Voter ID Cards: Do they violate the 1st and 14th Amendments?
7 Comments Published by clay September 27th, 2007 in State and Local Politics, U.S. Politics.Supreme Court to hear Voter ID Cards
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to decide whether states can require voters to show government-issued photo identification before they cast a ballot.
The justices’ ruling, due by the end of June, could have a major effect on the 2008 presidential election and on congressional races in several states.
Since 2002, Republicans have championed photo IDs as a means to prevent fraudulent voting. Under the laws, a voter must show government-issued identification — such as a driver’s license or a passport — to prove to poll workers that he or she is indeed the person registered to vote.
Democrats, however, have strongly opposed the requirement, saying it tends to discourage people who usually vote Democratic. Tens of thousands of poor, elderly, disabled, homeless or foreign-born citizens do not have valid photo ID cards, Democrats say.
Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties
In defense of the laws, Republicans say states — including
Some have argued that a Voter ID violates the first and fourteenth amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Do you support the states in their attempt to require Voter IDs in order to vote? Why or why not?
I am ok with ballot workers checking my ID. I see how it could result in some eligible voters not be able to vote. Therefore, states should offer free ID cards, if you qualify, and look for other ways to verify who someone is. Groups like the ACLU and the NAACP should be asking the state governments to give away IDs rather than trying to cancel the program. This focus on getting rid of the program makes me think there is another agenda.
I don’t think having voter IDs is really a problem, if states offer free ID cards if one qualifies. I understand where the Republicans are coming from, they just don’t want people who don’t qualify to vote to be able to cast a ballot because it wouldn’t be fair. If you know what a Democrat is and what they stand for, you will understand why they DON’T want voter IDs implemented. The Democrat party favors farmers, laborers, labor unions, religious, and ethnic minorities. Because of this, Democratic support would decrease if voter IDs become a requirement because majority of their votes comes from the poor (farmers) and foriegn-born citizens (ethnic minorities). I believe Republicans are for voter IDs because support for the Democrats would diminish because it would discourage democratic supporters to vote if voter IDs are needed, therefore making their chances of their party winning better. But really if IDs are given for free, just to ensure that you are required to vote then it doesn’t really matter. The voter ID is simply proof that you are an American citizen, therfore you have the right to vote because you live in the United States so you have the right to voice your opinion by casting out a ballot. The purpose of the ID would simply establish identity and prevent fraud voting. I don’t think that you should be eligible to vote by showing your driver license or a passport, however, because this would diminish the poor people’s votes and voice. But I am for having IDs offered for free because I don’t see it as a problem.
It said in the passage that having voter IDs would violate the 1st and 14th amendment. The first amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” I disagree with the people who say voter IDs will violate the 1st amendment. First of all, the 1st amendment is basically saying that Congress can’t make any laws for religion, speech, or press because we have been given the freedoms of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of press. How does voter IDs VIOLATE the 1st amednment? Do voter IDs in any way or form suppress ones religion? No. Do voter IDs limit people’s freedom of speech? No. With voter IDs, people STILL have freedom of speech, meaning freedom to vote for whoever they want to. The IDs are to serve for identification to see if you are qualified to vote and if you are an American citizen, that’s it.
Now, the 14th amendment prevents states from denying rights to any citizen. I don’t see how voter IDs are denying rights to any citizens. Key word here is CITIZEN. If you are a citizen of the United States, you will be eligible to vote, therefore you will receive the voter ID, and have that right to vote. The only way your right to vote would be denied would be if you WERE NOT a CITIZEN of the United States. So, having voter IDs is NOT violating the 1th amendment at all either.
So, the voter IDs aren’t violating the 1st or 14th amendments. So, really what’s the problem here? Having voter IDs are okay to me.
i support the states, people should get free id’s and carry the cards with them when they go vote. If we are to ensure this right into the hands of the citizens then, we the citizens must take responsiblity for this right. we mustn’t get lazzy, we must ensure that citizens who haven’t lost that responsibility to vote, are the ones voting and only them. The law wouldn’t break the either if the amendments. It would guarantee that those who can vote won’t have their place taken with someone who can’t. For example, if Tom was allowed to vote, and Jerry wasn’t this law would make sure that Tom voted for himself and not jerry for Tom. the 14th amendment says it’s illegal to not allow a person eligable to vote form not voting, nothing about stopping those who can’t vote.
If the state gives free ID’s to those you can vote, then why stop this law. unless the other party wins by forging votes? Then, and only then, it would make sense to stop this bill.
I support the states. This way no one can get away with voting more than once. Homeless and etc… people can still the states should have places where you can get an id. With the id cards you can have a scanner for them so when people go to vote they can;t vote more than once.
I support the states and their idea of giving free id’s to people who are legal here and that don’t have id’s thamselves. The republicans have a great idea on their hands about haveing those id’s so that way there are no false votes. It doesn’t go against any of the amendments and keeps voting simple and oranized.
I agree that there should be a voter’s ID card. This is because there are alot of immigrants that might try to vote, and I don’t think that’s right. So it would be safer and easier to have a voter’s ID card to prove that we are true citizens and that we are elegable to vote. This could possbly prevent an ‘illegal alien’ from voting, when they don’t even truly belong here. So what I’m saying is that ,YES, I agree with the states that we should require a VOTER’S ID CARD.
It seems that everyone is agreeing with the voter ID card idea. It actually is a good idea and makes the voting process alot easier. Voter’s that are eligible can easily be identified with the cards. It costs nothing to the people either way. Voter’s shouldn’t not want to vote if it becomes a requirement because it doesn’t hurt their choices, it just adds a another card to their life.
I don’t see how this would conflict with the first amendment, because it doesnt really seem to be related to it at all. It wouldn’t conflict the 14th amendment either. Voting ID cards ensure that the person voting is the person voting. If any party really sees a problem, that’s kind of suspicious that they would worry if this works out. It’s not like the ID restricts any voters from anything. yes i do agree that the states should require voter ID cards.
The question regarding the First Amendment is whether the voter ID card rule would deny citizens the ability to vote (which like saying denying them their point of view or political view).
Do all citizens have access to a voter ID card? If they do, then it should be similar to any voting requirement, such as registering to vote. If the cards cost money, or difficult to get (travel, application process etc), then it would be stopping citizens who would normally vote (e.g. senior citizens).