New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism after it was revealed that the application to become an “emergency snow shoveler” for the city requires five forms of identification, far more than what is needed to vote. This has sparked a strong reaction, especially from conservatives, who see it as a contradiction given Mamdani’s ties to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a group that strongly opposes voter ID laws.
According to Mediaite, the application on the NYC government website asks for two small photos, two “original forms of ID, plus copies,” and a Social Security card, adding up to five items. Those who are hired for the job can earn up to $28.71 per hour.
The DSA’s website states that their candidates “stand firm against racist voter ID laws and secret poll taxes like the ‘SAVE America Act,'” and that they educate “working-class voters about the needless complications in our electoral system.” This stance directly clashes with the extensive ID requirements for the snow shoveling job.
The backlash reflects a deeper and ongoing debate over voter ID laws in America
Conservative commentator Stephen L. Miller was among the first to point out the application’s demands on X, calling it “Incredible.” Many other users quickly joined in, mocking Mamdani for what they saw as hypocrisy.
Comic and host Jimmy Failla quipped, “This is Jim SNOW 2.0.” One user wrote, “No joke. To register to shovel snow in Mamdani’s NYC….for the impending snowstorm, you need two types of identification. Can’t make this up.” Others directly contrasted the shoveling ID rules with the lack of voter ID requirements in New York City.
The criticism came after Mamdani urged New Yorkers to show up at local sanitation garages to help ahead of an impending blizzard hitting the East Coast. He reportedly told people they just needed to bring the required paperwork to “get started right away.” While Mamdani received some praise for his storm response efforts during the blizzard, the ID requirement controversy quickly dominated the conversation.
The voter ID debate has gained wider attention recently, as President Trump and other Republicans have pushed for the SAVE Act, which would require proof of American citizenship to vote. Sen. Chuck Schumer criticized the act, saying it would “impose Jim Crow type laws.”
However, recent data suggests that most Americans, including a significant portion of Democrats, support voter ID requirements. This has made Mamdani’s snow shoveler ID policy an even bigger talking point, especially as the mayor continues to face scrutiny over the fiscal challenges he inherited in office.
Published: Feb 22, 2026 12:15 pm