Voter ID legislation is not In the public interest

By Diane Blank and Mary Francis

For the past 89 years the League of Women Voters has been dedicated to removing unnecessary and unjust barriers to voting. In fact, the work actually began with our foremothers and founders at the first Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, N.Y., in 1848.

Legislation pending in the Oklahoma legislature (SB4 and HB1037) requiring that a photo ID be presented before a registered voter can cast a ballot erects barriers to voting. This legislation is being promoted on the false premise that the integrity of elections is threatened by individuals who are trying to commit voter fraud at the polls. There are many serious problems with voting systems and election administration nationally, but there is no evidence that voters are at fault.

Voter fraud occurs when someone tries to impersonate an eligible voter at the polls in order to cast a ballot. The Brennan Center for Justice sponsored an extensive investigation of alleged incidents of voter fraud nationwide. The report concludes that most of the irregularities reported were not voter fraud. The full report, "The Truth About Voter Fraud," by Justin Levitt is available online at brennancenter.org.

How affective would a photo ID requirement be in combating election irregularities? According to the Brennan Center report, "...photo ID laws are effective only in preventing individuals from impersonating other voters at the polls -- an occurrence more rare than getting struck by lightning." The Brennan Center study found that most of the alleged cases of voter fraud were actually mistakes or inefficiencies on the part of state and county election officials and workers. Voters were not at fault, and photo ID legislation would do nothing to correct these problems.

Project Vote, www.projectvote.org, concluded in Policy Brief No. 8, Restrictive Voter Identification Requirements:

"By passing burdensome laws that address an almost non-existent problem, representatives erode the public's faith in the electoral system. When the impact of additional identification laws is examined, one sees their dangerous potential to disenfranchise eligible citizens. Americans need more than ever to believe that their government acts truthfully and honorably where their constitutional rights are concerned. Americans have real concerns about the integrity of their election system, given recent controversies about ballot design, vote counting, and the security of new voting machines. By passing burdensome laws that address a non-existent problem, elected officials risk further eroding the public's faith in their ability to govern with the interests of the voters in mind."

Voter ID requirements are discriminatory. At least 11 million eligible voters nationally do not have photo identification. A recent study shows who these people are:

· Americans over 65: 18 percent have no photo ID

· Persons with disabilities: 10 percent have no photo ID

· African-Americans: 25 percent have no photo ID

· Low income citizens: 15 percent have no photo ID

How will the supporters of this legislation ensure that all eligible voters who currently do not have photo IDs are able to exercise their right to vote? We should be working to make the voting franchise more accessible, not more restrictive.

Legislation which requires eligible voters to present a photo ID at the polls is not in the public interest. Oklahoma has one of the fairest and most efficient election systems in the nation. There is no evidence that voter fraud is or is likely to become a problem here. Oklahoma voters would be better served by focusing on the real issue -- maintaining the integrity of our fine state elections process.

Diane Blank and Mary Francis are with the

League of Women Voters of Norman.