The debate over whether voter ID should be required to vote has been a big issue in the United States for decades. The idea of voter identification laws was first talked about a lot in the early 2000s, with states like Indiana passing strict voter ID laws in 2005, which were upheld by the Supreme Court in 2008. (Crawford v. Marion County Election Board). Some argue that voter ID laws are necessary to prevent voter fraud and ensure the integrity of our elections. On the other hand, some argue that the law affects marginalized groups such as low-income individuals and racial minorities who could lack access to a form of ID. Over the years, this debate has changed many state policies, and as of now, 36 states have some form of voter ID requirements.
There are two main viewpoints on the voter ID laws. On one side, supporters of voter ID requirements argue that these laws are essential in keeping our elections from being fraudulent. They look at rare examples of documented cases of voter fraud, such as impersonation at the polls. Voter ID would be a good safeguard, similar to needing ID for other things like boarding a plane or buying alcohol. On the other side, people who disagree with the idea of voter ID laws argue that the risk of fraud is exaggerated and that these laws make it unnecessarily hard to vote. They point out that many people lack the required forms of ID. I found a 2014 study that estimated 11% of eligible voters in the U.S, about 21 million people, did not have a government-issued photo ID. This mainly affects low-income individuals and the elderly, who may struggle getting an ID due to financial costs or missing documents.
I strongly believe that voter ID should be required to vote. Voting is an extremely important right in a democracy, and we must make sure every vote cast is legitimate. The rare examples of voter fraud may seem small, but in a tight election, even a little bit of fraudulent voters could change the outcome. I also believe that requiring ID is a reasonable expectation. Most people already need an ID for everyday activities, and states can make IDs more accessible, such as offering free voter IDs. While I see how some people may face challenges in getting an ID, I think we should improve access to IDs rather than just getting rid of the requirement altogether.
1. How would you make voter IDs more accessible to marginalized groups?
2. Should every state have at least some requirement for voter ID?
https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/voter-id
https://www.oyez.org/cases/2007/07-21
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-without-proof
Replies
I definitely think that every state should have some sort of voter ID requirement. Without this there are many ways to cast fraudulent votes. In a democracy as big as the united states we need trustworthy votes so our government is run by the people that the people want.
I agree with you, all states should have to make people show some type of identification. If an illegal immigrant shows up to vote and is allowed to, their vote could be a deciding factor in the overall outcome of the election as a whole.
I agree with you becuase we need to have the requirement to be able to vote for president. I want a trustworthy system that votes truthfully with they system. I that our government should be ran by "We The People" not people who are not meant to be here.
I agree with you. There are many ways to make IDs more accessible, and we should try to work towards that, not just get rid of the requirement. Making sure our elections are legitimate is extremely important, and to do that, we should require some voter ID before allowing people to vote.
I think your idea of making voter ID's free instead of getting rid nof them is a really good idea. If you get rid of them there could just be a bunch of illegals or non-citizens voting in close elections which could sway it tremendously. If they are free then every U.S citizen that shows up and gets one can vote.
I agree that making voter IDs free instead of getting rid of them. If voter IDs were free and easily accessible to all U.S citizens, it would make it harder for non-citizens or illegal voters from influencing elections. Offering free IDs would be better for Americans, and then they could all vote legitimately.
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