motivation - I think it's obvious push back to a bunch of low-level tactics that were used to change the playing field for getting votes in in several places - things that were unexpected and unplanned for by many - and some of those things that could indeed be used for a lot of fraud - so they are tightening up the many of the abuse angles.
At least the playing field is basically leveled at this point - people have 2 or 4 years to get an ID - it shouldn't take that long, it shouldn't take 9 months or 3 days (events I have personally witnessed)
- I'd love some hard numbers on how many adults in GA don't have a pic ID,
And maybe it's time for an APP I was thinking about many years ago.
A DMV shame app - where people could take a pic upon arrival and share a location showing they were still at DMV X number of hours later.. and then combine that with data about income loss and tax revenue to the local and state - loss - and multiply it by the number of other suspected waiting individuals - and use it to help people find best DMV, and best times to go - but also to notify the Governors about the losses they are creating.. along with link to petitions to change / hire more - expand staff / locations.. and show alternative options is available, like county clerks, apps, digital kiosks.. I'd still love for such a thing, maybe it'd get more traction with all the hubbub about IDs these days.
the state should provide these docs free of charge no matter how they are paid for.
"o fund government buildings" this is changing - we now have digital kiosks in police stations and other places that can do most of the dmv work - many services no human required, some video conference.. no new building needed. Heck lyft can run a million dollar company out of the corner of a pep boys - surely there are more ways to provide more servicing without more buildings.
"when it comes to dealing with any kind of government services, the hours are meant to punish and discourage people from coming." - this is something we the people can demand change and actually make it happen.
Of course to save from blowing out state budgets we need to rehash how pensions and 401's with state workers are handled - if they continue to shake down the system like the post office, then the slow service is mainly to pad lifetime retirement gov cheese - regardless.
"the social security office" here in my city last two visits has been very efficient - not sure the hours - but they can be run well - and hours could be extended easily if we further pursue the kind of video tech in ATM machines and similar. We can demand more infrastructure for id requirements - especially easy if there is no driver test needed - which for an ID it is not. Scaling the driving testing is quite challenging and not such an easy fix.
Like I alluded to in my original comment, if you can cash a 2,000 check you already have the Id and whatever you need to vote in the most stringent voting law place. afaik.
I've seen many people point to GA as hardcore voting 'restrictions' place and make similar points about costs - I just looked at their info, it says an ID card for 8 years may be $32, yet they offer a free one if it just for voting, and if you are indigent they offer a $5 option which may be waived and billed to/paid for by a shelter.
I do not care for the 'Real ID' requirements and feel that is a hurdle - but that is from the feds, and it sucks - because having 2 docs say you live somewhere is not easy if you are roommates - but that is not a state mandating voting restriction - it's a dumb thing the feds are trying to get pinpoint proof of location for many people before they get checked to get on planes, and who knows what else.
I am a 'no new tax ever' kind of person - so I feel the sentiment you raise, yet find when it comes to rights we have no choice but to provide what is needed from the state.
Luckily many tech things, and the ability for people to more easily petition for expanded hours and such - it looks like these things will be getting easier and cheaper as time goes on.
editing to add link to Ga Id fees I found / referenced in comment - https://dds.georgia.gov/identification-cards-fees