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Voter ID debate: Do photo ID requirements promote security or suppress participation?

Date:
October 23, 2012
Source:
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers
Summary:
Will new voting laws, including photo ID requirements, create barriers to voting? Will they impose an unequal burden on participation by some groups of American voters? Are they justified by the need to prevent voting fraud and promote election integrity? Expert views and contrasting opinions on the need for and potential impact of these new state laws are presented in two new articles.
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Will new voting laws, including photo ID requirements, create barriers to voting? Will they impose an unequal burden on participation by some groups of American voters? Are they justified by the need to prevent voting fraud and promote election integrity? Expert views and contrasting opinions on the need for and potential impact of these new state laws are presented in articles in Election Law Journal, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

The Supreme Court upheld Indiana's photo ID requirement in 2008, in the Crawford v. Marion County Election Board decision. Since 2011, a number of state legislatures have enacted new restrictions on voting. These include photo ID requirements, as well as limitations on early voting and voter registration. In some states, these laws have been enjoined or limited by court orders, but some voter ID laws will be in effect -- in whole or in part -- for the 2012 election.

Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC, argues for photo ID requirements in "Protecting the Integrity of the Election Process." According to Mr. von Spakovsky, "It is critically important that states implement measures that help improve the security and integrity of our elections. Ensuring fair elections requires that individuals authenticate their citizenship when they register and their identity when they vote." He also contends that "such minimal requirements do not depress the turnout or have a disparate impact on minority, poor, or elderly voters."

Justin Levitt, an associate professor of law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, argues against photo ID laws and other new restrictions on voting in "Election Deform: The Pursuit of Unwarranted Electoral Regulation." Professor Levitt contends that the burdens imposed by these new laws are not only real and inequitable, but also unnecessary. Furthermore, says Levitt, several of these laws "appear to exact real burdens on real Americans, making it more difficult for citizens to exercise their rights to vote."

"For the past several years, we have seen a fierce debate over voter ID, which has only intensified during the 2012 election cycle," says Paul Gronke, Co-Editor of Election Law Journal and Professor of Political Science at Reed College, Portland, OR. "Supporters of these laws argue that they are needed to promote integrity, while opponents argue that they will suppress participation. While some of these laws have been stopped by court orders, others will be in effect for the 2012 election. We will probably be assessing and debating their impact, on both voter turnout and electoral fraud, for many years to come."


Story Source:

Materials provided by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal References:

  1. Hans A. von Spakovsky. Protecting the Integrity of the Election Process. Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy, March 2012; 11 (1): 90-96 DOI: 10.1089/elj.2011.11107
  2. Justin Levitt. Election Deform: The Pursuit of Unwarranted Electoral Regulation. Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy, March 2012; 11 (1): 97-117 DOI: 10.1089/elj.2011.11108

Cite This Page:

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers. "Voter ID debate: Do photo ID requirements promote security or suppress participation?." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 23 October 2012. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121023090520.htm>.
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers. (2012, October 23). Voter ID debate: Do photo ID requirements promote security or suppress participation?. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121023090520.htm
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers. "Voter ID debate: Do photo ID requirements promote security or suppress participation?." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121023090520.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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