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We need ID to vote in Ireland (in theory; it's spot-checked), but the range of things accepted as ID are much greater. In particular, a debit or credit card can be used, as can a social security card. Since basically everyone either has a job (and thus needs a bank account) or draws some sort of social welfare, or both, nearly everyone has one of these anyway.

Most developed countries just have a mandatory ID card, of course.

The US states requiring ID would be much less worrying if they would accept something that everyone has. It's the selectiveness about forms of ID that makes the motives clear...



> The US states requiring ID would be much less worrying if they would accept something that everyone has.

Sure, but a key purpose of voter IDs laws, as proponents will sometimes admit in public (or in remarks that aren't intended to become public but do) is to tip the partisan scales in elections.


A lot of people in the US (even ones with jobs) are unbanked so wouldn’t have even an ATM card.


Ah, right. Most employers here wouldn't be enthusiastic about paying people any way other than transfer to a bank/credit-union account these days.




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