Opposing ID and Documentary Proof of Citizenship

The League supports full voting participation by all eligible American citizens and opposes efforts to create new barriers that block citizen voter participation. We therefore oppose ID and documentary proof-of-citizenship requirements.

The following statistics reflect those individuals who do not have photo identification:

• 11% or as many as 21 million Americans
• 36% of voters in Georgia over the age of 75
• 18% of Americans over 65 (6 million)
• 25% of African Americans
• 10% of 40 million people with disabilities
• 15% of low income voters

What is wrong with having to show an ID? Doesn’t everybody have one?
Not everyone has ID that meets the requirements of some states. Indeed, ID requirements disproportionately affect the elderly, young people, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities and the poor.

• As many as 11 percent of United States citizens – more than 21 million individuals – do not have government-issued photo identification. Eleven percent of the American citizens surveyed responded that they do not have current, unexpired government-issued identification with a photograph, such as a driver’s license or military ID. Using 2000 census calculations of the citizen voting-age population, this translates to more than 21 million American adult citizens nationwide who do not possess valid government photo ID. Source: NYU and Brennen Center Survey
  
  
• In Georgia, The Secretary of State estimated that over 650,000 registered Georgians do not have drivers’ licenses

Elderly:

• In 2006, the Missouri Secretary of State estimated that almost 200,000 Missourians of voting age do not have a state-issued photo ID. This includes at least 16 percent of Missouri’s seniors.
  
  
• According to the AARP, 36% of citizens in Georgia over the age of 75 do not have driver’s licenses.
  
  
• Survey results indicate that seniors disproportionately lack photo identification. Eighteen percent of American citizens age 65 and above do not have current government-issued photo ID. Using 2005 census estimates, this amounts to more than 6 million senior citizens. Source: NYU and Brennen Center Survey

Minority Communities:

• The US Census reports that Americans have an annual mobility rate of 14 percent. Hispanics and Blacks, however, have an annual mobility rate of 18 percent, while those with incomes below the poverty level are almost twice as likely to move (24 percent) as those with incomes above the poverty level (13 percent). Consequently, people of color and poor people are less likely to have photo identification showing a current address, even if they have a photo ID.
  
  
• According to the survey, African-American citizens also disproportionately lack photo identification. Twenty-five percent of African-American voting-age citizens have no current government-issued photo ID, compared to eight percent of white voting-age citizens. Using 2000 census figures, this amounts to more than 5.5 million adult African-American citizens without photo identification. The survey also indicated that sixteen percent of Hispanic voting-age citizens have no current government-issued photo ID, but due to a low sample size, the results did not achieve statistical significance. Source: NYU and Brennen Center Survey

People with disabilities:

• According to disability advocates, nearly ten percent of the 40 million Americans with disabilities do not have any form of state-issued photo identification. Source: Center for Policy Alternatives
  

Low income people:

• Citizens earning less than $35,000 per year are more than twice as likely to lack current government-issued photo identification as those earning more than $35,000. Indeed, the survey indicates that at least 15 percent of voting-age American citizens earning less than $35,000 per year do not have a valid government-issued photo ID. Source: NYU and Brennen Center Survey

Current laws work and ensure the process is Fair, Just, Secure and Accessible to all.
There is no evidence that voting by non-citizens is occurring in significant numbers. Indeed, since these activities are illegal in every state for federal elections, reports of prosecution and convictions would abound if significant numbers of people were, in fact, voting illegally. The evidence establishes that current anti-fraud laws work.

Indeed, evidence proves that illegal voting is extremely low. At the Federal level only 24 people were convicted of voter fraud between 2002 and 2005. Indeed, Americans are twice as likely to get hit by lighting as to have their vote cancelled out by a fraudulently cast vote.

Please see the article Voter Fraud? in the October 2007 Issue of National Voter

What if the State pays for the ID.? Isn’t that sufficient? No.

• Costs can be a significant barrier to obtaining a photo ID. Even when the ID itself is free, there are hidden costs, such as transportation to various agencies and fees related to acquiring supporting documents like birth certificates.
• Support for these programs is subject to the mercy of the annual appropriations. process
• To receive a passport the total cost is $97.
• Birth certificate costs vary by State. Costs include fees to the states as well as time off work.
• Find out what Voter ID is required in your state.