Study: Eligible TG Voters Face Problems In State Requiring ID

[Carolyn Marie]

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/09/26_percent_of_transgender_vote.html

While I am against most voter ID laws, I find this study to be flawed. It uses questionable methods to arrive at the potential number of affected voters, and doesn't take into account the number of TG voters likely to vote. In most states, mid-term elections garner only 20-30 percent voter turnout. I also tend to doubt that, if the name on the ID matches the registration info, that a poll worker would bother to check the gender marker, too. Sure, anything is possible, but I just don't see it as a major problem.

Carolyn Marie

[Charlize]

I have to agree that it might be a flawed study but i do know that going to the poles i've gone to all my life as a woman was difficult at the least. I was worried that i would be turned away as well as the general fear of being outed. While i was given a wonderful reception, given the forms to fill out to change my name and gender and allowed to cast my ballot others can be stopped. This is especially true in less tolerant areas like the south. It is completely obvious why most of the ID laws are present in the south. Anyone who doesn't conform to the ideals of the power structure is pushed away. It is the easiest way to control a population that might threaten those in control.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Drea]

I think the point about the gender marker being wrong is that trans people would be reluctant to vote because it would mean they would have to show the ID with the wrong gender marker or might fear doing so because of this assertion below. At least that is what it seems to me they are suggesting.

Forty-one percent of transgender people who have transitioned reported being harassed and 3 percent reported being assaulted or attacked after presenting ID that did not match their gender presentation.

[Guest KimberlyF]

It is a very flawed report and the writers would fail a HS paper. They can't carry info from a link they provide to their own piece.

[VickySGV]

Whatever flaws this may contain, I have just spoken at length with Trans* people from those states, and in their estimation, the numbers on this report may be flawed in the minimalist direction. One person I spoke to had actually applied to be an Alabama precinct worker, and while she is now ID'ed female and correct name and had no trouble herself, she took the precinct worker training, where the training emphasized the conformity of gender marker and appearance. (we had to giggle when she told us they could allow a voter with a beard when the ID did not show one,) IF it was a MALE NAME. If it was a male name, and the hair was long bleached blond, and no beard, they were to use the "provisional ballot" routine. She also commented on the nature of her fellow trainees, and it is pretty sure that they will do as instructed very zealously. There were NO people of color in her training session, and that was even uglier. The other people in the group I was with also had experience that I have been truly privileged to NOT have faced in my state.

When I am with people whose intelligence and experience in Political and Social Sciences matches or exceeds mine and they are highly concerned about the problem not only on our part but on the part of people in other groups (especially the fact that TG people are in those other groups as well, and therefor subject to a double whammy) then I too will adopt the serious concern they hold. The people who will be doing real damage to us as TG people will also NOT give a horse's hinney to what the actual figures here are or to the flaws, they will simply do as they are taught and deny TG, Poor and People Of Color their rights.

[Carolyn Marie]

Here's a view from the other side of the fence:

http://watchdog.org/169951/watchdog-argues-strict-photo-id-laws-wont-oppress-transgender-voters/

Carolyn Marie

[Guest LizMarie]

The "view from the other side" frankly stinks. Here's why - women who have married but have not updated their driver's license yet have been routinely denied access to vote here in Texas even with their marriage certificate in hand.

So what's really going on is that voting officials are utilizing any discrepancy as a basis to refuse voters the right to vote. Now tell me how that's going to play out with someone who has not yet legally transitioned but is otherwise living in their target gender? If anyone here really thinks that every single trans person for whom this situation exists is going to be allowed to vote, I have this nice bridge in Brooklyn to sell.