Why Voter ID Laws So Controversial, according to the PBS Frontline report

Full Answer Section

• not have a valid form of government-issued identification, and that African Americans and Latinos are disproportionately likely to be among this group.
• Cost: Requiring a voter ID would also be costly for states to implement. The Brennan Center for Justice estimates that it would cost states between $111 million and $610 million to implement a voter ID law.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to require a voter ID is a political one. There are strong arguments on both sides of the issue. It is important to weigh the potential benefits of reducing voter fraud against the potential costs of disenfranchising voters and the cost of implementing voter ID laws.

Are voter ID laws necessary to protect the public from voter fraud?

Some people believe that voter ID laws are necessary to protect the public from voter fraud. They argue that voter ID laws make it more difficult for people to vote illegally and that they can help to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

However, there is little evidence of widespread voter fraud in the United States. In fact, a study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that voter fraud is "extremely rare," with an estimated rate of 0.00004%. This suggests that voter ID laws may not be necessary to prevent voter fraud.

Are voter ID laws politicized wastes of state resources and time?

Others believe that voter ID laws are politicized wastes of state resources and time. They argue that voter ID laws are not necessary to prevent voter fraud and that they are more likely to disenfranchise voters than to prevent fraud.

They also point out that voter ID laws are often passed by Republican-controlled legislatures and that they disproportionately impact minority voters and low-income voters, who are more likely to vote for Democratic candidates. This suggests that voter ID laws may be motivated by partisan politics rather than by a desire to prevent voter fraud.

Conclusion

Whether or not voter ID laws are necessary to protect the public from voter fraud or whether they are politicized wastes of state resources and time is a complex question with no easy answer. There are strong arguments on both sides of the issue. It is important to weigh the potential benefits of reducing voter fraud against the potential costs of disenfranchising voters and the cost of implementing voter ID laws.

Sample Answer

Whether or not requiring a voter ID in all states would make the voting process more legitimate is a complex question with no easy answer. There are a number of factors to consider, including the following:

• Potential to reduce voter fraud: Some people believe that requiring a voter ID would help to reduce voter fraud. However, there is little evidence of widespread voter fraud in the United States. In fact, a study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that voter fraud is "extremely rare," with an estimated rate of 0.00004%.
• Potential to disenfranchise voters: Others believe that requiring a voter ID would disenfranchise voters, particularly minority voters and low-income voters. This is because these groups are less likely to have a valid form of ID. A study by the Government Accountability Office found that 6.2% of U.S. citizens of voting age do