The history of casting a ballot in the United States has been marked by the battles to actually make voting itself accessible. While poll taxes and literacy tests are no longer legal, some states have turned to other laws to turn voters away. Most states now require some form of identification.
In Texas, you’re required to bring some sort of photo identification with you to the polls, but many types of photo IDs aren’t permissible– including student IDs, work IDs, and military IDs. It’s a result of a voter identification law that determines what forms of identification are accepted in an effort to prevent fraud. But it’s been called one of the strictest in the nation.
Voting rights advocates say the law purposefully discriminates against Black and Latino voters. It led to a years-long battle in court to ease the restrictions that ultimately ruled to keep the law on the books. Still, some experts say the law, and others like it, remain a form a voter suppression. And polling suggests these laws are popular with most Americans.
As part of our “Block the Vote“ series, we’ll explore the use of voter identifications laws.
We want to hear from you. Tell us why you do or do not support the need to show up with some form of identification at the voting polls.
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