Why Doesn’t Everybody Have a Voter ID?

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A voter shows his driver's license at a Madison, Miss., precinct, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

November 4, 2014
by
Sarah Childress

When we asked FRONTLINE viewers what they wanted to know about voting, most of you asked about voter ID laws.

Today, 30 states now require some form of identification at the polls. In seven states, the requirement is strict — voters must show a photo ID with their correct name and address, or their vote won’t count.

Several viewers asked why any adult wouldn’t have an ID card that would be acceptable at the polls. Here’s our answer:

 
You also asked us why voter ID laws are so controversial…

 
… and about laws that protect voters from discrimination.

 
For more, check out our voting coverage at Ballot Watch.

Sarah Childress

Sarah Childress, Former Series Senior Editor, FRONTLINE

The Trust Project Journalistic Standards

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