ID law would keep people from voting

This month marks the 47th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination in voting and has been instrumental in ensuring citizens’ voting rights are protected from nefarious state election laws. Instead of celebrating, we have watched attempts to undermine this vital law in states across the country. Voter photo ID laws were considered in 34 states in 2011 alone, and it is estimated that 11 percent of the population does not have the type of identification required by many of these laws. Especially impacted are the elderly, people with disabilities, low-income voters and young people.

These new voting laws and requirements are unnecessary and costly. Numerous studies have found that of the rare examples of voting irregularities, almost none are the kind that could be prevented by a photo identification law. And putting new voting laws and requirements in place is expensive. Is this really how we want to spend our already stretched-too-thin state budget?

This election is really important. We’re not just voting for the president, we’re voting for education, health care, and our community. Everyone else is voting and so should you. Be sure to encourage family and friends so that everyone votes in November.

Joan Ziegler

President

League of Women Voters of Glenview