You Must Show A Picture ID…
… if you look young and want to buy alcohol or cigarettes.
… if you want to cash a check at the bank.
… if you want to purchase a gun.
… if you want to take the S.A.T. (college entrance exam).
… if you want to get a passport.
… if you want to drive a car.
Now, the Supreme Court has upheld one state’s law requiring a photo ID to vote in an election. This seems to be a problem with some politicians… but you have to ask yourself: why?
Is it unreasonable to require proof of who you are when you are about to vote? Is it unfair in any way to require identification before you electing our country’s representatives? The answer is NO! In fact, I believe it is a very reasonable step to ensure the voter is, in fact, the person they claim to be. Why should the identification standard for voting be LOWER than for buying liquor or a gun?
The reason SOME elected representatives oppose this is based on POLITICS. They think they can get more votes if identification is not required and, as is too often the case, put their own self-interests in front of what is a reasonable requirement for performing the important duty of voting. These same politicians didn’t hesitate to require ID for purchasing guns.
The common objection, which I think is merely a smokescreen, is that some people can’t get ID’s. I don’t believe it. They may CHOOSE not to… or be too lazy to do so.. or offer some other excuse… but proper identification CAN be obtained with not too much effort. For those who need help, there are plenty of civic organizations more than willing to provide assistance.
And I won’t even address the validity of requiring identification with regard to voter fraud. That should be obvious.
If a person who is otherwise qualified to vote claims their lack of identification prevented them from voting then, in my humble opinion, they have chosen to ignore the simple requirements and consciously forfeit their right to vote (until they remedy the situation). Such a person probably isn’t interested enough to vote anyway, though. Their opinion in the government process is worth the same as those who do have ID and don’t vote: nothing.
Our Constitution gives us the RIGHT to participate in this process… but doesn’t force us to participate. Whether an ID is required or not, there will always be those who choose not to participate. I believe we are better off without them. Honestly, I would rather have fewer, informed, motivated voters rather than more, ignorant, and careless voters.
