Comment on Classmates Blog- Ashley West

Ashley West’s two cents on voting requiring an ID is practical. She discusses the hardships that many will have to face in order to acquire an ID (including waiting at DMV’s and going through numerous sources for documents such as birth certificates). She also describes the abuse this will cause to the U.S political system by stating that this gives yet another reason for minority citizens (primarily democrats) not to vote- maybe the reason G.O.P candidates are encouraging this legislation.

However, I disagree with her stance on this piece of legislation as a whole. Yes requiring citizens to have an ID to vote is inconvenient for a few, but when looking at the wider spectrum it seems almost idiotic not to have this law. For one, requiring an ID for voters will reduce voting fraud (like such that happened during Obama’s election with ACORN).  Sure Pennsylvania has not had voting fraud as a major issue in years prior, but other states such as Texas have received over 50 voting fraud convictions. “Vote fraud is real and vote fraud swings elections,” said Quinn Hillyer of the Center for Individual Freedom. “This isn’t a racial thing. This is an anyway-we-can-win thing.” In order to protect voting fraud, requiring an ID before voting seems a quick and simple fix.

As for that 11% of the eligible voters that do not own a government issued ID, there are a number of substantial ways they can obtain their ID (which they will need not only for voting but also for everyday life! You need a photo ID to get on an airplane or an Amtrak train; to open a bank account, withdraw money from it, or cash a check; to pick up movie and concert tickets; to go into a federal building; to buy alcohol and to apply for food stamps. Living in the U.S today without an ID is suicidal. It is impossible to do anything without an ID in today’s society).

Republicans agree with this piece of legislation because states must prevent voting fraud not because they want to restrict minorities such as African-American from voting. In actuality, I’m surprised our nation has gotten away with not requiring some from of government approved ID in previous years. This law is a law of prevention, not racism or against minorities.

http://marylandreporter.com/2012/06/11/voter-fraud-or-voter-suppression-right-and-left-clash-over-election-laws/

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/story/2012-03-19/voter-ID-Texas-fraud/53658158/1

http://www.brennancenter.org/content/section/category/voter_id/

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/12/27/why_americans_support_voter_id_laws_112546.html