Protecting the Integrity of the Election Process

As the country once again prepares to elect a president, it is critically important that states implement measures that help improve the security and integrity of our elections. Ensuring fair elections requires that individuals authenticate their citizenship when they register and their identity when they vote. Such measures also increase public confidence in our election process. It is important that every individual who is eligible have the opportunity to vote, but it is equally important that the votes of such eligible voters are not stolen or diluted by fraudulent or bogus votes cast by ineligible or imaginary voters. These measures prevent impersonation fraud, voting under fictitious voter registrations, double voting by individuals registered in more that one state or locality, and voting by illegal aliens or even legal aliens. Contrary to the claims of critics, such minimal requirements do not depress the turnout or have a disparate impact on minority, poor, or elderly voters—the overwhelming majority of Americans have photo ID or can easily obtain one. The claims made against photo ID have also lost in the courts and decisions over such laws in Georgia and Indiana have found them to be constitutional, nondiscriminatory, and in full compliance with the Voting Rights Act.