I don't know Jessica asked the Mexican consulates in Santa Ana, Los Angeles, San Diego. Also ask the California community college system. Illegals in California get a free Community College but white people and others who are not illegal to have to pay.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2016 3:30 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:30:16 -0500

And you can't call me a racist. My mom immigrated legally to the United States in 1959 and she became a citizen in 1976. I am a half Hispanic and Irish origin. I speak fluent Spanish. I don't listen to Los Tigres del Norte who complain saying that California was once theirs and they're Mexican German polka songs that illegals love to listen to.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2016 3:39 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:39:37 -0500

Someone help me out? Please post that picture where it shows what your ass for when you're asked to show your identification. When you get pulled over when you register for school when you go to the hospital when you get married when you check in to fly out of the country. When you're boarding a plane. But not when you vote... ACLU how to come up with this crap?

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Dec 22 at 2016 5:19 PM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 17:19:37 -0500

Having been a California Resident for the past 24 years and voted in every election, I can say that there is plenty of ways for people to commit voter fraud. Registering to vote is done on the honor system. With the huge increase of mail in ballots, there is nothing to prevent someone from either making up voter reg forms or having unwitting people like the elderly register and filling out and mailing out ballots for them. If you have the name and address of registered voters and know they have moved or don't intend to vote there is nothing stopping you from going to polling places and casting votes. There are two lists that are checked off. Your Name and your address. There is no photo or description of you, You just sign and receive a ballot. If you have a group of 20 people with a list of names, addresses and polling places in a decent size city they can probably vote 20 times each. That's 400 votes each.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Dec 22 at 2016 7:45 PM

MSgt George Cater — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 19:45:20 -0500

Voter verification is an oxymoron within the state of California.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Dec 23 at 2016 12:10 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 00:10:23 -0500

Prevent voter fraud? California encourages voter fraud. This is why I believe that Hillary's popular lead in the vote would evaporate If all illegal votes were identified and culled out

Response by Capt Tf Sinclair made Dec 30 at 2016 9:40 AM

Capt Tf Sinclair — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 09:40:23 -0500

I worked for the Elections Dept in Santa Cruz County California. No, ID was not required to vote. If the person said that they were not sure they were registered, we let them vote and put the ballot in a pink Provisional envelope. This vote was then sent to be verified in the office after the election and a decision was made to count or not count that vote. In our small county, we printed the ballots in 27 different languages.
Yes, it was a major pain but the Peoples Republic of California would never take a chance of insulting someone or hurting their feelings by not allowing them to vote

Response by SGM Harvey Boone made Dec 30 at 2016 7:34 PM

SGM Harvey Boone — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 19:34:13 -0500

From the looks of the last election they don't have any.

Response by Capt John Schmitt made Jan 27 at 2017 1:00 AM

Capt John Schmitt — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 01:00:54 -0500

Nothing. Recent surveys show that illegals are voting. They are registered to vote automatically in states that issue them Drivers licenses. They believe this makes them eligible to vote, and they show up and vote in significant numbers. ID's only deter dead previous voters from showing up at the precincts, not from voting absentee.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Jan 27 at 2017 1:43 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 13:43:17 -0500

That's a oxymoron.

Response by SPC Byron Skinner made Jan 30 at 2017 9:17 PM

SPC Byron Skinner — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 21:17:28 -0500

Sp4 Byron Skinner First off non-citizens can vote in a Federal Election and they don't. California has 57 counties and each one is free pretty much to what when and who can be in a election. If there is no federal or state decisions on a ballot Counties are pretty much free to let illegals vote or not. The local rational where non citizens can vote is that they pay taxes and have a right in public decisions. The elections usually occur in the odd numbered years, Yes in California non citizens can obtain a drivers license. They have to have insurance and pass the same driving test anybody else has to. Their drivers license is marked as non citizen. Identification is required only upon registration In my personal case I vote in the same poll that my family has been voting in since 1922 but I no longer live in that polling district. As long as I don'y attempt to register in a second pooling area its OK. I own property in the district I vote in. Voting is rather simple you give your nam and address the verify it against two forms, you sign one form and the hand you a ballot. At least two of the poll workers have known me since I was a kid and I usually spend more time asking how there no old age children are doing and neighborhood gossip. In short non citizens can get a drivers license, their citizenship status is marked on it and outside of city or county only elections they don't vote. In California we try and make it so people can vote.

Response by SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM made Feb 14 at 2017 1:12 PM

SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 13:12:06 -0500

ILlegal is just that... ILLEGAL, they deserve only one of 2 things... Jail and/or Deportation ... and I would add, THEY need to be entered into a ID database with fingerprints and retina scans... get caught a second time and get executed! Other countries do stuff like that, why can't we? Or have we lost our kahunas altogether?

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2017 3:42 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 15:42:56 -0500

SSG Jessica Bautista Could you please post the answer to your question. I am having difficulty finding it in the comments.

Response by Sgt Heriberto Salinas made Feb 28 at 2017 2:58 PM

Sgt Heriberto Salinas — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:58:03 -0500

I've heard it said that California is a very liberal state. (I live here). It's past liberal. It's hypocritical!

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Feb 28 at 2017 4:49 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 16:49:52 -0500

I live here and I don't think there is any.

Response by SSG William Bowen made Apr 10 at 2017 11:50 PM

SSG William Bowen — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 23:50:13 -0400

I live in Vermont and find it crazy you can vote here without showing an ID. We do have to register, which you can do online and your local town is supposed to verify the validity of your license. On voting day you just show up and say who you are and they check you off a list, no ID needed. Vermont is made up of many small towns and one could browse the obituaries a few days before the election and make a list and just drive from town to town saying you are a dead person and vote in their place. I am sure the voter list is not updated daily and there there is the chance the poll worker may know the deceased person and would know you are not them, but you could probably still vote several times. I have lived and voted in both Georgia and Kentucky previously, and both require ID at the poll; I just don't get it, I think it should be required. Then there is the issue of states that allow illegals to get a license (12 of them), and the training and ability of poll workers to recognize these types of licenses and how they would not be valid for voting. How many would slip by the poll workers or the registration process due to incompetence? I work with law enforcement at all levels at my job and there is so much to know and keep up with and it is nearly impossible. These are sworn, trained, and experienced officers and there are various issues every day about something. We expect law enforcement to be the cream of the crop and top on the line when dealing with laws, regulations, and the like, and if they can't even get it right all the time, how do we expect voluntary poll workers and low echelon government employees (no disrespect meant) to keep up with ever changing rules and validation of documents? Having someone show ID at the poll is at least one step, and probably the most simple, to curtail fraud, but if we are not even willing to do that, how will we ever even begin to fix and prevent voter fraud.