Voter Photo ID

The Brennan Center's latest research reveals the extent of the obstacles challenging 3-4 million voters in affected states across the country as they try to obtain valid voter photo IDs.

“As the League of Women Voters of Michigan noted, that state ‘follows federal law for verifying new registrants' identity and the voter's signature is compared to the signature on file to confirm identity for absentee voting. These methods work very well and there is no evidence of voter impersonation in our elections.’"

“A second judge has declared Wisconsin's voter ID law unconstitutional, further guaranteeing that the ID requirement will not be in place for elections this fall.”

“The court heard oral arguments today in a lawsuit filed by amendment opponents, who claim the ballot question is too vague and misleading.”

"'Unfortunately, those most likely to have problems [with ID] are being the most severely suppressed -- the elderly, minorities, those with a disability,' said Roberta Winters, the issues and action vice president for the Pennsylvania League of Women..."

“One would think that in a nation where so many citizens do not vote — 75 million eligible people in 2008 — legislators would spare no efforts to increase exercise of the franchise.”

“The fact is there are tens of thousands of folks in Milwaukee County [WI] who don't have a valid photo ID for any number of reasons but still manage to get by just fine. These are the same people some suggest are committing massive voter fraud even though there's little hard evidence to support most of those claims.”

“Josephine Givnin is 99 and a regular voter, but to cast a ballot this year she needs a photo identification card - which she lacks because she never had a driver's license.”

“As several states prepare to implement voter ID laws passed by their legislatures in November, TPM’s interviews with elections officials show that education efforts are all over the map.”

League Joins Case in Support of Voting Rights / Department of Justice