Elena Hilton, RTV
What happens less frequently than being struck by lightning? Voter fraud. So why are so many states dedicating so much time to creating Voter ID laws that make it even more difficult to get people to the polls?
On this day in 1873, women’s voting rights activist Susan B. Anthony was fined $100 for voting in a presidential election. It’s been 141 years and voting still comes at a financial cost for over 10 percent of Americans.
One out every 10 Americans does not have a form of government-issued photo ID, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. The National Conference of State Legislators reported that eight states currently will not allow someone to cast their vote without a valid photo ID, and 34 states require some type of personal identification to be produced before being allowed to vote.
For those Americans without photo IDs (generally the elderly, students, or people with low incomes), it can be extremely difficult to find transportation to places where they can obtain an ID.
In addition, it can cost about $30 to acquire the documents necessary (birth certificates, marriage licenses, etc.) to receive an ID and the actual ID can cost anywhere from $5 to $30 according to DMVanswers.com. Not to mention that implementing photo ID voter laws costs tax payers millions of dollars.
Some alternatives to photo IDs suggested by the Brennan Center for Justice are signature comparisons, verification of social security numbers or statewide voter registration databases.
It’s been a century and half since Susan B. Anthony had to pay for her right to vote – and current voter ID laws aren’t too far off from sending us back to the 1800s.
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