This seems like bullshit (voter ID related)

[tacosforlife]

I decided I should finally get a copy of my marriage certificate, so I went on to the Milwaukee County Register of Deeds website and saw this:

Free birth record available for the purpose of obtaining an identification card for voting purposes:

To apply for a free birth record in-person or via U.S. mail two forms must be submitted:

Form #1 - REQUEST FOR FREE BIRTH RECORD
Form #2 - BIRTH CERTIFICATE APPLICATION

Ø Applicants must be 18 years of age by the date of the fall election, which is November 4, 2014.
Ø No free record given for persons born after Nov. 4, 1996.
Ø Only one free birth record will be given per applicant.
Ø Free birth records will be given only to persons who are current residents of Milwaukee County. (Non-residents born in Milwaukee County are not eligible.)

If you're not eligible for a free birth record, you have to pay $20.

But hey, voter ID laws aren't just a modern day poll tax, are they?

[AAM2012]

I am wondering if it's because they have to order it from the correct jurisdiction/county?

[tacosforlife]

Jan 27, 2015 8:16:56 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

I am wondering if it's because they have to order it from the correct jurisdiction/county?

That doesn't make sense with the part I bolded. If you were born in Milwaukee County but currently live in Racine County, Milwaukee County will not provide you with a free birth record, even if you need that birth record to obtain ID for voting. Milwaukee County wouldn't have to order it from anywhere if you were born there.

[AAM2012]

Oh duh--I need more coffee this morning.

[wawa]

right, the problem is that people who were born in one county, but live in another have to pay the $20.

Everybody raise your hands if you're current a resident of your county of birth....

[nomad100]

wawa Slowly raises hand. I am now but wasn't for many years.

[penguingrrl]

Disenfranchisement is never okay. And a $20 fee would absolutely be cost prohibitive to some. And I haven't lived in the county I was born in since I was a few months old...

[sushi]

Jan 27, 2015 8:25:46 GMT -5 wawa said:

right, the problem is that people who were born in one county, but live in another have to pay the $20.

Everybody raise your hands if you're current a resident of your county of birth....

Lofl. I'm probably still on the voter rolls though because Florida.

[tacosforlife]

Jan 27, 2015 8:41:36 GMT -5 Catlawdy said:

Here, you can (in most counties)/get a birth certificate from the county register of deeds even of you weren't born in that county. Their computer systems are linked.

Hmm, this is a good question. It was not clear to me whether current residents of Milwaukee County who were born in other counties can get a free birth record through Milwaukee County. Basically, can you get a free birth record from your current county of residence, regardless of which county you were born in (assuming you were born in Wisconsin, of course)?

I'd dial back my indignation a bit if that's the case.