From the National Conference of State Legislatures site:

Only 7 of the 50 states require Photo ID prior to voting:

• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• South Dakota

An additional 17 require some form of ID, but not a Photo:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Kentucky
• Missouri
• Montana
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington

What, exactly, constitutes ID, if it does not include a Photo?

In Washington, for examples, it includes:

• A voter’s identification card issued by a county elections officer, or a copy of a current utility bill , bank statement, paycheck, or government check or other government document.

In Texas it includes:

• A birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the person’s identity
• U.S. citizenship papers
• Official mail addressed to the person, by name, from a governmental entity
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the person’s name and address
• Any other form of ID prescribed by the secretary of state

In Alabama:

• Alabama college/university ID with photo
• Utility bill
• Bank statement
• Government check
• Paycheck
• Alabama hunting license
• Alabama fishing license
• Alabama gun permit
• Birth certificate (certified copy)
• Social security card
• Naturalization document
• Court record of adoption
• Court record of name change
• Medicaid or Medicare card
• Electronic benefits transfer card
• Government documents showing name and address of voter

Several states accept University/College ID.

As broad as the requirements are for non-photo ID states, the other 26 states have NO ID requirement at the polls.

What this means is that in 26 states, Joe Bagadonuts can walk into the polling place, say he is Joe Sixpack, and vote FOR Joe Sixpack.

In the 17 states that require some ID, but not photo, it means that Joe Bagadonuts must obtain a document with Joe Sixpack’s name and address on it.  This is pretty easy, just ask any ID Thief.

While fraud is not impossible in the 7 states that require Photo ID, it does raise the bar another notch.  The level of difficulty is such that your run of the mill vote fraud perpetrator or ACORN contractor would find an easier path.  Like, say, Vote By Mail/Absentee ballot.

Voter Registration fraud is a negligible problem in states that require photo ID.  You can register as many dead/imaginary people as you like, but if they need to show photo ID to vote, the odds are against a false ballot being cast.

It is more of a problem in the “easy to steal a document with a name and address” state.

It is a MASSIVE problem in those states where no ID is required.  You can bet that there are thousands of deceased people voting in states where no ID is required.

Are there ways to eliminate, or at least minimize, voter fraud at the polls?  Of course.

• Blue Thumbs: Take a lesson from Iraq and South Africa.  After casting a ballot, voters dip their thumb (or finger) in a semi-permanent ink.  This, at least, ensures that the person only votes ONCE.
• Require Government issued Photo ID: This does not have to be a drivers license, but must be issued by a government agency, who has confirmed the identity of the individual before issuance.  Real ID compliant should be the standard.
• Biometrics: Finger/Thumb print scanner technology has come a long way, and some drivers licenses today (Real ID compliant) carry a 3D “bar code” of your thumbprint (though the print is, apparently, optional.  I can’t find it in the act).

Anyone voting WITHOUT photo ID should only be able to cast a Provisional ballot.

Note:  only 28 states have online sites available for you to verify your registration status.

Tags: Vote