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Comment by packet_nerd | Hacker News Reader

It seems obvious to me how to fix this: give everyone a federal ID (Estonia style maybe?) and require everyone to vote (maybe a nominal fine if they don't).

I understand changes like that would favor the Democrats more than Republicans. Maybe it could be phased in slowly enough to lessen the pain? Anyway, once it was in place I'm sure the balance of power would readjust and then they could solve some real problems instead of shady politicking.

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A lot of Americans are opposed to federal ID on principle, never mind the cost. Forcing states to require federal ID for voting might require a constitutional amendment. Fining people for not voting seems like it would be extremely unpopular, especially if nothing was done to make it more accessible. It would also certainly draw a Firat Amendment challenge. If burning a flag is speech, how is not voting not speech?

Voting has a different constitutional reasoning than freedom of expression as most elections have explicit constitutional provisions.

Supreme Court jurisprudence on voting is kind of incoherent: it's fundamental but not really, expressive except when it isn't, etc. That only concerns whether someone has the right to vote. Opting not to vote is a political statement.

There are reactionary groups in the US that take hard-line stances against any form of federal ID. Even though the mass misuse (and theft of) social security numbers is pretty much proof positive of a need existing for such documentation.

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