Explain Like I'm 5 (ELI5)

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ELI5 why do people in USA need to register to vote? (programming.dev)

submitted 4 weeks ago by verstra@programming.dev to c/eli5@lemmy.world

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I'd expect the state to have a list of all its citizens and their basic personal info (age) which could be used to determine their eligibility for voting. In my country, we get a "invitation" to the vote, with your voter station and info on how to change it.

Instead, I'm seeing posts about USA's "voter rolls", which are sometimes purged, which prevents people from voting. Isn't this an attack on the voting system and democracy itself?

So why doesn't USA have a list of voters? Are they stupid?

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[–] verstra@programming.dev 9 points 4 weeks ago (3 children)

We do have "permanent address" here too and it is used to determine the voter station and district and thus the representative candidates you can vote.

Is the "permanent address" a thing just for the voting system, or is it used for other bureaucracy as well?

[–] jjagaimo@lemmy.ca 6 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Governmental agencies typically dont share data like that so you would have to give them your address separately. Imo its partially a republican "hurr no big govt" and jim crow type deal where republicans want to keep poor people and colored people from voting (less likely to have the time to register or have a fixed address).

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee -5 points 4 weeks ago

Republican?

Funny, I remember Democrats 50 years ago being anti-establishment.

Make up your mind.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago

Independently. I don’t there is any connection, but yes I have a residence for determining where I vote and who for, my city lists my primary residence for property tax purposes (investment/rental property is taxed more) and excise tax, my state department of revenue lists my residence for income tax but they may coordinate with IRS which does the same. My drivers license has my residence address but I don’t know if they need to be the same nor does it need to be the same as my car’s location, etc

[–] Mr_Blott@feddit.uk 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Can't have a permanent address if a hurricane blows your wee Lego house away taps forehead

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 1 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

Sorry, Florida doesn't have Lego houses. Their building codes require reinforced concrete ground floors (ground floor is block, with cement and rebar inside), and hurricane strapping for roofs.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago

That only works after all the older buildings have been washed away

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

We have extra tough building codes. Hell, I have a Habitat for Humanity home, 30-miles inland, and it has the roof strapped to the foundation and 140mph rated windows.

But concrete ground floors aren't required, at least not off the beach. Even the newer beach homes are sticks and stucco. Maybe being on stilts negates any ground floor rule?

Funny you mention block though. The 50s beach houses are all 1-story cinder block, and unlike the new construction, they still exist.