Reflection On Voter ID Laws

When examining three reflections on Voter ID laws by Chander Davidson, Hans von Spakovsky, and Edward Foley, it is clear that there is a contentious debate surrounding the issue. In “The Historical Context of Voter Photo-ID Laws”, Davidson asserts that Voter Photo-ID laws are tantamount to a discriminatory poll tax. In Spakovsky;s “Requiring Identification by Voters” the author counters that voter fraud is a threat too dangerous to leave unchecked. While neither Davidson nor Spakovsky fully explicates the intricacies of the issue or introduces an unchallengeable argument, the debate itself underscores an ideological tension between liberty and security. It is also clear to the reader that partisan interests inform both positions on Voter ID laws. In “Is There a Middle Ground in the Voter ID debate”, Edward Foley appeals to a compromise on the issue and strives to reconcile the concerns voiced in the other two articles. In answering the two sides of the debate, his rationales ultimately appear the most reasonable and fair in terms of preventing fraud and protecting voters from discriminatory restrictions. However, his proposed solutions fall short of ideal. In considering the arguments presented on the topic, it is evident that the risk of discrimination outweighs that of voter fraud. Thus, …show more content…
Davidson touted the dangers of discrimination inherent in Voter-ID laws, and Spakovsky explicated the hazard of unchecked voter fraud. But upon examining statistical evidence that neither danger was directly relevant, it is clear that legislation should focus on a moderate approach to the issue. Foley offers several different compromise solutions, including the idea that individuals should upload a picture at registration to eliminate the need for photo ID. Ultimately, it is this sort of innovation that is needed in the Voter-ID debate. However, these practical half measures do not fully address the issues in the ideological