Voter Id Laws Duh!
A bill passed the Texas Senate two weeks ago that would require voters to show some form of ID - not necessarily photo - before voting. The bill is now before the House -- but a significant firestorm has arisen over it. Democrats feel that stricter voter ID deters minorities from voting, making voter ID a top issue for the Democratic party. Republicans feel that we need stricter regulations to ensure our elections remain fair and equal. The battle is on to resolve one of the most heated issues facing our state’s lawmakers.
Last November, many of us – should have been more! – traveled to our respective polling places to vote and followed familiar routines: standing in line for our turn at democracy, stepping up to the table when called, stating our name and being checked off on the rolls, and then proceeding to the booth to vote. A simple process -- perhaps routine and blasé for some -- but, in truth, embodying the most powerful and important element of republican democracy. When I did my democratic part at my precinct in Lakeway, Texas, not much was required for me to vote: just my name verified by the volunteer on the voting rolls. I did not have to give my date of birth nor my social security number. No photo ID was required: a shockingly low bar for such a highly important act.
On the other hand, I have to use my photo ID all the time to prove my age and identity for all sorts of mundane matters: admittance into an R rated movie, registering for classes at my university, applying for a membership at a health club. I even had to give up my ID to check out a cart to move my belongings into my dorm room! But I didn’t have to show it to vote. Is this dichotomy reasonable? The Texas Legislature apparently doesn’t think so.
The voter ID idea has a burdensome history. It wrongly was used in earlier, less equitable times in our democracy to deter or prevent minority voting. But times have thankfully changed, and the invidious undercurrents that drove voter ID abuses decades ago have all but vanished. In fact, recent evidence indicates that voter ID requirements can lead to higher voter turnout. After Indiana implemented a voter ID law, it experienced an overall increase in voter turnout.
Those who oppose voter ID laws in Texas argue that it would unfairly deter voting. This opposition is reflective of a less protective, bygone era. The new law now pending would -- and should -- deter some voters: fraudulent voters. Indeed, this significant concern of precinct election officials -- preventing voter fraud -- would be largely removed by the implementation of a reasonably limited voter ID law.
Texas lawmakers from both sides of the aisle agree that, in recent years, voter fraud prosecutions have been limited in Texas. But these numbers may be low because, voter fraud is hard to catch under current law, which, as noted, requires absolutely no proof of identification to vote. Thus, some speculate that voter fraud is much more widespread than the evidence indicates, because it is virtually undetectable. Whatever the truth on this issue, the implementation of a reasonable voter ID law would provide more security for the ballot box – which is a good and necessary thing.