Photo ID talking points

The League supports full voting participation by all eligible American citizens and oppose efforts to create new barriers that block citizen voter participation. I therefore oppose ID and documentary proof-of-citizenship requirements.

Here are some reasons why I believe you should oppose the bill(s)

• As many as 11 percent of United States citizens – more than 21 million individuals – do not have government-issued photo identification.
• Seniors disproportionately lack photo identification. Eighteen percent of American citizens age 65 and above do not have current government-issued photo ID.
• Nearly ten percent of the 40 million Americans with disabilities do not have any form of state-issued photo identification.
• At least 15 percent of voting-age American citizens earning less than $35,000 per year do not have a valid government-issued photo ID.
• Costs can be a significant barrier to obtaining a photo ID. Even when the ID itself is free, there are hidden costs, such as transportation to various agencies and fees related to acquiring supporting documents like birth certificates.
• There is no evidence that voting by non-citizens is occurring in significant numbers. Indeed, evidence proves that illegal voting is extremely low.