Coalition for a Secure Driver's License Releases Report Entitled: Preventing Imposter Voter Fraud
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Coalition for a Secure Driver's License (CSDL) released a report today that explains which voter photo ID laws are effective in countering imposter fraud in elections. Nearly two-thirds of states have adopted some form of a voter ID law with varying degrees of strictness.
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"Thirty-two states have enacted voter ID laws and more are expected to follow. A majority of the electorate is concerned about voter fraud, but the question of which of these laws actually achieve their objectives remains," said CSDL President, Brian Zimmer.
The report links photo identification documents issued by states that have complied with Public Law 109-13 (REAL ID) to reliable voter photo IDs.
"There is a nexus between the REAL ID Act and Voter IDs, in that the former improves the reliability of the latter. REAL ID federal rules require validation of identity and lawful presence status before a state can issue a REAL ID compliant identification card. Therefore, one way that elections officials can help improve voting integrity is by using the data that is already maintained within DMV databases to assure the identity and citizenship status of individuals who register to vote. That is, provided those states record whether the driver's license applicants are citizens. In addition, the identity security upgrades embedded in the voluntary REAL ID regulations help state agencies meet citizens' expectations for data stewardship," reads the Report.
In the 2010 general election, more than 9% of the 236 million people of voting age were not eligible voters. More than 14 million (8.3 %) were not eligible because they were not U.S. citizens and more than 3 million were ineligible because of felony convictions. Reliable voter photo IDs will deter not only non-eligible voting, but voter impersonation, multiple voting, and out-of-state voting.
"Voter photo ID laws will discourage imposters and others ineligible to vote from showing up at the polling stations. That is the outcome the legitimate electorate desires. Requiring reliable identity verification at the polls and at voter registration is as popular as it is constitutionally sound. Knowing that only eligible and identifiable voters cast ballots on November 6th this year will strengthen confidence in the results, whatever the outcome," said Zimmer.
Details are available on CSDL's website at www.secure-license.org.
Access Report: Preventing Imposter Voter Fraud
Follow CSDL on Twitter: @Securelicense
SOURCE Coalition for a Secure Driver's License
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