As we all know, midterm elections are coming up, and along with that are some new amendments introduced in the bill. One of these new amendments requires citizens to present a photo ID before voting. Proponents of this amendment will say that requiring a photo ID can help prevent voter fraud.
However, this amendment is not necessary at all. Despite what the president has said, voter fraud is not a big issue plaguing this country. There have been many studies that show that cases of voter fraud are extremely rare in the United States. In fact, one study even states that a citizen is more likely to be struck by lightning than to impersonate another voter.
So, why implement this amendment when it is not necessary? The sinister reason behind this amendment is to keep Republicans in power by suppressing minorities’ voting rights. North Carolina has enacted similar laws in the past to suppress the minority vote. Possibly the most infamous of these, passed in 2013, was struck down by a federal appeals court for its “racially discriminatory intent.”
North Carolina is experiencing a population growth of both African-Americans and Hispanics, two groups that typically vote heavily for Democrats. This minority population growth rate worries Republicans because it means they could lose their position of power. So, Republicans want to pass an amendment that restricts minority voting rights.
A study conducted in Indiana has shown that minorities are disproportionately likely to not have a proper voter ID. By requiring citizens to present a photo ID to vote, it will end up suppressing minorities their right to vote, decreasing the chances of a Democratic candidate being elected.
The GOP-led North Carolina legislature has also passed a new law that has affected early voting. This new law mandates polling places stay open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays during early voting. At first glance this law seems great because it provides more opportunities for people to vote, encouraging them to participate in the democratic process.
However, these laws have caused 20 percent of these polling stations to close, partly because they could not abide by these conditions due to budgeting issues. These polling stations that are closing happen to be in areas with a high minority population, further restricting their voting rights.
These voter ID laws are not just an attack on citizens’ voting rights, they are an attack on our republic. What makes this country so great is that we can allow citizens to participate in their government by electing representatives, thereby determining how the government should be run. With these restrictive voter ID laws, not only does it prevent people from participating in the democratic process, but it makes this country more authoritarian.
Instead of resorting to dirty tactics to hold power and suppressing the minority vote, Republicans should cater toward people of color. As stated before, North Carolina is starting to become more diverse. If Republicans want to maintain their position of power, they should expand their audience and not attempt to disenfranchise their opponents.
Overall, North Carolina has suffered from voter laws that restrict the minority vote as a desperate tactic for Republicans to stay in power. We cannot allow politicians to attack our voting rights and I encourage readers to vote against the voter ID amendment to protect voting rights for every citizen.
