Ensuring Equitable Access: Voting ID Requirements’ Impact on Low-Income Voters

The debate around voter fraud and identification laws has grown in intensity on the public and political stage in recent years. Some politicians and voters feel that voter ID laws and requirements need to be strengthened to better protect elections. However, in a country that has long struggled with voter suppression and disenfranchisement, stringent voter ID requirements have become the latest method of targeting the right to vote in  disadvantaged communities. 

Voter ID requirements disproportionately affect low-income communities, ultimately reducing their representation in government, and while voter fraud is a legitimate issue, legislation must consider equitable access developing voter ID laws.

Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy. It is a form of civic engagement that every citizen possesses to allow for representation at every level of government. Written into our country’s constitution, the 26th Amendment states that “The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.” Voting allows the public’s demands and interests to generate genuine change. The history of voting in the United States is marked by exclusion, discrimination, and struggle. For so long people of color and women were denied the right, and the legacy of those who fought to gain the right is a reminder of why we all must use it. 

Alternatively, given the history and scale of voter disenfranchisement in the United States, access to the ballot remains a pervasive issue in modern America. 

Exercising their rights can be incredibly challenging for low-income communities due to inaccess to transportation, lack of education, and restrictive voter ID laws. From photo requirements to expensive documentation, restrictions on voter IDs block “millions of eligible American citizens from voting.” This article will delve into the impact of voter ID laws on low-income voters and how we can work to ensure equitable access to the ballot.

Voter ID laws are left to the discretion of the state. Thirty-seven states require some form of identification at the polls, while the remaining states use methods such as signature identification to verify identities. 

Proponents for stricter voter ID laws argue that they will work to reduce fraud and increase public trust and confidence in the electoral process, but these requirements often impose extensive time and costs on voters and administrators. Some states require a photo ID, such as a driver’s license or military ID, while others accept documentation such as a utility bill that shows the name and address of the voter. Yet, many eligible voters do not possess a driver’s license. As of 2023 243.35 million people in the US possessed a drivers license, leaving roughly 96.6 million people that do not drive due any reason from age to disability to lack of vehicle access, or because they simply don’t need to drive.

Furthermore, if a voter does not travel internationally, then a passport is not an option for photo identification. States that mandate photo identification for voting as required provide free photo ID to voters, however, “More than 10 million eligible voters live more than 10 miles from their nearest state ID-issuing office open more than two days a week” and many of the offices hold limited business hours. 

While the photo ID service is free, the office requires various documentation of identity such as marriage licenses which can cost as much as $120, or proof of residency which those who are homeless do not possess. For voters who have long work days, live far from photo ID offices, and have limited funds, the barriers to photo identification are significant. 

The issue of voter ID requirements extends beyond concerns of fraud as illustrated by a case in Idaho where the use of student IDs was banned  as a legitimate form of voter identification. A senator sponsoring the bill argued that the standard for receiving a student ID was lower than other forms of identification. However, student IDs for voting had not been linked to any cases of fraud. This ban works to restrict student voters that operate on limited funds, making obtaining or renewing a driver’s license or passport becomes yet another obstacle in voting. 

The disproportionate voter disenfranchisement of low-income communities as a result of voter ID laws is important to consider in the greater context of barriers that these voters face. Many low-income voters face extensive wait times that require time to be taken off work; work that is crucial to their paychecks. 

In South Dakota, 32 percent of Native voters attribute distance to polling locations as a factor of whether they vote. Moreover, those facing socioeconomic disadvantages receive less attention and resources  about voting rights and requirements, fostering disengagement towards voting. 

If voters are not given the proper time and resources to understand their state’s voting requirements before traveling to the polls, not meeting the voter ID requirements may not be realized until they are prepared to cast a vote.

Addressing this issue is key to creating a more inclusive and democratic electoral process in this country. 

As we approach a presidential election and the topic of voter fraud and new voter ID requirements enters the political stage, we must remain aware of how our country’s marginalized groups are affected. Everyone must work to get out the vote and raise awareness about legislation that works as voter suppression. Policymakers must advocate for subsidized IDs for those who lack the resources and promote alternative options for those who lack photo identification at the polls including options like no-excuse mail-in voting. 

Casting a vote is a right and not a privilege. We must continue to advocate for comprehensive solutions to give this democratic right of civic engagement to all to redress the decades of voter disenfranchisement.