Voter Identification Essay

Words: 481
Pages: 2

Being a country of many opinions, the United States offers quite the voting process for ALL of its citizens. No matter who you are, all American citizens have the right to cast a ballot. For those states with a strict ID requirement, yes you must have an ID, possibly a photo ID, but everyone who has the right to vote, can. Despite many individuals not fitting the typical voter persona, states grant citizens many exceptions to accommodate to their needs. For example, a homeless individual can easily provide documents needed to obtain a voter ID by contacting a homeless shelter or other organizations in their community (Tokaji). For other people who do not have any form of identification, one can easily be obtained as Michael stated earlier. According to Mrs. Lindow O, Village Clerk Treasurer, you do not need any form of identification if you do not have any in order to receive an approved voter ID. She also said that she has never experienced an individual not having any proof of identification such as a birth certificate, social security card, or passport. It is a rare occasion, but still easy to handle. Once a person has requested a voter ID, he or she can vote just as any other citizen with a provisional ballot which will be counted as soon as the DMV has proven their identity after some research. Best of all, this form of voter identification card is absolutely free of charge. …show more content…
The percent of minority voters in the past few elections has actually risen even though voter ID laws have become more strict. In the 2004 election, 24.5% of voters were minorities and in 2012 this rose to 28.9% (Frey). While it is true that the minority population increased over that time period, it only increased by 3.8% which is less than the 4.4% increase in minority voters (File). These percentages prove that increased voter ID requirements between 2004 and 2012 did not keep minorities from