"If someone is too lazy to get an ID, they don't deserve to vote. After all, you need to have an ID to do everyday things like get on an airplane or cash a check, right?"
– typical talking point of Voter ID proponent
Perhaps no issue presents a more urgent and vital threat to the future of American democracy than the issue of access to the ballot box. While the issue of money in politics distorts the voices that can be heard and the issue of gerrymandering distorts the representative makeup of voting districts, voter disenfranchisement is the singular issue that physically keeps the voices of every American from being heard in elections. The purchasing of narrative – or candidates – and the packing of districts with sympathetic voters are barriers to be overcome no doubt, but those barriers simply cannot be overcome without access to the ballot box – which is ultimately why so much effort has been spent by Republican-dominated governors, judges, and legislative bodies to enact legislation that takes away this right for as many of the "wrong types" of voters as possible.
If you aren't familiar with the talking points (like the one that started this diary) yet, you will be in the next 18 months, as they will be trotted out over and over by Republicans seeking office as retorts to attacks by voting rights proponents. The truth is that to many who've never thought about this issue, and particularly those from middle class suburban areas, many of the arguments and talking points seem to be reasonable. There's a reason for that: the arguments were designed by PR and polling firms to sound reasonable to those very people. But once one sees the realities of the issue, it becomes much more difficult for those arguments to take hold.
And that's why I'm more optimistic than ever that this battle can be won.
(More below the fleur-de-kos)
The arguments for requiring an ID to vote center around ease of acquiring one, the access to the necessary offices and documents, and the lack of integrity of our elections. While those of us who have been involved in this fight know the specious nature of these arguments, most Americans do not. (In my opinion, even too many liberals counter the talking points as if they're valid, rather than rejecting the underlying "facts". For instance, you do not need a photo ID to fly; it makes things easier, but there are many ways to get on a plane without one. I know. I've done it. Same thing with cashing a check, etc.) Many organizations have attempted to get the word out that these laws would disenfranchise untold many, but the arguments have had little effect. In fact, in Judge Richard Posner's dissent to the en banc denial in Frank v. Walker (10/10/2014) clearly mentions the 300,000, or 9% of Wisconsin's registered voters who lacked the necessary ID to vote under Wisconsin's draconian voter restriction law. Yet, about 7 in 10 Americans say they support such efforts, and 2 in 3 Wisconsinites supported that law when polled. Courts, newspapers, and other opinion makers have noted that turnout has not been substantially (or at all) affected by these laws, ignoring the blowback effect that they caused, bringing otherwise marginal- or non-voters to the polls, but only after organizing in order to overcome the effects of the laws.
Because sadly, like so many other issues – such as same-sex marriage, economic issues, and military engagement – a shockingly large number of Americans are unable to sympathize with the experience of fellow citizens until someone they know faces that issue. They are unable to critically think and project how someone is affected by something until they can see someone facing it. (I call this the Glee Effect, as I saw the FOX TV show change numerous minds about gay issues after previously anti-gay people who watched the show, but who had few knowing interactions with gay people, were shown the plight of gay characters who they related to.)
And that brings me to why I'm finally optimistic.
The Campaign Legal Center has posted a video of their Texas Voter Identification Assistance Project that has the potential to turn every argument used by those in favor of voter ID on its head. It shows hardworking Texans who've voted, helped others to vote, and who desire to contribute to the country in many ways denied their voice. It shows what people actually face when trying to meet the seemingly-arbitrary requirements enacted by the Texas Legislature. It isn't a video with a happy ending, but one that underscores the necessity to do something about this. It's a video that is designed to convince that large swath of the electorate – including many Republicans – who believe in fair play and equal rights. It's a video that exposes the real reasons behind these disenfranchisement laws, which are all centered around race and partisanship.
Take the time to watch the video, but more importantly, if it means something to you to have a tool to overcome the disinformation and talking points, take the effort to share it with your friends. As of the time of posting, it only has about 1,900 views on YouTube. The more people in the nation who see the ridiculously difficult – or even impossible – hoops people are forced to jump through to vote, the greater chance we have to affect public opinion on this issue. People outside the activist community need to be confronted with the effects of the laws that they reflexively support if there's a chance to make a real difference.