Two IDs for Shoveling, ZERO for Voting

A car completely covered in snow, surrounded by a winter landscape

New York City’s Department of Sanitation demands multiple forms of identification to shovel snow for $19 an hour, while most registered voters can cast ballots without showing any ID at all.

Story Snapshot

NYC requires two photos, two forms of ID, and a Social Security card for emergency snow shovelers ahead of the city’s first blizzard warning in nearly a decade
Most registered New York City voters face no ID requirements to cast ballots, with first-time voters needing only partial information or an affidavit
The Department of Sanitation activated over 1,000 emergency workers for the major nor’easter, paying between $19.14 and $28.71 per hour
The stark contrast between employment verification and voting requirements highlights ongoing concerns about election integrity and double standards in government policy

Strict ID Requirements for Temporary Workers

The NYC Department of Sanitation issued recruitment calls for emergency snow shovelers requiring applicants to present two passport-style photos, two valid forms of identification, and a Social Security card. These stringent requirements stem from federal I-9 work eligibility verification laws, ensuring only U.S.-authorized workers aged 18 and older can perform the physically demanding labor. Sign-ups opened Monday morning from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at local garages, with online paperwork preceding the in-person verification process. The positions pay starting rates of $19.14 per hour, with premium compensation reaching $28.71 hourly for experienced workers during 12-hour shifts.

Minimal Voter Identification Standards

New York State law permits most registered voters in NYC elections to cast ballots without presenting any physical identification. First-time voters who registered by mail need only provide the last four digits of their Social Security number or present an affidavit ballot as an alternative. This lenient approach prioritizes voter access over verification, a policy dating back to at least 2011 state reforms. The NYC Board of Elections oversees these procedures, maintaining that accessibility outweighs stricter identity confirmation measures that other states have adopted following national election integrity debates over the past several election cycles.

Emergency Response to Historic Blizzard

Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide emergency as forecasters predicted NYC’s first blizzard warning since 2016, with snowfall estimates ranging from 13 to 20 inches and wind gusts reaching 55 mph. Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized unprecedented early activation protocols, deploying over 1,000 emergency snow shovelers beginning Sunday night alongside 2,200 plows and 700 salt-spreaders across the city’s 2,000-plus miles of streets and park paths. The Department of Sanitation mobilized 2,600 workers on extended shifts, with additional evening crews of 300 personnel and transport vans ensuring continuous operations. This response follows a prior snowstorm weeks earlier that dropped seven to eleven inches, prompting enhanced preparation strategies for the more severe weather system.

Double Standard Raises Fundamental Questions

The glaring disparity between employment verification and voting procedures exposes a troubling inconsistency in government policy that undermines public confidence in electoral processes. Federal law mandates rigorous identity confirmation for paid labor to prevent fraud and ensure work authorization, yet the same city requires virtually nothing to participate in elections that determine leadership and policy direction. This contradiction directly contradicts common-sense principles that elections—the foundation of self-governance—deserve at least the same integrity safeguards as temporary manual labor positions. The contrast becomes more absurd when considering that snow shoveling carries no long-term civic consequences, while voting decisions shape the nation’s future and constitutional protections for generations.

Protecting Election Integrity

Americans frustrated with years of leftist resistance to voter ID laws recognize this story as emblematic of a broader pattern prioritizing political advantage over electoral security. While sanctuary city policies and relaxed verification standards have dominated progressive urban centers, common-sense reforms requiring basic identification to vote enjoy overwhelming public support across demographic groups. The DSNY’s legitimate need to verify worker eligibility through multiple IDs demonstrates that government agencies understand fraud prevention when it serves their operational interests. Applying this same reasonable standard to voting would strengthen confidence in election outcomes without disproportionately burdening eligible citizens, who already navigate ID requirements for countless daily activities from banking to travel.