Do Illegals get to Vote?

[glugglug]

So I went to vote this morning.
Now, if I'm not mistaken, most of the people who head to the polls that don't speak English are probably not citizens, right?

The signs at the entrance to the polling location don't really tell you thats what it is as much as that there are "Chinese Interpreters Available".

It gets better when I see the ballot itself.

I never updated my address from Manhattan to Queens, so I had to fill in a written ballot, rather than using the punch card machine.

One side of the ballot is in English & Spanish. The other entire side is in Chinese.
On the English & Spanish side, under each delegate's name, it says "Delegado se comprometió a apoyar Obama" or "Delegado se comprometió a apoyar Clinton", and then it has "Delegate pledged to support Obama" or "Delegate pledged to support Clinton" in smaller print underneath that.

It also seems odd to me that when you get to pick 5 delegates, there are only 4 choices pledged to support Obama. (not counting the alternate)

 

[Robor]

Of course illegals DO NOT get to vote. Even people here legally on visas can't vote. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but AFAIK if you're not a US citizen you have to be naturalized (go through the citizenship process) before you can vote. IMO many people of foreign are more comfortable reading in their primary language.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Robor
Of course illegals DO NOT get to vote. Even people here legally on visas can't vote. Many people of foreign are more comfortable reading in their primary language.

How is their citizenship confirmed, btw? I've heard they can vote easily but seemed surprised by it; how do you know for sure?

 

[palehorse]

U.S. citizenship is certainly a legal requirement to vote in U.S. federal elections.

Now, enforcement of this law may be another matter entirely...

 

[ElFenix]

not legally, but they do give CA an extra electoral vote



ballots in harris county are printed in english, spanish, and vietnamese. some precincts may be in chinese as well.

 

[Robor]

Doesn't your name have to be on a list of people allowed to vote? I know every time I vote they look up my name in a book and I sign next to it. I would think if your name isn't in the book you can't vote.

 

[glugglug]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
not legally, but they do give CA an extra electoral vote

ballots in harris county are printed in english, spanish, and vietnamese. some precincts may be in chinese as well.

But do any of the other languages occupy more ballot space than English?

 

[thraashman]

There's no citizenship or voting requirement in the US that says you have to speak English. It would be nice if everyone who was a citizen did speak English, but there's no law requiring it.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: thraashman
There's no citizenship or voting requirement in the US that says you have to speak English. It would be nice if everyone who was a citizen did speak English, but there's no law requiring it.

And you'd think those who live here would want to learn to speak English. I know if I was living in a country where English wasn't the primary language I'd do my best to learn whatever the primary language was.

 

[FoBoT]

voter fraud is rampant in this country, yes it is

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: thraashman
There's no citizenship or voting requirement in the US that says you have to speak English. It would be nice if everyone who was a citizen did speak English, but there's no law requiring it.

Actually you have to be able to speak English to become a natualized citizen. This can be waived, but you are supposed to be able to speak english.

 

[Sinsear]

Originally posted by: Robor
Doesn't your name have to be on a list of people allowed to vote? I know every time I vote they look up my name in a book and I sign next to it. I would think if your name isn't in the book you can't vote.

Yep; I voted this morning and when I walked in you go to either the Dem or Repub table, your name is looked up in the book, you sign, then proceed to the booth to vote. I'm not sure what the provisions are if you are not registered or affiliated with a party here in NY.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Robor
Of course illegals DO NOT get to vote. Even people here legally on visas can't vote. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but AFAIK if you're not a US citizen you have to be naturalized (go through the citizenship process) before you can vote. IMO many people of foreign are more comfortable reading in their primary language.

Theoretcally you are correct.

But you don't have to prove that you are a citizen, or even prove your identity really.

You just sign a form that says you're qualified (E.g., I'm a citizen, I live here, I'm not registered to vote in another state).

AFAIK, we don't have any real means to prevent voter registration of illegal aliens.

Fern

 

[xenolith]

Originally posted by: Robor
Doesn't your name have to be on a list of people allowed to vote? I know every time I vote they look up my name in a book and I sign next to it. I would think if your name isn't in the book you can't vote.

That is correct. You get your name on the voter registration log after you file a state voter registration form. The registration form asks everyone for a driver's license number or social security number to prove US citizenship. In some states a state ID number is accepted.

 

[xenolith]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: Robor
Of course illegals DO NOT get to vote. Even people here legally on visas can't vote. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but AFAIK if you're not a US citizen you have to be naturalized (go through the citizenship process) before you can vote. IMO many people of foreign are more comfortable reading in their primary language.

Theoretcally you are correct.

But you don't have to prove that you are a citizen, or even prove your identity really.

You just sign a form that says you're qualified (E.g., I'm a citizen, I live here, I'm not registered to vote in another state).

AFAIK, we don't have any real means to prevent voter registration of illegal aliens.

Fern

You have to supply a state drivers license #, state ID #, or SSN when you register to vote.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Wreckem

Originally posted by: thraashman
There's no citizenship or voting requirement in the US that says you have to speak English. It would be nice if everyone who was a citizen did speak English, but there's no law requiring it.

Actually you have to be able to speak English to become a natualized citizen. This can be waived, but you are supposed to be able to speak english.

Requirements for becoming a Naturalized Citizen--
Be at least 18 years old.
Have lived in the U.S. as a legal resident for at least 5 years.
Be of good moral character and loyal to the U.S.
Be able to read, write, speak and understand basic English.
Have basic knowledge and understanding of the history, government structure and the Constitution of the U.S.
Be willing to take an oath of allegiance to the U.S.


The key word is basic english....

 

[glugglug]

Originally posted by: Sinsear

Originally posted by: Robor
Doesn't your name have to be on a list of people allowed to vote? I know every time I vote they look up my name in a book and I sign next to it. I would think if your name isn't in the book you can't vote.

Yep; I voted this morning and when I walked in you go to either the Dem or Repub table, your name is looked up in the book, you sign, then proceed to the booth to vote. I'm not sure what the provisions are if you are not registered or affiliated with a party here in NY.

If you are not voting at the polling place for where you are registered, your name isn't in the book, and they give you a fill in the bubble ballot that gets counted later instead of the punched card one.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: xenolith

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: Robor
Of course illegals DO NOT get to vote. Even people here legally on visas can't vote. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but AFAIK if you're not a US citizen you have to be naturalized (go through the citizenship process) before you can vote. IMO many people of foreign are more comfortable reading in their primary language.

Theoretcally you are correct.

But you don't have to prove that you are a citizen, or even prove your identity really.

You just sign a form that says you're qualified (E.g., I'm a citizen, I live here, I'm not registered to vote in another state).

AFAIK, we don't have any real means to prevent voter registration of illegal aliens.

Fern

You have to supply a state drivers license #, state ID #, or SSN when you register to vote.

and since some states give illegals drivers licenses and many illegals have stolen SSN's, it is reasonable to assume some are illegally registered to vote and that they fraudulently vote

but most voter fraud is done by US citizen's voting for dead people

 

[glugglug]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
but most voter fraud is done by US citizen's voting for dead people

You mean like how Cheney lost to a dead guy? Or how Reagan got a lot of delegates in Louisiana this year?

Wait, that's not fraud!

 

[ericlp]

Originally posted by: thraashman
There's no citizenship or voting requirement in the US that says you have to speak English. It would be nice if everyone who was a citizen did speak English, but there's no law requiring it.

I have heard of illegals voting not once but twice or more...

I would think a person can't figure out how to read in English, then they should NOT be able to vote... Period!

Making these multi national voting cards up is just STUPID if you ask me.

I say we get some requirements for the voting system...

Have a test to take before you vote, you know just the basic reading / comprehension / math skills, if you can't pass the simple test or your not a citizen then you don't get to vote....

This is why we have Bush in office today....

 

[xenolith]

Originally posted by: glugglug

Originally posted by: Sinsear

Originally posted by: Robor
Doesn't your name have to be on a list of people allowed to vote? I know every time I vote they look up my name in a book and I sign next to it. I would think if your name isn't in the book you can't vote.

Yep; I voted this morning and when I walked in you go to either the Dem or Repub table, your name is looked up in the book, you sign, then proceed to the booth to vote. I'm not sure what the provisions are if you are not registered or affiliated with a party here in NY.

If you are not voting at the polling place for where you are registered, your name isn't in the book, and they give you a fill in the bubble ballot that gets counted later instead of the punched card one.

Right. it's called an absentee ballot. They're collected seperately and are counted by hand after they're checked against the state registration data base.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
voter fraud is rampant in this country, yes it is

Lies posted on message boards by the uninformed are rampant, yes they are.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: xenolith

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: Robor
Of course illegals DO NOT get to vote. Even people here legally on visas can't vote. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but AFAIK if you're not a US citizen you have to be naturalized (go through the citizenship process) before you can vote. IMO many people of foreign are more comfortable reading in their primary language.

Theoretcally you are correct.

But you don't have to prove that you are a citizen, or even prove your identity really.

You just sign a form that says you're qualified (E.g., I'm a citizen, I live here, I'm not registered to vote in another state).

AFAIK, we don't have any real means to prevent voter registration of illegal aliens.

Fern

You have to supply a state drivers license #, state ID #, or SSN when you register to vote.

Not here in NC.

You just need to sign an afidavid with the "promises" I listed.

Plus, NC has issued about a bazillion DLs to illegals anyway. I think we only recently started verifying SS#s people gave the DMV. But again, you don't need a DL etc to register anyway

Fern

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: Wreckem

Originally posted by: thraashman
There's no citizenship or voting requirement in the US that says you have to speak English. It would be nice if everyone who was a citizen did speak English, but there's no law requiring it.

Actually you have to be able to speak English to become a natualized citizen. This can be waived, but you are supposed to be able to speak english.

Requirements for becoming a Naturalized Citizen--
Be at least 18 years old.
Have lived in the U.S. as a legal resident for at least 5 years.
Be of good moral character and loyal to the U.S.
Be able to read, write, speak and understand basic English.
Have basic knowledge and understanding of the history, government structure and the Constitution of the U.S.
Be willing to take an oath of allegiance to the U.S.


The key word is basic english....

1. It's not a requirement for all citizens, only naturalized citizens.

2. Ballots can go beyond 'basic' English. The purpose of democracy is for everyone who is entitled to a say to get it, and that means removing roadblocks when practical.

If some voters are not fully able to get the info and vote because of language barriers, it's more democratic to publish multi-lingual ballots than to leave them out of the election.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: ericlp

Originally posted by: thraashman
There's no citizenship or voting requirement in the US that says you have to speak English. It would be nice if everyone who was a citizen did speak English, but there's no law requiring it.

I have heard of illegals voting not once but twice or more...

I would think a person can't figure out how to read in English, then they should NOT be able to vote... Period!

Making these multi national voting cards up is just STUPID if you ask me.

I say we get some requirements for the voting system...

Have a test to take before you vote, you know just the basic reading / comprehension / math skills, if you can't pass the simple test or your not a citizen then you don't get to vote....

This is why we have Bush in office today....

Wasn't it the evangelicals who put Bush in office?