The Voter-Fraud Myth: What Racist Voter ID Laws Are Really About
Are Voter ID laws racist? It’s a question that has touched a nerve in many of our readers. Here is the best response we’ve received to our coverage on this controversial topic:
I am of an age that recalls a significant lack of access to certain institutions, like hospitals, for a mother to deliver her child because of the color of her skin or the lack of means in her wallet. This means there are millions of seniors over the age of 60 still living in or near their place of birth who do not have a birth certificate. And don’t think that these people needed to present a birth certificate to register for school, apply for a job or enlist in the military. I can assure you none of these institutions asked for it.
I also know that there are thousands of young to middle-aged people who are earning low to moderate incomes who never obtained a copy of their birth certificates because no one ever asked for it before, and even if they were asked, they had to weigh the expense to obtain one against their next meal, bus ride or rent payment. These people would have to scrounge for the extra money to purchase a copy of their birth certificate for what? The right to vote every two or four years in the nation that they were born in, paid taxes to and sacrificed their lives for during wars.
I have traveled enough in the United States to know that in many regions of our country, people do not drive because they do not own a car or don’t need one because they rely on public transportation or their feet to walk to where they need to go. These same people never thought to get an ID from the DMV because where they live, people know one another.
There is an old saying: “Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.” Those of you who have ID and think that it is sooooo easy to get one need to open your eyes, really listen with your ears and walk away from your comfort zone to the outer rim. Then tell me what these new voter ID requirements are really all about.
There is no evidence of outcome-changing voter fraud in America. What there is evidence of is narrow-minded, life-inexperienced people who can’t think for themselves in the midst of manufactured clouds of fear and mindless screeching of impending doom by callous extremists. The need for voter IDs in the United States is baseless, has no merit and is extremely cruel in its intent. Just because people do not live their lives like you does not mean that they are less human, less deserving of the rights of all citizens, and without need for each of us to stand firm for all of us to fully participate in the processes that shape this nation.
Let’s move on to what really matters: saving this country for everyone who is here. We cannot afford to waste one human life or to trample one person’s rights so that a narrow but vocal few can scream fire while they are in the middle of a theater.
DiversityInc.com comment
For more on the election and racism, read:
Is Jim Crow Back? Racist Voter Laws Exclude 5 Million Blacks, Latinos From Polls
‘Racist’ Pennsylvania Voter ID Law Struck Down
Racist Obama Facebook Pages & Your Office: What Do You Need to Know?
12:12 pm
If your GOAL is to Allow ILLEGAL ALIENS, Criminals who have lost the RIGHT to vote through their ILLEGAL Activities, then you WILL call these Laws “Racist”, but then, what is one to Expect from a Political Party who Fought AGAINST All of the Freeing Laws in USA History (AKA Democrats)
And to Say there is NO Voter Fraud, means you have Kept your Head in the Sand (like an Ostrich), for the last several years, where Vote Buying by BOTH Democrats and Republicans, have been found in ALMOST EVERY SINGLE STATE, where Voter Intimidation by the Black Panthers has been Proven, in More than Just Philly, Where Voter Intimidation by FIXING the POLLS, HAS BEEN PROVEN over the last several Months.
You Wrote this Article to Continue the LIES the Democrats Try to Continue.
Why are you MORE interested in LYING than in dealing in TRUTH?
12:37 pm
OMG – edav38 is one scared person. It is hard for me to believe he/she even reads diversity magazine with views like that. You have a lot of work still to do Luke. Good Luck!
12:41 pm
By the way, you do not need ID in PA this year. They will ask, but you do not have to show.
12:52 pm
edav38, while I don’t entirely agree with the article, I agree even less with your response. The writer did not claim absolutely no voter fraud–the statement was “no outcome-changing voter fraud”. Given the structure of the presidential election, it is hard to see how voter fraud could really change the outcome of that election. Even the challenge of the Bush election in Florida couldn’t come up with enough fraud on either side to affect that vote. In states with small populations, it is possible that fraud could change the outcome of US Senate or House elections, though highly unlikely. In the last Montana US Senate race fewer than 4000 votes separated the winner from the loser and there was no indication that fraud was responsible for that difference. The only outcomes that are truly subject to fraud are local elections and for the most part, those would be in areas where voters would be known. On the other hand, I also believe some sort of ID system is needed because of the fluidity of our populations. The issue is how to make those IDs available to everyone at a cost anyone can afford. I don’t have the answer to that one, but it is something that voter registration processes need to consider. As a final note, most offenders get their right to vote back once they are out of prison.
1:42 pm
edav38 needs to settle down before their conspiracy theories cause them to have a stroke. The so-called voter ID laws are but yet another avenue being used to prevent (legally registered) folks from voting in an effort to allow the Republicans to gain the advantage in winning the White House. Pure and simple. There is so much ugliness going on in the world in general and with this presidential election, in particular that no one should be surprised. Disgusted, yes but not surprised. Should there be a drive to “shore up” voter registration ID initiatives. Maybe, but not during a presidential election year. That is just way to obvious.
2:14 pm
Drivers licenses and state ids are issued regardless of race. Even your Medicaid card is an ID. Or is it racist for me to point that out.
2:49 pm
No, it’s not racist to point that out, but your posts tell me that you’re a virulent racist. Go troll someplace else. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc
2:37 pm
In my state — Texas — the voter ID law is estimated to disenfranchise 600,000 voters. Voter fraud — on the other hand — is rare and usually involves political operatives manipulating absentee ballots, not the in-person voting targeted by these laws. The dubious benefit of voter ID laws simply do not outweigh the harm caused by disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of eligible voters.
2:42 pm
Frankly I don’t see how a legal citizen can function in this country without an ID. I have been asked to produce an ID to: cash checks, buy alcohol, return merchandise, pick up medication & use a credit. I can’t imagine there’s anyone who doesn’t do one or more of these things. I don’t have a problem with being asked to produce my ID for any of these things let alone when voting.
3:05 pm
Aren’t there some 12 million illegal immigrants in this country right now? I am certain that number of votes cast for Obama would sway the election in his favor. And I am equally certain no one would be prosecuted for voting illegaly in such an event.
Separately, does any voter identification statute specify that it applies only to Blacks and Latinos? Is it racist because of disparate impact or something?
Third, let’s get a taxpayer funded program in place to provide free identification to all US citizens. Let’s get this program to also pay for assistance to be provided in getting the required supporting documents – transportation, copies of birth certificates, notaries for notarized affidavits, etc. Whatever it takes.
5:51 pm
Steve, there are many places, where, if you are known in the community,you don’t have to have an ID to do any of the items that you mentioned. Reread the article and “walk a mile in their shoes”. They are unable to easily get the documentation to get the required id and have no need for it in their daily lives……….
10:00 pm
I think ID is a red herring—it’s throwing us off the trail:
1. I can find zero evidence of fraud being committed that rises above inconsequential. Therefore, the “franchise of voting” is NOT in jeopardy.
2. An “any level” or “zero tolerance” argument is disingenuous because whatever fraud is being committed is not significant.
3. Even if you’re concerned about a single false vote, one must consider greater harm. What is more important—hundreds of thousands of Americans voting or potentially stopping inconsequential voting fraud?
4. “Potentially” is a key word—the honest people will still be honest, but why would an ID law change the behavior of people intending to defraud the voting process? Think about all the people arrested for producing false ID at college campuses—for drinking. Take a walk through certain neighborhoods and you’ll see SSI-document vendors peddling false identification. Forcing honest people to get identification changes nothing. Go back to point one.
Bottom line is there’s no problem to be solved—except the problem that some people have of poor (non-white) people voting, a right which has been under attack since this nation was founded. This voter ID effort is all about racism and bigotry; it’s constructed to appeal to those who are fearful of the “other” Americans. It divides to conquer. I cannot imagine anything more anti-American than a group of people organizing to disenfranchise groups of Americans to serve their selfish interests. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc
3:20 pm
Try to ignore the politics of this issue for a few moments and compare it to other less politically charged practices. We demand government issued photo ID’s for many (often less important) tasks than choosing our governmental leadership. There is usually no debate over requiring ID for these purposes. Should fraud in some of these areas occur, such as passing bad checks, it is sometimes correctable, and the money returned. However, given our secret ballot practice, actual correction of voter fraud is impossible. Once voter fraud is proven, if it is proven, it is too late, the ballot is permanently recorded, correction is impossible. I understand the crux of the argument is access of the right to vote versus preventing fraud. However, given that fraud is uncorrectable in this case, it would seem to me that we should err on the side of caution. While voting is a constitutional right, as a side note, would anyone really try to argue though that a government issued photo ID should not be required to purchase a firearm or else their second amendment rights would be infringed?
3:58 pm
“We should err on the side of caution”? There is NO significant voter fraud. These new laws disenfranchise poor, mostly Black and Latino, voters. Whose caution? What caution? Anyone else smell a bigot? Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc
6:56 pm
No, I don’t smell bigotry in Dave H’s post, but your willingness to attribute racist motives to his attempt to provide thoughtful comment captures the essence of bigotry. You do not deny that voter fraud exists, but you believe it not significant enough to risk possible disenfranchisement for people who will, for whatever reason, not pursue obtaining government provided identification that would allow access to the franchise. Thoughtful people, without ugly motives, can dispute your assertions.
10:30 am
I don’t “believe” that voter fraud is insignificant–every study that I can find PROVES that voter fraud is insignificant. There is also plenty of evidence that the voter ID laws are targeting Black and Latino voters–like the threatening billboards that are springing up in poor areas all over swing-state cities. Your phrase “people who will, for whatever reason, not pursue obtaining government provided identification that would allow access to the franchise” is disingenuous and implies ill intent among those poor people affected by these new laws. There is no evidence that people don’t WANT government ID. For some people, the cost is prohibitive, and in some states, like Georgia, the timing of these laws coincided with the closing of motor-vehicles offices in poor areas. Finally, it’s not like I tapped either you or Dave and asked your opinion–you guys came on to this site and posted comments. I think people who present seemingly reasonable arguments while ignoring inconvenient facts on this subject are either intentionally ignorant or bigots. I don’t think either of you guys are ignorant, or you wouldn’t be on this site (because it’s clear you’re not regular readers). Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc
2:53 pm
Luke, they are some poor white folk as well. In this article, I believe it’s more social and age discrimination than racial. I was for the ID issue, until I read this article. I didn’t think of ederly folk not having birth certificates, etc. But, too me, it’s not a racial issue. Moreover, if someone disagrees with you – you call them a troll or bigot or racist. Get over yourself. Not everyone is a bigot or racist that disagrees with your articles. Seems too me you’re being the arrogant one.
3:56 pm
You’re right—there are plenty of poor white people impacted by this. But wealth correlates to race in our country. On a percentage basis, Black and Latino voters are impacted far greater than white people. Just do a web search and follow the trail to which states—and which political party—are pushing this issue … and make the oh-so-small-leap to a conclusion. Now, regarding your advice: Please have some concern for the bigots and trolls that regularly send us racist flames that we don’t publish. If I got over myself, where would those lonely bigots, homophobes, sexists and other trolls go? What would they do all day? Oh, the humanity. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc
4:25 pm
This material was not presented in a balanced way. Your biases are brought forward in the area of voter fraud and disenfranchised ethnic groups. It raises concern that your other opinions on diversity are based on rational thinking.
4:30 pm
Luke, lighten up. Not everyone who disagrees with you is a bigot. No certainty of outcome-changing voter fraud does not necessarily mean that there has not been any — there may be a whole lot here that no one knows for sure. Some kind of ID card seems to me to be a reasonable solution. On the other hand, it is very troubling if the outcome of the proposed ID requirement is the disenfranchisement of voters, especially if it tends to change the outcome of elections. So clearly, the required ID would need to be reliable and yet easy to obtain, even by those who currently have the least acess to and need for an ID. Perhaps the too-often-silent moderates can find some room for compromise if we all cool the rhetoric and stop questioning each other’s motives.
9:11 am
Requiring voter ID in order to combat fraud assumes there is no problem with people obtaining counterfeit or fake IDs. There are more cases of fake IDs than there reported cases of voter fraud. Therefore, requiring ID as a solution seems like it adds a layer of fraud to the voting process.
8:25 am
Given the data which is supposed to be objective, the confirmed claims of voter fraud are statistically insignificant. So for those who support voter suppression for whatever reasons – racial, anti-immigrant, socio-economic classists, etc, it is still wrong. It’s merely a power play to usurp the institutional processes to take power for control purposes. What really makes me angry as a contractor working in various parts of the world to help “others” with Democracy and Governance on behalf of the USA, it feels as an American like “the cobblers’ children do not have shoes.”
4:34 pm
@Joe Steele – wonderfully and poetically summarized.
2:52 pm
Voter fraud is dismissed in this article as rare, when in truth no study can include all cases of voter fraud because not all are caught. The article rasies an intersting point to include fringe elements, but a lack of routinely collected and published data by election boards, county prosecutors, and state election agencies has made it difficult for scholars to conduct studies of voter and other forms of electoral fraud. As long as our head remains in the sand of the depth of the problem, asking for voter authenticity will be incorrectly treated as another demographically based scare tactic.
6:08 pm
You can’t prove there is a problem because there is no problem. It’s like asking, “When did you stop beating your dog?” Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc