Is Your Name on the Roll?

This week the US Congress held discussions of consideration on US Voter ID – Voter Identification – in the United States for Federal Elections. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act proposes requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. This proposed legislation has become the fuel on the fire of some very contentious debate in both the House and the Senate. Those in favor of the SAVE ACT argue that it will secure Federal Elections against illegal votes from non-citizens and other forms of voter fraud (such as dead people voting, dual votes, ballot box stuffing, etc.) while those against the legislation claim that it will disenfranchise legitimate voters and suppress the votes of minorities and the poor who cannot (or would not) obtain the required identification. The legislation is supported by a majority of Americans to include Democrats (~70%), Republicans (~95%), and Minorities (~82% Hispanic, ~76% African American). Overall, 80% of Americans support the SAVE ACT and proof of US citizenship through picture ID when voting in US Federal elections.

There are those that dispute the polls (Reddit.com (may require a Reddit account)) which is vastly amusing to me given that the same logic for voter suppression through voter identification is the same as that for poll number manipulation. In one first case I am going to deny a voter their rights through a process that does not allow them to participate, while in the second case I am going to misrepresent a voter’s true intent through deceptively worded poll questions or selective polling. However, those who make this argument are at least consistent in their core values. Afterall, if you believe there are those people who are out there that are unable to acquire US voter identification through whatever means are required, you probably believe those same individuals incapable of understanding a negatively (deceptively) worded poll question. And strangely, you still believe those same individuals capable of understanding the issues facing our Country and making an informed decision in what is arguably the most important vote anyone in the USA may ever cast in their lifetime.

There are those that equate the SAVE ACT to the Jim Crow laws calling the legislation “Jim Crow 2.0” and those that disagree with that characterization:

Senator Fetterman’s very grounded and sane logic for not representing something that it is not aside, I would also point out that Democrats seem to believe that people are unable to study or follow history. It was the Southern States, mainly made up of Democrats that enacted Jim Crow laws while the Northern States, mainly represented by the party of Abraham Lincoln, Republicans, that opposed them. I have pointed this out in the past (as have many, many others much wiser and more informed than I) that somehow around the late 1950’s to early 1960’s (I would place the hard transition shortly after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy) Democrats suddenly wanted the world to believe that they were indeed Republicans, while Republicans had magically morphed into Democrats. And once again the logic would be consistent. Believing that people are unable to obtain legal identification and proof of citizenship while at the same time selling them your warped version of history, seem to go hand-in-hand with each other.

And through all of these (supposedly) manufactured polls and misrepresented support for the SAVE ACT, we have the champion of the American people, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies, reassuring us that we will be saved from voter suppression laws (SAVE ACT):

There are even those who argue that the poor will be unable to obtain valid US voter identification due to costs or ability to travel to the Government issuing location. For which I have a very simple solution … Democrats should pay, out of their own pockets. This makes total sense to me given that Republicans are evil and uncaring, while Democrats are benevolent and kind. Democrats should show a little kindness by holding a voter ID party where they pick up the tab to get all of those poor disenfranchised voters proper voter ID. Who knows, they may even be able to come up with whole new ways to forge US citizenship and stack the voter rolls despite the checks and balances. After all, it is not like dead people have never voted before or collected Social Security or public welfare money …. right? I believe House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies (and all those who oppose the SAVE ACT) should embrace the legislation and do what has always been done in the past, corrupt the system and use it to your advantage.

And this gets to the real crux of the matter. The truth is 80% of the American people support the SAVE ACT because it validates their vote. It creates at least the appearance of a level playing field. It provides you with some assurance that your vote matters because it is not being diluted by those who do not have the right to vote here. While those that oppose the SAVE ACT do so because it makes it harder for them to rig elections. Those that believe in the mantra “Vote early, Vote often” would literally fly Communist Chinese Nationals onto American soil and claim that the fact that the sole of their shoe has touched US soil grants them the privilege of voting in US Federal elections … if they could. And without US Federal Voter Identification, there is little proof that is not already being done, at least to some extent. I find it so incredulous of an idea that there are those who cannot show proof of citizenship, place their name on a voter roll, and obtain Government provided identification, to be presented when voting in a US Federal election, that I wanted to provide a list of activities that require a valid ID:

DRIVING – every State in the Union requires anyone operating a motor vehicle on public roads to have a valid driver’s license – which is, in fact, an ID that conclusively identifies the bearer as meeting the qualifications of that State to operate a motor vehicle. Individuals who cannot obtain a driver’s license are being discriminated against, right? After all, only rich people can drive. And yet when the wealthiest amongst us are grossly negligent on public roads in a motor vehicle, their driver’s license is taken away.

FLYING – this is twofold. Neither can you legally operate an aircraft within the US without a valid pilot’s certificate – which is, in fact, an ID that conclusively identifies the bearer as meeting the qualifications of the US to operate an aircraft. But you cannot fly commercially without going through a TSA check and showing a valid identification. And why can you not board that commercial aircraft without should a valid ID? Because we fear for our safety aboard that aircraft. And yet we feel perfectly safe letting someone without any ID cast a vote for the most important detail of our culture. Something just does not make sense here.

JOINING THE MILITARY – while the Army is looking for a few good men, and the Marine Corps will take anyone who can walk and chew gum at the same time (okay, either walk or chew gum – not at the same time), neither will just take you without some form of proof (i.e. identification) that you are who you say you are. And even beyond that, there are some Military Agencies and positions that require further background checks to be in.

SOCIAL SECURITY/MEDICARE – despite the abuses within these systems in the past (and most likely the future), you indeed need to show proof that you paid into the system in order to withdraw from it, or that you have inherited the privilege through some other means (such as marriage). Oddly enough, those that oppose the SAVE ACT have no problems whatsoever taking those that have entered our country illegally and helping them sign up for a Social Security Card. Which is odd since they are completely against US voter identification.

PRACTICING LAW – States require an individual to have passed the State BAR Exam before being able to practice law in that State. This includes the four States that allow you to take the State BAR Exam without having formally studied law at an accredited institution. Passing the State BAR Exam earns the individual the credentials (identification) to legally practice law within that State.

PRACTCING MEDICINE – States require an individual to be licensed to practice medicine. The license is an identification of proof that the individual is legally acting as a medical professional. Here is the interesting thing … I can choose which doctor I want to go to or to be a patient of. However, I cannot choose who goes to the polls and votes for America’s future. And those that oppose the SAVE ACT are robbing me of even a basic satisfaction that only US citizens are doing the voting.

GETTING INTO HEAVEN – What!?! You have to have ID in order to get into Heaven? Well YES, that is the case:

¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ¹⁴And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15 KJV)

In order to be admitted into Heaven you must have your name written in the Book of Life. And the identification that you provide when being validated for entry is Faith. Faith is that unshakeable belief in that which you place all of your trust in because you know, without any shadow of a doubt, that it is absolutely true:

¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: ¹⁵That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:14-16 KJV)

When you Believe with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your soul, that Yeshua – Jesus Christ – is the only begotten Son of God, that he is the GOD-MAN, that he died on the cross, and rose again on the third day to pay the penalty (the cost) for the sins of the world, then you will not perish. You will have eternal life. Because your name will be written in the Book of Life in Heaven.

Is your name on the roll today? More important than the voter roll or having voter ID is being on the roll in Heaven. Written in the Book of Life. Is your name there today? It can be. Put your faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God today and you will be saved.