Do you strongly suspect North Carolina Republicans gained control of the state legislature only because of flawed elections and voter fraud?
Didnít think so, nor do we harbor such suspicions. Republicans gained the majority the same way Democrats retained it for decades ó through hard-fought but fair elections in which the vast majority of ballots came from citizens who had a legal right to cast them. With only 21 cases of possible voter fraud referred for investigation in 2010, the evidence is more miniscule than massive.
Nonetheless, state GOP leaders say concern about voter fraud is so widespread, theyíre pursuing a law requiring voters to produce a photo ID at the polls. Enacting laws to address problems that donít appear to exist does not make for smaller or more efficient government. It may, however, make for longer lines at polling sites. In addition to verifying registration, poll workers may also need to be trained to recognize counterfeit IDs. Otherwise, the fraud fear will simply shift from voters lacking IDs to voters bearing fake documentation.
Nonetheless, if the need for this law isnít clear, itís also doubtful it would onerously burden legal voters, as some have claimed. About half of the states now have a voter ID requirement, including eight that require photo ID. Although critics frequently argue that ID requirements discourage legitimate voters ó the elderly, the indigent and some minorities, for example ó that hasnít been born out by plummeting turnout in states with voter ID laws. In upholding Georgiaís photo ID statute, a federal appellate judge described it as ěreasonable, narrowly tailored and related to a legitimate and important state interest.î
That sounds like a good template to follow. A reasonable law will offer several options for an acceptable ID (Florida, for instance, lists 12), and it will include provisions to provide a free photo ID to any voter who needs one. Otherwise, forcing a citizen to purchase an ID is a de facto poll tax. A reasonable law also should be highly cost efficient and will include recourse for registered voters who show up without a valid ID. Some states require such voters to use provisional ballots, while others must sign affidavits. Either way, the voter still votes, and the integrity of the process is upheld.
While the ID law may be a remedy in search of a disease, perhaps it would quell claims that North Carolina has a voter fraud problem. Shoring up trust in the system isnít a bad thing, so long as the law doesnít disenfranchise marginalized citizens who already think their vote isnít wanted or doesnít count.