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Creativity-Squared — Voter Identification Laws
Published: 2012-09-04 02:59:06 +0000 UTC; Views: 403; Favourites: 2; Downloads: 3
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One of the biggest political issues today is the up and coming debates about voter ID laws. What is a voter ID law? This is a law that requires voters to show identification in order to vote. The laws that are the strictest require a strict photo ID, and if you don't have one, you may be prevented from voting. The states that have the strictest laws and are causing the most controversy are Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, and Tennessee. A similar strict voter ID law was recently repealed in Texas.Why would we need such strict voter ID laws to prove who you are? Supporters of such laws insist that it helps combat voter fraud. However, statistics have shown that voter fraud, at least at the polls, is slim to none, with only 86 convictions of voter fraud over a period of five years (prorepublica.org). Voter fraud is more common with absentee ballots, and these voter identification laws do nothing to prevent this kind of fraud. Instead, voter fraud prevents people from voting, such as Viviette Applewhite, a Pennsylvanian who is suing the state. Because she is 93 years old, she does not have a birth certificate or a driver's license, and therefore can't vote under the new Pennsylvania law. Another negative affect of these laws is that if you don't have a form of identification to present at the polls, getting a new birth certificate or government issued ID can be costly and time consuming. The elderly and the poor, the people most effected by the laws, also oftentimes live in rural areas and may have trouble obtaining a new identification if they don't have one already.
These kind of measures could even possibly discourage people from voting, making them think if they have to jump through hoops just to vote that it isn't worth it. This could be enough to make a difference in the outcome of the hotly contested and very important presidential election coming up in just two months.
The way that voter identification laws are being handled are causing voter disenfranchisement, and if such a law were passed in New York State, it would affect young voters such as ourselves. State legislators, as well as voters, should fight against voter identification laws. Legislators and voters should promote laws that actually prevent voter fraud, instead of preventing voters from voting. Voting is a special right that we oftentimes look over. It is every citizen's right to vote, and there should be no roadblocks preventing that right, and in turn, our freedom.
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Comments: 9
I don't have a specific opinion on this topic, but I noticed an apparent discrepancy in your writing. It doesn't really affect your overall argument. You say that the ID laws affect the poor and elderly the most. However, later on you say that they affect young voters as well. Do you simply mean that the issue is important to you, or is there a specific way it would affect young voters? It seems to me that young voters are the most likely to own various forms of ID, since ID is usually required for school, driving, and getting a job.
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Thank you for pointing this out! The comment I wrote was mostly directed at young voters because I was writing for a young audience--this article was published in a college newspaper. You're right, it really doesn't effect young voters. However, it's important for us to know because further restrictions could be made and it's critical that we put the pieces together and figure out that things aren't adding up with voter ID laws. That was my intention.
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You're welcome! 
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See, I have to disagree with you. I think voter id laws are a good thing. I don't see how this discriminates against any group of people in particular. The elderly I can understand if they don't have a birth certificate. However, certainly by 93 years old and in today's world, you'd think she would've taken the time to make sure she got one. Anyways, besides the point. These laws in no way discriminate against the poor, or people who can't/don't drive. In PA, the cost to get a non driver's license photo ID is $10.
These laws are a really good idea, because they would help reduce voter fraud, regardless of the small number of incidences. Also, illegal immigrants would not be allowed to vote, because they have no right to be in this country anyway. Getting one is not hard, finding a way to the DOT. They will work with you so you can vote. You are required to have an ID when applying for a job, banking, public library accounts, paying fines, going to a hospital or clinic for treatment, buying tobacco, alcohol, guns, etc. So getting an ID would actually be beneficial because without one, you cannot get or do any of these things. You need an ID for nearly everything you do in today's world. So why should voting be any different?
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Thank you for giving your opinion. You make some very great points. The points I was trying to argue against in this editorial were that voter fraud is not a problem. Those who are for voter identification laws are generally talking about how it will stop voter fraud. What voter fraud? Voter fraud at the polling booths is practically non-existent, as I have pointed out. The real problem we have is not at the polling booths, but with absentee ballots. Absentee ballots are really what our legislators should focus on--those ballots are easier to target.
Also, yes, you make a great point in that we as Americans generally need an ID for just about anything. But to go out of your way just to get a specific voter id or not vote is really not necessary when there is no voter fraud problem.
One more thing: How would voter ID laws prevent illegal immigrants to vote when illegals are not allowed to vote in the first place? They are not even allowed to have driver's licenses and are often deported. No, illegal immigrants should not be allowed to vote and it should stay that way. But illegal immigrants can't vote to begin with.
Thanks again for your comment!
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I only have this bit of knowledge from Wiki: When Edgar Allan Poe was found dead, in clothes that didn't fit and weren't his, reeking of alcohol, in a ditch- it was assumed by his friends that he was the victim of what was called "cooping." That's when a gang behind some politician up for office forces too much booze on a drinker and takes them, nearly unconscious, to as many voting polls as possible. That's an extreme example of real voter fraud. Why we must fight state laws requiring ID that's impossible for so many to get (and for the type of those who have that difficulty) is beyond me. Thank you for this piece.
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Thank you for commenting! I'm glad you enjoyed this piece. Also thank you for that interesting tidbit about Edgar Allen Poe; I didn't know that! Thankfully, that kind of voter fraud doesn't happen today. There really isn't such a thing as voter fraud at the polls anymore. And yes, I don't understand why our right to vote must be limited by state governments--just the idea of having to have a strict idea to vote is destroying the people's trust of government. I mean, if I have to show who I am just to vote, I'm not going to trust the government that much, and I might not even vote because of that.
Thanks again for your in-depth critique.
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You're welcome. Didn't Poe spell his middle name "Allan" to spite the unrelated man who raised him? From "Allen" to "Allan"? Oh well, another question for another day. I also believe there's no voter fraud at polls anymore, but would say President Bush--along with his brother, then Governor J. Bush of Florida--committed fraud themselves years ago, so Bush would get his last term as President. Many feel that way; it was too close a race and nepotism seemed the only answer to several "recount" of votes in Florida. Anyway, I enjoyed your clarity and way of writing. Keep it up for the college paper. You're doing good journalism already.
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