Do You Know Where Your Birth Certificate Is? You may Need it to Vote

Do you know where your birth certificate is? You may need to find it by the year 2010 if the Senate agrees to a measure already passed by the House that would require voters to offer proof of citizenship.

The debate over voter identification is heated, with Democrats accusing Republicans of trying to limit voter participation and create a voting block in their image.

Republicans say that voter fraud demands that poll workers check identification. They worry that undocumented immigrants are cancelling out Americans’ votes.

Facts and tradeoffs

So what are the facts and tradeoffs here?

Well, there is little to no evidence that undocumented immigrants are voting in significant numbers. Republicans don’t argue with these statistics, but say that it’s hard to track illegal votes without an identification system.

Arizona has found that only 238 of its 2.7 million registered voters were noncitizens in the last 10 years, and only 4 of them are believed to have voted.

Those in favor of requiring voter identification believe that voter fraud is more widespread and a system should be in place to prevent it. After all, they say, you need a picture ID to rent a movie!

But those opposed argue that the tradeoff isn’t worth it. Sure, you’d have a more secure voting system, but it could prevent thousands, maybe millions, from voting.

Democrats argue that poor, elderly, and handicapped citizens are less likely to have picture ID and may find it difficult to get one if they are unable to pay or are immobile.

Further, Democrats argue, most illegal immigrants are afraid of being caught and deported and are not likely to risk a felony in order to vote. They say that the most likely cause of voter fraud is electronic voting without a paper trail. For more on this, click here.

Lawyers for the Navajo Nation and other Native American tribes have argued against the bill for fear it would prevent American Indians from voting. Many Native Americans do not have picture ID -- some don’t have the funds and others do not believe in being photographed. The Amish also avoid having their pictures taken.

Proponents of the bill say arrangements would be made for those who do not have picture IDs because of their beliefs.

Possible effects of the law

If the Senate were to pass and the president to sign the measure, Americans would have to show photo ID in the 2008 elections and proof of citizenship in the 2010 elections.

If, as Democrats argue, these requirements were to prevent poor, elderly, disabled, and minority Americans from voting, Republicans may benefit. Many of these disadvantaged groups tend to vote Democrat, so these laws could possibly affect more than just the election process, but also the outcome of elections.

Further, voting rights advocates argue that voter ID laws would make voter registration drives much more difficult, time-consuming, and costly.

State Supreme Courts in Georgia and Missouri have found voter ID laws to be unconstitutional on the basis that they place an unnecessary burden on voters.

What are the voter ID laws in your state? To find out, click here.

What do you think?

Is it fair to ask voters for identification? If you knew that new requirements would affect tight races, would you support them? How should we deal with the possibility of voter fraud?

Your input matters

Your representatives in Congress DO care what you think. Especially now -- 2006 is an election year and many representatives will be looking to reconnect with their constituents. Let your congressmen and women know what you think! Give your senators a piece of your mind! To get to your reps, click here.

To explore our archive of past Voting Rights updates, click here.

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