Voter ID proponents often claim that requiring citizens to present government-issued photo ID to vote is not a burden to democracy since there are few things that you can do without ID in America. Not true, says Fair Elections Legal Network. Josh Spaulding breaks down when we actually do or do not need an ID to conduct our daily lives.
Here are some examples:
- You need a photo ID to fly on an airplane: FALSE (Project Vote’s director of advocacy, Estelle Rogers, shares her own experience at Ronald Reagan National Airport when she forgot her ID here.)
- You must show a photo ID to open a bank account: FALSE
- You need a photo ID to rent a movie: FALSE
- You need a photo ID to sign up for public assistance: FALSE
Spaulding adds that you do need an ID to buy Sudafed, which is “a big inconvenience for those with nasal congestion. However, is having a clear nasal passage the same as voting? Hardly. Plus, there are many alternatives to decongestants. There are no alternatives to voting.”