The Importance Of Voter ID Laws

Several of the states have moved toward stricter voter ID laws. The states had put ID laws on voting because they want to further protect voting. With this law, it might help with several different things, but who knows how long this will last. Officials must choose whether or not it helps our country or makes things harder on the people who are voting. Some people may like the idea because they might feel like it helps, but some might not like it because it puts more pressure on them.

With ID laws put on the voters in thirty-two states it will cause for safer voting in the states. If the states put ID laws on the voting it will help stop the voting of illegal immigrants, which will make it safer. Voter ID laws it will help stop the illegal

immigrants from voting because they would have to try and find a way to get a legal state issued ID without being caught, but it on what country they are in because not all states have the law in action. According to an article in The New York Times, “The number of states with the strictest laws is rising as well: Voters in seven states will be required to show photo identification in order to cast their ballots this year. In 2012, only four states required it.” For the states that have photo ID, it helps to insure that the person is really the person they say they are, and that they didn’t just steal someone else's ID just so they could vote. In Florida, for example, a voter without proper identification can cast a provisional ballot, and officials will verify the signatures with one on file.
An article from ACLU states that, “Voter ID laws deprive many voters of their right to vote, reduce participation, and stand in direct opposition to our country’s trend of including more Americans in the democratic process.” There are many Americans that do not have one or both of the forms of identification, which are acceptable for voting. These types of voters are disproportionately low-income, racial and ethnic minorities, the elderly, and people with disabilities. These voters are more frequently to have difficulty obtaining ID, because they cannot afford or obtain those types of documents that are a prerequisite to obtaining government-issued photo ID card. According to the ACLU, “Underlying documents required to obtain ID cost money, a significant expense for lower-income Americans. The combined cost of document fees, travel expenses and waiting time are estimated to range from $75 to $175.” There are many ups and downs with putting this law into place into every state.
Maybe in the future the voter ID law will be taken off of all the states because officials might feel like it may be violating the Voting Rights Act. In a way the Voters ID Law violates the Voting Rights Act, which allows people to be able to vote freely, but with the Voters ID Law it stops some people from voting who don’t have a state issued ID. With the law in place it may be hard for some people to acquire a state issued ID or a photo ID, because maybe they have no way of transportation or money required to get one. ACLU states, “The travel required is often a major burden on people with disabilities, the elderly, or those in rural areas without access to a car or public transportation. In Texas, some people in rural areas must travel approximately 170 miles to reach the nearest ID office.” Voter ID laws are extremely discriminatory in several different ways. Minority voters disproportionately lacked the right ID required to vote and states exclude forms of ID. Voter ID laws are also enforced in a discriminatory manner and they reduce turnout among the minority voters.