If voting is the basis of American democracy , then why does it have to be such a pain?Election Dayin the U.S. is always a Tuesday , smack in the midsection of the work week . If you move to a young state or county , you take to re - file . land voter ID requirements alter all the time , so you could show up to a polling place , hold off in line and still get blocked from vote .
Now think that you’rehomelessin America . You move so frequently that it ’s closely impossible to maintain a stable posting address . You ’ve never had a driver ’s licence and your Social Security card was lost geezerhood ago . You ca n’t yield fare to the county elections office or your local polling shoes . And frankly , you have a lot more exhort problems than registering to vote .
So , while homeless citizenry have every rightfield to vote in U.S. elections ( and may want to if only to influence policy on caparison and poverty ) , the obstacles to successfully registering and ballot while dispossessed can be insurmountable .
First , there ’s the residency and posting address issuing . Interestingly , none of the 50 statesrequires that voter live in a traditional abidance . On elector registration forms , you’re able to put a homeless shelter speech , a street corner , a park work bench — you’re able to even bind a hand - drawn function .
That ’s fine for establishing that you ’re a occupant of the State Department and county , but many states also command that youprovide a posting addresswhere you’re able to in reality meet mail . Again , that can be a shelter , or a booster or congener ’s house , but it ca n’t be a P.O. box and it ca n’t be a park workbench .
While it ’s easy for most Americans to offer an alternative address where we could receive mail , that ’s often not the case for people struggle with homelessness . And without a fixed address to obtain election notices from the county clerk ’s office , homeless elector can be wiped from voter adjustment bun .
" It ’s crucial to call back that homelessness is an inherently unstable DoS , " says Tristia Bauman , older lawyer with theNational Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty . This state is made even more mentally ill by local police that illegalize sleeping or camping in public office . " Those laws have the impression of dismiss people from the areas where they commonly exist and have connections . The deficiency of an savoir-faire and the lack of ability to stay on in one location lawfully conspire to make it ever more hard for homeless people to register to vote or right to vote by ring armor , " she enunciate .
want of identification is another big challenge for roofless elector . As of 2018 , there are 10 states with " strict " exposure ID or non - photo ID laws , meaning that you could not vote on Election Day without presenting some kind of valid government - issued identification . Another 24 states have " non - nonindulgent " voter ID law that allow elector without an ID to sign an affidavit swearing to their identity .
Even in states without voter ID law , first - time elector registering online or by mail are require to provide a equipment driver ’s licence number or copy of a service program notice , cant program line or other document certifying their abidance . If they fail to provide designation during first - time readjustment , they ’ll be asked to show an ID on Election Day .
Homeless Voting Obstacles
While obtain a driver ’s license or land - issued ID is costless in most states , that does n’t mean it ’s easy for a homeless person to jump through the administrative hoop to make it happen . Poor , elderly and homeless people are far more potential to not have a state - issued ID , which is why elector ID jurisprudence have been challenged as discriminatory .
Then there ’s the consequence of safeguarding personal place . Even if a homeless person is lucky enough to have an ID in their possession , there are many ways for those document to get lost or slip , even at the handwriting of police .
" Local government often react to illegal homeless camping ground by coming in and doing a ' uncontaminating up ' that lead in the gaining control and destruction of a roofless person ’s property , " says Bauman . " You could potentially fall behind your ID or your birthing certificate or Social Security card or any of the other prerequisite items that you call for to register . "
The good news is that roofless advocacy groups like theNational Coalition for the Homelesshave make resources like thishomeless ballot right guideto aid dispossessed shelters , drop - in center , solid food pantries and other non-profit-making group organize elector adjustment drives to help homeless individuals register and get to the public opinion poll .
And despite the intimidating bureaucratic hurdling face homeless voter , there are a fistful of states that specifically proffer freedom for roofless citizens , a trend that hopefully continues . In Indiana , for instance , which is a strict photo ID land , you could register and vote without an ID if youclaim " indigent " status . Andin Oregon , homeless voters can use the county election office ’s address as their posting address .
