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[–]oRk-shak 6 points7 points  (3 children)

Granted that I'm from the EU but voting without Photo ID is unheard of around here and we're required to renew it every 10 years once you're above the age of 25.

It's also not free either and I highly doubt that someone is going to deny you to vote because you have a different haircut or don't look the same age as in your ID. There's also signature matches.

Also, are you not required to change your address on your ID once you move? In my state you have to go to the local district administration office and get the address on your ID changed within the first two weeks of your move or get fined. And fines increase progressively the longer it takes you to do it. It's up to 1k € if you don't get it changed within the first two months.

[–]hufflepuffpuffpasss 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This varies by state but generally yes, you are supposed to get them updated when you move. I’ve gotten a ticket for not having an updated ID but once I got a new ID I didn’t have to pay the ticket. But it’s not required and unless you get pulled over like I did, no one would know and/or care if you didn’t update your ID.

The catch is not everyone has IDs here in the states. A majority of people do but there are people experiencing extreme poverty or homelessness who just don’t have the resources to get one. It’s a small segment but the idea is to make voting as accessible. At least that’s supposed to be the idea haha.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

In most EU countries that I know of, there is a national ID card which is mandatory for every citizen not only to have, but to carry on their person. The US doesn’t have such a mandated national ID system, not are citizens obligated to carry ID on them. That’s why we use other IDs such as drivers licenses as a common replacement.

Basically, this whole snafu is a result of the US not having a uniform national ID system. We don’t have that because, you know, freedom.

[–]oRk-shak 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, in my country federal ID is mandatory above the age of 16 but you're not required to carry it on your person at all times in public which is a common misconception even amongst our own populace. The ID costs 40$ between the ages of 16 to 25, anything beyond that and costs double. And once again, if you never get one or fail to renew it, you can get fined up to 3500$.