New laws on the presentation of documents at the election caused controversy

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When the Americans go to the presidential elections in November, some will not succeed because a number of states have passed laws requiring the presentation of an identity document at the polling station.

The most stringent laws require the presentation of a document with a photograph issued by the authorities. Such requirements are a relatively new phenomenon in the United States, which, however, has become widespread in the last ten years.

Voter Identity Act laws are in effect in 33 of 50 states, covering about 60% of the population. After the election of Barack Obama as president, 11 states introduced similar requirements for voters. Requirements for documents, however, vary: in some cases, an official document with a photo is required, for example, a driver's license, in others a rather simpler paper, for example, a salary check issued in the name of a voter.

Proponents of these measures say they prevent election irregularities and give the public more confidence in the electoral process.

“Voter identification can prevent and deter fraud when a person impersonates another; voting on fake voter registration; repeated voting by voters registered in more than one state; and voting illegal aliens, ”points out a former electoral official in Virginia and Florida, Don Palmer, in a report to the Heritage Foundation.

Palmer argues that opponents of these laws exaggerate the number of people affected by the innovations, and these statements impede national debate.

Appearance on elections

According to the Federal Election Commission, 2012 million people took part in the 129 presidential election of the year. These are 55% of the population that by age have the right to vote. Turnout was slightly higher in the 2008 election of the year - 58%.

The decline in turnout can be explained by many factors, but researchers from the University of California at San Diego did not find a clear relationship between the adoption of laws on the identification of voters and the general turnout at elections.

However, they found that, although the laws had little effect on white voters, they reduced turnout among Hispanic, African American, and mixed races.

“The main question is not whether turnout in states that have strict ID laws are reduced, but whether the turnout is widening between white and non-white voters in such states,” the report says.

The report notes that the lack of certification is more pronounced among minorities, the poor and young people.

The report of the United States Court of Auditors provides several reasons why people face difficulties in obtaining official identity cards. So, some do not have a transport to get to the relevant department, others do not have the necessary documents, such as a birth certificate, to get a card. The Chamber also refers to the high cost of obtaining a driver's license, although many states that require proof of identity provide an opportunity to obtain a free document.

In addition, there are people who, due to their employment, especially when it comes to part-time work or work where vacation is not available, cannot leave work to get to the department where they issue documents during his work hours.

Voting right

Attorney General Eric Holder, in his speech at 2012, stated the need to actively engage in the prevention of electoral fraud, but noted that “political excuses” should not prevent the Americans from exercising their “most precious right”.

“The line of American history has always led to the expansion of the electorate. That is what made our country special. We simply cannot allow the current era to be the beginning of a reversal in this historical process, ”he said.

Opponents of the law also argue that there is a huge imbalance between the costs that voters and states will have to bear to implement these requirements and a small number of reports of violations that these laws can prevent.

Before the 2012 election, Harvard law professor Justin Levitt said in a report to the American constitutional society in defense of law and politics that evidence of such violations was “extremely rare."

“Although they do occur, we are talking about a few recent incidents. At the same time, millions of votes were cast, ”he noted.

According to Levitt, there is a reason why many states offer voters an alternative to photo ID and take their votes into account.

“They understand that we are talking about legal American citizens who do not have official identity cards. And they do not want to create unjustified difficulties for citizens wishing to exercise the most basic right in our constitutional order, ”he says.

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