It's clearly and obviously republican spin - as noted - mickey mouse and donald duck were "registered" to vote because the guys registering people to vote are paid by the registration - obviously there are people abusing that aspect to make a few bucks, but that's where it ends.  It does not effect who votes in any way.

Where it's political spin is that Barack Obama has worked in association with Acorn, and thus, if it's made to look as if they are part of some sort of systematic voter fraud, they hope they can attach that charge to Obama.

In turn, they can get people riled up about a false boogeyman of voter fraud and get tough on who votes, thus being able to deny people the right to vote because they have something suspicious about them.

Which, as we saw in Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004 and we're already seeing now in Florida, Ohio, New Mexico, Colorado, etc... usually means they're some sort of demographic that votes Democratic.

That's the real voter fraud.  Disenfranchising legitimate voters.

Let me be clear - just to avoid the obvious *But 48 years ago dead people voted in Chicago" boo-hooing that always comes up from people who don't boo hoo "This year legitimate voters are being denied their right to vote" - it does fall on the State to verify that newly registered voters are who and what they say they are.

That does not require to make sweeping judgements whereby people with similar names to felons or people whose signature isn't a perfect match, or people who are homeless, etc.

There is clearly a correct and incorrect way to do this.

Barack Obama has worked in association with Acorn

And the Department of Justice.  He was an attorney working for Acorn and working with DOJ.  Just to clarify Mike's point.  Anyway, even if one were to assume, arguendo, that ACORN were corrupt it does not follow that their attorneys were.  I do not believe at anytime Obama represented ACORN or any ACORN employees in any civil or criminal fraud actions (but I could be wrong about that).

There is clearly a correct and incorrect way to do this.

I know in the Great State of New Jersey one who is registering late or has some registration issue may appear before a Superior Court Judge to get it straightened out. I don't recall the mechanics of it though, sorry!

arguendo

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There's that fag talk again...

(Obligatory Idiocracy reference whenever I learn a new word)

I used to be opposed to having an ID, since it seemed to exclude the poor - like, what if you couldn't afford the $20 it takes you to get a state ID or something?  (Hate to admit it, but when I was younger, I was that poor)

But I think it's a good idea now - especially if there's some way to ... you know... have an option where poor people can get one, too - by whatever means.  (ie - free or subsidized for those who fall on the Federal Poverty list or soemthing.)

I don't know why they don't just mandate, nationwide, a photo ID to actually vote.  Registration should be cut off at whatever date is necessary to be able to verify the validity of the registration.  Once registered it should just require a government issued photo ID to vote.  Anyone can get a driver's license or, if they don't drive, a non-drivers state ID card.

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That wouldn't work because it makes too much sense!