U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joined four Democrat U.S. Senators to request the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct an investigation into states with voter ID laws.
The report claimed voter ID laws have nothing to do with voter fraud and everything to do with lowering election turnout. The report compared the changes in voter turnouts from 2008 elections (before voter ID laws were in place) to 2012 elections (after voter ID laws were in place) in Kansas and Tennessee. Both states experienced a two percent drop in turnout from 2008 to 2012. Their results pointed towards the cost of getting a driver’s license, in order to comply with voter ID laws, as a deterrent to citizens.
ALGOP Chairman Bill Armistead made the following statements in support of Alabama’s voter ID law:
“Alabama’s voter ID law is designed to ensure that only legal votes are cast and counted. We believe one person should receive one vote. The state has promoted the law on television, radio, on billboards and in print ads to make sure every Alabama citizen is ready for implementation. The state even offers free IDs to those who do not have a valid photo ID.
“If voter turnout dropped in Kansas and Tennessee after implementing a voter ID law, then that may be a good indication that the law is working and has curtailed fraudulent votes. The intended purpose of voter ID laws is to prevent fraud and hopefully that is what is happening.
“We know that voter fraud is alive and well in Alabama. We’ve seen documented evidence of individuals paying for votes, opening polls early to let ‘friends’ vote, stealing votes through absentee voting, etc. A photo ID should be a minimum requirement to protect the sanctity of our sacred right to vote. Voter ID laws are only deterrents to those committing voter fraud, and the Democrats know it!
“The Democrats are using scare tactics to manipulate voters. The Alabama Republican Party is fighting to protect the integrity of elections by showing citizens that their vote does matter. The goal of voter ID laws is simple: one person, one vote.”
My friends of forty years ask for my ID each time I vote in the community I’ve lived in for forty years. I take pride in the fact our elections are protected from despots of the past.