Perceived Advantages and Disadvantages of Voter ID Laws
Should Americans be required to show a state-issued photo ID in order to vote in elections? Imagine you are a state representative. Would you approve or disapprove of a proposal to pass a mandatory voter identification law in your state before the next national (midterm) election in 2022? Why or why not? In answering this question, make sure you address the risks and/or benefits of state-issued photo ID laws as part of the broader landscape of American national elections.
Engage with the reading. Specifically, in weighing the pros and cons of Voter ID laws, you must address the articles (in your reader) by John Fund, Peter Beinart, and Lorraine C. Minnite on the topic (“Debating the Issues: Voter ID Laws—Reducing Fraud or Suppressing Votes?”). You must also engage substantially with theories from this course pertaining to voting and/or elections, and cite at least one additional reading from the CCM Reader or Canvas. (You may reference the textbook to cite facts and address theories, but it does not count as an additional reading.) While both state legislatures and the courts are involved in this process, you are not expected to address any judicial 1 issues involved in the question. Focus on your (hypothetical) role as a state representative. You can write this more generally (without focusing on a specific state), or you are welcome to pick a particular state to represent if you wish—just make sure you fully answer the prompt.
Grading advice:
This is a structured reading response paper. You will be not be graded on your political partisanship or opinion on the matter, but rather on your ability to form a cogent argument, engage with the readings, and back up your arguments with supporting evidence. Use specific examples from the readings. The text is your protection. Cite well and often. Do not use outside readings or information without permission from the professor at least three days before the due date for the paper. A good essay will demonstrate critical reflection and engagement with the readings, and it will answer the full question while addressing the most prominent counterarguments to make your point. Your grade will be based on both content and structure. In writing this paper, your challenge is neither to provide a long summary of the reading, nor to conduct outside research. Instead, students should reflect on the question at hand, present a clear thesis with an argument in their introduction, address the and clearly articulate their argument throughout the paper in the form of a fluidly-written, well-reasoned, factually-supported, and textually-reinforced thesis.
*Papers should be approximately 3 (no longer than 4) pages long, double- spaced, use 12-point Times New Roman font, with numbered pages, and normal margins.
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A Case Against the Controversial Vote ID Laws
In 2014, when only 27,000 votes separated President-Elect Trump and Secretary Hillary Clinton, 300,000 voters in the State of Wisconsin could not vote because they lacked the strict forms of voter ID required (Kennedy). According to the Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Neil Albrecht, voter restrictions were responsible for the low turn-out in the just concluded presidential elections (Spicuzza and Kyle). These are early indications that voter ID laws should not be embraced, and minority groups were the most affected. In other words, Americans should not be required to show state-issued photo ID in order to vote because the requirement is a covert form of voter repression that threatens the foundations of the American democracy. The current paper will reject the notion of voter ID laws by first looking at the perceived advantages and disadvantages and then debunking the argument fronted by proponents.
Perceived Advantages of Voter ID Laws
The most common argument in public discourse in support of voter ID laws is that they will help to reduce voter fraud. The states that have passed the Voter ID laws understand that America has a history of voter fraud (Spakovsky). As a result, individuals must authenticate their identity during polls to sustain the integrity American of American polls. Towards this end, proponents argue that voter ID prevents impersonation fraud, fictitious voter registrations, double voting, and voting by illegal immigrants or legal individuals who are not yet entitled to vote. Essentially, voter ID laws are supposed to inspire public confidence in the elections by having the means to detect and deter fraud (Hicks, McKee, and Sellers ). Based on these arguments, proponents have rejected the idea that Voter ID laws are burdensome and oppressive to minority communities.
Disadvantages of Voter ID Laws
In the Voter ID Laws, especially Republicans, Voter ID Laws are a requirement consistent with modern development. For instance, people need state-issued identification to board planes, enter federal buildings, and cash checks. Since voting is equally as important, such restrictions are necessary (Canon et al. 22). However, while these arguments appear to be enticing, they are not necessarily and entirely true. For instance, studies (Endres and Panagopoulos) ha...