Voter ID laws, seemingly innocuous requirements for a crucial civic duty, have become a contentious political issue. Ostensibly designed to prevent voter fraud, these laws have been criticized for their potential to disenfranchise certain segments of the population. The specter of voter impersonation, the fraud these laws aim to prevent, is as elusive as a snowflake in the Sahara.
In recent municipal elections in Colorado Springs, a fluctuating pattern of voter turnout can be seen. In 2019, the turnout was 37.11% with 265,084 registered voters. The following election in 2021 saw a dip in turnout to 26.87%, despite an increase in registered voters to 310,942. This year’s election saw the voter turnout rebound to 35.19% with 311,915 registered voters.
Complaints and concerns remain about low voter turnout during elections, focusing mostly on voting identification laws. Do they prevent people from voting? Do they prevent voter impersonation and fraud? What are the consequences of voter ID laws?
Voter ID Laws
Voter ID laws require voters to show identification in order to vote. The most common forms of identification required are a driver’s license or a state ID card. Other forms of identification that may be accepted include a passport, birth certificate, or military ID.
Proponents of voter ID laws argue that they are necessary to prevent voter fraud. They point to a handful of cases of voter impersonation fraud that have been documented in recent years. The Heritage Foundation has an Election Fraud Database that offers information about national and state voter fraud crimes. In Colorado, only one person was convicted of voter fraud in 2022. Additionally, the Brennan Center for Justice found that there were only 31 credible allegations of voter impersonation fraud out of over 1 billion votes cast in the United States between 2000 and 2014.
The shadow of the Jim Crow era looms large over the discussion of voter ID laws. During that period, these laws were used as a tool to disenfranchise black voters. Critics argue that the spirit of these laws persists today, with strict requirements potentially suppressing votes, particularly among minority voters.
Do Strict Voter ID Laws Perpetuate Disenfranchisement?
Strict voter ID laws disproportionately impact minority voters. These laws often require voters to present identification documents that can be difficult or expensive to obtain, such as a birth certificate. Voter ID laws can also create confusion and uncertainty about the voting process, which can discourage people from voting since the laws are often complex and difficult for many people to understand.
These are just a few examples of how laws can perpetuate voter disenfranchisement.
Lower turnout and apathy may simply reflect a combination of factors, including less-than-favorable candidates, a rejection of the political system, and the fact many people eschew the political process for a wide range of reasons, including voter ID laws and requirements.
