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Rebekah Clark
Professor Moore
English 1301
25 March 2018
Voter identification laws stipulate that any person who has the intention to vote must pro-
vide some tangible form of identification in order to register to vote, to receive a ballot, and to
actually cast a vote in a local, state, or national election. According to the National Conference of
State Legislature, there are currently thirty-four states that require voters to have some form of
identification at the polls (NCLS). Of these thirty-four states, there are only nine that have strict
voter ID laws, requiring voters to physically show their ID. Some people believe that voter iden-
tification laws are racially motivated and are hurting minority rights. However, others believe
that these laws protect voter’s rights and guard against voter fraud. These laws have become
quite a controversy over the years, especially in light of accusations of voter fraud during the
Those who believe that Voter Identification laws are racist and keep minorities from hav-
ing the same rights as others are against the voter identification laws for a number of reasons.
For one, minorities usually seem to lack any government-issued form of photo ID, usually up to
25%, whereas only 8% of non-minorities lack the proper identification (ACLU). In addition to
the fees that are in place, the substantial amount of time it takes at a busy government facility, to
wait on processing, increases the difficulty in attaining the proper identification for many people.
Those most likely lacking a form of identification tend to be students, minorities, the elderly, and
Clark 1
the disabled. Opposers of this law say that some states exclude several forms of ID in a discrimi-
natory manner. They believe that voter ID laws tend to reduce voter turnout among minority
groups.“These laws are not good-faith efforts to prevent voter fraud, but rather are politically
motivated attempts to affect the outcome of elections by making it more difficult for certain peo-
ple to vote.” (Milford) Another reason is that some people see this law as a poll tax in disguise,
making it difficult or nearly impossible for certain groups of people to exercise their right to
vote.They say that by having this law, the government is creating elections that do not support
fair or free elections. Opponents also use the argument that very few reports of voter fraud are
On the other side of the controversy, are those which believe that voter identification
laws are necessary and provide stability within the government. “Ensuring that a voter is who she
says she is essential to the democratic process”(Milford). That is one argument in support of the
Voter ID law. It prevents people that are not yet of age from being able to vote. It also aids in the
argument that it is a way to prevent voter fraud. Although there has not been an exceptional
amount voter fraud cases discovered, this does not mean that voter fraud is not occurring. Many
people will admit that they often break the law by exceeding the speed limit. A significant num-
ber of these same people will proudly say that they have never been caught speeding. Just be-
cause a crime is not discovered does not mean it is not occurring. Because voters are expected to
show some form of photo ID, one person will not be able to vote multiple times by using the
names of other registered voters, or even deceased persons, and it will prevent non-citizens from
being able to vote. People in favor of this law believe that requiring voters to show an approved
The voter identification laws that require some form of photo identification to be pre-
sented before voting, is one of the most discussed controversies during the election season. Vot-
ing is one of the most basic rights protected by the Constitution and is something that must be
strongly protected. Because of the opposition of views regarding the voter ID law, several states
have been working effortlessly to address both sides of the controversy. State Legislatures have
been meeting in hopes to resolve the concern. As discussed, there are some who view this law as
racially motivated and discriminatory against minorities. Others, believe that these laws protect
voter’s rights and guard against voter fraud. Until the State Legislatures find a way to protect
voter’s rights, provide an easy way to obtain a photo ID, and solve the issue with voter fraud,
Works Cited
Voter Suppression?." Missouri Law Review, vol. 80, no. 1, Winter2015, pp. 297-312. EB-
“Oppose Voter ID Legislation - Fact Sheet.” American Civil Liberties Union, Robert Hoffman,