Voting rights not encumbered by ID

Michael E. Fredian argues in the May 5 Fence Post against voter ID laws, stating that such laws are unnecessary because voter fraud is almost non-existant. He cites figures showing very few convictions for said crimes from 2000 to 2010. During the same period there were very few convictions for murder compared with the number of people who were murdered, suggesting to a rational-thinking person that perhaps hundreds of crimes (including voter fraud) are committed for each conviction of a crime, illustrating the prudence of making certain that he who votes is who he says he is.

Mr. Fredian cites the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which protects the rights of people to vote regardless of their race or color. How can safeguarding the integrity of voting by mandating qualifications that must be met by all voters be interpreted as discrimination against some voters? He states that voter ID laws “affect the poor among us and African-Americans in particular, and take away the legal voting rights of thousands upon thousands of qualified voters.”

I know I’m not the brightest person in the world, but for the life of me I can’t figure out how showing proof of who you are when you vote is taking away anyone’s legal voting right. I think Mr. Fredian is a victim of illogical, liberal talking points.

Gene Maril

Arlington Heights