The proper role and scope of government

[Lamplighter]

Merc, not everyone carries their military-issued ID in their pocket the way you do.
... Obtaining the "proper" or "valid" pictured ID can be difficult and/or time critical.

To get the proper state-issued, photo ID now,
with all the hoopla required by Homeland Security it can be / is very difficult.
The problem is complexity...especially for the elderly, the poor, the minorities, etc.

Some of the issues I have heard about are:

Hospital-issued "birth certificates" are no longer valid or accepted

... to be valid, the birth certificate must be issued by the State Dept of Vital Statistics (or whatever)

... if a woman is divorced, she must also show the state-issued divorce papers, and proper name-change legal papers

... if any birth date, name, etc are not the same on all papers, it can derail the process.

... if any of the above occurred in separate states, it can be difficult

... In Oregon, and I'll bet it is or will be the same in other states,
in order to get a new Driver's license, not only do you have to show all of the above,
you also have to paperwork to show you are legally entitled to live in the US,
and that you do actually live at a particular address in Oregon (utility bill, rent payment receipt, etc.)

Then, a person often also has to register to vote, and in some state this is required prior to the day of voting.

"Voter fraud" is almost non-existant, but it is the excuse for these new laws.

Basically, the Republican Party knows it is a minority party,
and so sets about to disqualify poor and/or minority voters,
or to make the process so difficult they don't vote.
.