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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro discuss how pollsters determine who is a likely voter and whether measuring likely voters or registered voters gives a better picture of the electoral map.
Thanks to Da Noid for the question! Don't forget you can ask us questions on Facebook and Twitter...and follow us @mmurraypolitics and @DomenicoNBC!
Video edited by NBC's Matt Loffman.
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Aw, shucks!
Thank you for answering.
Better question this year: do the likely/registered voters have the ID they need to vote ?
BTW: Illinois (a VERY BLUE state) requires an ID to vote, they just aren't ridiculous about what counts as ID. Most of these new laws only have the intent of preventing historically Democratic voters from voting. I mean, really, TX gunowners permit OK, but a college ID is not..... I guess TX GOP truly do want 'em dumb.
When I vote I need only sign the register next to the copy of the original signature from when I registered to vote over 20 years ago.
No it doesn't.
As DaNoid pointed out in #1.2 - all you need to do is sign, it is then compared to your signature on the voter roll.
Yay, Da Noid; Congratulations! Good question.
Congratulations Da Noid!
More often than not, I vote early and may not have my voter registration card with me 'cause I just make the decision to stop and vote while out and about. I just present my drivers license.
So far, haven't gotten the voter registration card yet for this election cycle. The last one expired in 2011.
Thanks to Slick Rick Perry.....but I guess things are straightened out for the May 29 primary.
"TX gunowners permit OK, but a college ID is not..... I guess TX GOP truly do want 'em dumb"
Yup, dumb and packing heat! It's the Texas way!
Congrats, Da Noid, on having your question selected for the Boiler Room.
I also wonder whether people aren't likely to vote but are embarrassed to admit it.
I agree with Domenico---I wish turnout was better. We have such a precious right to vote and it really bothers me that so many people don't value it and exercise it.
Agreed...higher participation would be nice. However, I would not go so far as to fine non-voters as they mentioned Australia does. Within our freedom to choose there must remain the freedom for a voter to voice disapproval of all candidates by not voting...the freedom to not choose, as it were.
DaNoid -
Thanks for asking the question, because I didn't know that about Australia and I like to learn.
But geez....talk about your "individual mandate" - can you imagine if they tried that here? Would people be lining up to vote for their right to NOT vote? :)
From Dirp-
A gunowners permit is issued by a state government or local municipality. As part of receiving a gun permit, one must provide other valid state and federal identifications such as a drivers license, birth certificate, social security card, or military ID. The gun permit displays physically descriptive characteristics as well as an address and full name. A gun permit holder also undergoes a thorough background check, usually involving references and a criminal check. Therefore, the gun permit carries as much legitimacy, if not more, than other forms of identification.
A college student ID is not issued by a state or federal government or a municipality. Additionally, it does not have the same security features preventing easy falsification, does not carry physically descriptive information, does not display an address, does not require the same types of proof of identity to receive from a college. (based on when I was in college circa 1995)
I am not sure Illinois should be used by Fiesty as the model for not having a voter ID law. Given that Illinois via voter fraud gave the presidential election to Kennedy in 60 and that Illinois routinely has dead people getting paid and voting all the time. If anyone thinks voter fraud has disappeared in Illinois, we have some beach front land to sell you. We are the model state as to why voter ID should be required.
Wow Da Noid, you got props!
Now don't forget to vote a straight Democratic Ticket in November!
Obama / Biden 2012
AAGGHH another 4 years of "we're still recovering" with 17 mil still unemployed and more people on food stamps and the 49% will still not be paying their fairshare.
Great question! Great answer! I think its safe to assume, also, if you comment on First Read all day, You Are A Likely Voter. :)
Love your comment, Amy. We know the folks here will be voting.
Here is where we insert a snarky Chicago politics line from one of the RWNJs.
Amy, I think you right about the people who post on first read being likely voters.
Amy and Lisa -
I'm going to have to disagree with you both on that one. From the level of some of the comments I've read on here over the years, I'd bet the farm that many of the posters here have not only never seen the inside of a voting booth, but they couldn't fill out the registration form if you did it for them and they just had to put an "X" on the bottom next to their names. And they're too busy spewing anonymous hate on the computer all day to take the time to bother.
Voting implies a certain sense of responsibility and community that I fear many posters here lack completely.
And I actually find that a very comforting thought.....
You could also use a model that took isues to be voted on and ask "how likely would you want to vote on this" to gage interest. If the issueis a dog you don't want to raise it at all.
And iffit's a raeal barnburing issue-say gay rights-and no one is interested onvoting onit-that could tell you plenty about what voters care about. Cause it ovbiously woun't be that.
Good grief, who left the psych ward unlocked?
The only reason I see an ID is needed is to prove you're over 18 and old enough to vote, if you look 30 or older you shouldn't need an ID to vote. One name -one vote... computers are savvy enough to know when a name has voted. If all states would get on the same voting page things would be much easier. It seems like every state has it's "own" rules...this is one of the problems.
Get those ID's people and get registered DEMOCRAT. Where I vote they've always asked for a photo ID.
I agree, here in Arizona, we have to show a photo ID and this has been for 5 years at least. I don't see what the big deal is about getting an ID. If you're legal in this country, it's no big deal to get an ID for a few dollars at motor vehicle whether you drive or not. There are many elderly in this state who don't drive anymore but they still have ID to vote.
Florida law requires that anyone voting needs to provide identification with a photo and signature. That could be on one ID or two (a photo and another with a signature). This is to prove that you are who you say you are. It is way to easy to forge a signature.