ID’s for voting not hard to obtain

Should a photo ID be required to deter voter fraud? I say yes. In the Jan. 12 op-ed column by Esther Cepeda, Heather Smith (of Rock the Vote) states “there is still a specific segment of lower-income and young people who don’t have an ID.” Marcia Johnson-Blanco (of the Voting Rights Project) states “there needs to really be a more comprehensive look at the effects of laws being passed so we don’t keep people from casting ballots because they don’t have or can’t afford the documents they need.”

Reality check here: Most colleges issue student photo ID’s that can be used for voter verification. For people who don’t have a photo ID, the state of Illinois along with other states offer a nondriver state photo ID card. It can act as secure identification for cashing checks, identifying yourself to law enforcement and, yes, for voter registration. The card cost varies state to state, but based on a brief sampling the average does not exceed $20 for five years. Applying for the card requires that you provide proof of residence and who you are. This could certainly be a challenge for those in this country illegally, or who are simply not eligible. As to the claim they cannot afford a card, please cut the bologna.

I’m sure that $4/year is spent on far less important matters than the essential responsibility substantiating “who one is,” and of course to have a clear path to vote.

Gerald Bromley

Schaumburg