DemDaily: Bullies at the Ballot Box: State Voter ID Laws
October 21, 2020
Between now and the election, DemList will continue to roll out voter protection and information resources. We will also, as always, try to explain what it all means and why it is important.
The coronavirus has upended the traditional voting process, with more than 33 million US citizens having already cast their vote. Whether voting early in person or at the ballot box election day, it is critical to know the laws in your state to make sure your vote is counted.
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34 states have laws requesting or requiring voters to show some form of identification at the polls.
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In Texas, a Handgun License is acceptable ID, but a student ID is not (ACLUTexas)
Advocates maintain it is necessary to prevent fraud at the polls, while opponents argue the laws are costly and used as a tool to disenfranchise eligible voters - most adversely racial and ethnic minorities, low-income, elderly and handicapped voters.
Voter Identification (ID) Laws for In-Person Voting fall into two categories: Photo v. Non-Photo Identification, and within those two, Strict or Non-Strict. Within each category individual states make exceptions for those voters who don't have a photo ID.
Source: NCSL
Strict States: In states with strict ID laws, a voter must present identification in order to cast a valid ballot, such as a driver's license, government or state-issued ID, military ID or tribal ID.
Voters unable to show ID are given a provisional ballot, to return within a designated time period with acceptable ID or their ballot will not be counted.
Non-Strict States: Exceptions to a required photo ID are allowed, but vary greatly by state. Exceptions may include signing an affidavit, having a poll worker vouch for voter, producing bank or billing statements, and having election officials verify a voter's identity after the vote is cast, or having the voter return an inquiry mailed to their reported address.
State or federal employee IDs and out-of-state driver licenses don't qualify under Wisconsin's Strict ID laws
* Strict photo ID required: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
* Strict non-photo ID required: Arizona, North Dakota and Ohio.
* Non-Strict photo ID required: Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota and Texas.
* Non-Strict non-photo ID required: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
* No ID required to vote at ballot box: California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wyoming, Washington, DC and the US Territories.
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Suppressive photo ID requirements block millions of eligible American citizens from voting. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, as many as 11% of eligible voters do not have the kind of ID that is required by states with strict ID requirements.
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Kimberly Scott
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Sources: National Conference State Legislators, Ballotpedia, Vote.org, State Elections Sites, Brennan Center
