We need voter ID to prevent fraud

A recent letter to the editor by Michael Fredian claiming requiring voters to show an ID to vote suppresses the Democratic vote as a reason there should be no standard for voters to show an ID is faulty reasoning. It may very well be that having a requirement to show an ID to vote prevents some people from voting, but that is the fault of the person who does not make an effort to get registered to vote in his or her precinct, town, or county and get an ID to prove their residence.

Mr. Fredian cites the Voting Rights Acts of 1965 and seems to think requiring a voter identify themselves is maybe a violation of this act. It is not. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made it clearer that no standard could be created to prevent people from voting based on race and color. Requiring a voter to show an ID has nothing to do with race or color. Every citizen who is qualified to vote can get an ID of one type or another to register, and then show to the officials the day they vote.

It is necessary to have standards for voting, or we will have voter fraud. Mr. Fredian asks what is the evidence of voter fraud? American history proves that voter fraud was rampant in many elections. Only in the 20th century did it become possible to better combat the various forms of fraud with IDs. If we have no way to verify people are who they say they are, live where they say they live and are registered to an address, then we will have dishonest people casting multiple votes in multiple polling places. We need standards; we need requirements to show ID in order to vote.

Harold Knudsen

Arlington Heights