For a couple of centuries, the basic goal of our election system has been that all eligible voters should have an opportunity to cast their votes and have their valid ballots counted accurately. Today’s Republican Party no longer feels that should be the goal of our election system, and are working diligently to turn that around such that only those whom they prefer to vote (those who will vote for them) have ready access to the polls. All others will find impediments to gaining access to the polls, just that likely Democratic leaning voters are eliminated from the rolls.
GOP-led legislatures in TEN states [Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin] have now enacted unprecedented restrictive VoterID laws. Those laws require their State’s citizens to produce GOP-preferred government-issued ID before they’ll be able to cast a ballot at the polls. Many of those forms of ID are not possessed by a significant proportion of currently registered voters and to obtain them technically constitutes a “poll” tax. In other words, if you want to play (vote), you’ll need to pay (go buy some specific ID, if you can). All this stems from a right-wing philosophy that you aren’t who you claim to be (thus, you’re guilty of fraud) unless you can prove it with one of their favored IDs that they’re making it harder to obtain.
According to the Brennan Center for Justice (their full report at bottom of post):
The 11 percent of eligible voters who lack the required photo ID must travel to a designated government office to obtain one. Yet many citizens will have trouble making this trip. In the 10 states with restrictive voter ID laws:
- Nearly 500,000 eligible voters do not have access to a vehicle and live more than 10 miles from the nearest state ID-issuing office open more than two days a week. Many of them live in rural areas with dwindling public transportation options.
- More than 10 million eligible voters live more than 10 miles from their nearest state ID-issuing office open more than two days a week.
- 1.2 million eligible black voters and 500,000 eligible Hispanic voters live more than 10 miles from their nearest ID-issuing office open more than two days a week. People of color are more likely to be disenfranchised by these laws since they are less likely to have photo ID than the general population.
- Many ID-issuing offices maintain limited business hours. For example, the office in Sauk City, Wisconsin is open only on the fifth Wednesday of any month. But only four months in 2012 — February, May, August, and October — have five Wednesdays. In other states — Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas — many part-time ID-issuing offices are in the rural regions with the highest concentrations of people of color and people in poverty.
More than 1 million eligible voters in these states fall below the federal poverty line and live more than 10 miles from their nearest ID-issuing office open more than two days a week. These voters may be particularly affected by the significant costs of the documentation required to obtain a photo ID. Birth certificates can cost between $8 and $25. Marriage licenses, required for married women whose birth certificates include a maiden name, can cost between $8 and $20. By comparison, the notorious poll tax — outlawed during the civil rights era — cost only $10.64 in current dollars.
Typically, to apply for a typical “state” ID card, registered voters would need:
- Proof of name and date of birth/naturalization [e.g. Driver’s License, certified U.S. Birth Certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, or passport].
- Additional photo identification, if the above document does not have your photo [e.g. out-of-state driver’s license, U.S. military ID card, or marriage license (I don’t know about yours, by my “marriage license doesn’t have my photo)].
- Proof of Social Security number [e.g. original Social Security card, W2 tax form, or certified letter from the SSA].
- Proof of Residence
- Valid payment for your new ID card.
Passports have become outrageously expensive. To get a certified copy of one’s birth certificate (if one can be obtained, as some record repositories have burned to the ground) can be a long drawn out process and expensive. Then there’s the good old state standbys, Driver’s Licenses and State ID Cards. Prices to obtain those can range from free (for the elderly or disabled, and for VoterID purposes only) to as much as $72, dependent upon the state in which you reside. Here, see what I mean:
| STATE | DRIVER’S LICENSE FEES | STATE ID CARD FEES |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $5 for written test fee; $23 for license | $23.50 new/renew; $18.50 for a replacement or duplicate. |
| Alaska | $20 for written test; $15 for driving test | Younger than 60 yrs old: $15; 60 yrs old or older: free. |
| Arizona | Ages 16-39: $25; 40-44: $20; 45-49: $15; 50 and older: $10 | New ID= $12, waived if: 65 yrs+ or receiving SSI |
| Arkansas | $20 | $5, new, renewal or replacement |
| California | $28 ($6 for each additional driving test) | $28, new, renewal or replacement |
| Colorado | $21 | Valid for 5 yrs. $10.50 if <60 yrs old or free if > 60 yrs old |
| Connecticut | $40 for testing; up to $77 for license (depends on issuance date, birth date, and duration) | Valid for 6 yrs. Costs $22.50 for an original or renewal ID. Costs $30 to replace a lost/stolen ID card or to change one’s name. Free if living in a homeless shelter or honorably discharged blind veteran. |
| Delaware | $25 | $20 for new or renewal IDs. $10 for replacements if lost/stolen |
| Florida | $48 (additional $10 to retake written test; additional $20 to retake driving test) | $25 new, renewal, replacement, or address change |
| Georgia | $20 for 5 yrs; $35 for 10 yrs | $20 for 5 yrs; $32 for 8 yrs |
| Hawaii | $6 for 2 yrs; $12 for 4 yrs; $24 for 8 yrs; $8 for road test | $40 for 8 yrs in Maui, Honolulu, and Hawaii counties and $32 in Kauai county |
| Idaho | Varies depending on age and duration; anywhere from $15-$55, as well as testing fees. | $10, Under age 18; $10, Age 18 to 21; $10, 4-year (age 21+); $20, 8-year (age 21+) |
| Illinois | Varies depending on age; anywhere from $5-$30 (free for drivers 87 yrs old and older) | Valid for 5 yrs. $20 if 18 yrs or older; $10 if under 18 yrs for new IDs. Fees the same to replace lost/stolen IDs, but free if over 60. |
| Indiana | Varies depending on age and duration; anywhere from $7-$21 | $11.50 for new renewed, updated or replaced IDs. Free, for those eligible to vote in the next election |
| Iowa | $20 | $8, new, renewal or replacement |
| Kansas | $23 for 4 yrs; $29 for 6 yrs | New and renewal IDs cost $14 if < 65 yrs old, $10 if > 65 yrs old and $10 if disabled. Replacement of lost/stolen ID cards = $12 |
| Kentucky | Varies depending on age; anywhere from $2-$20 | $12 |
| Louisiana | Varies depending on parish and age; contact your motor vehicle agency | New/Replacement <60yrs = $21; >60yrs = free. May be charged an additional fee of up to $3 at some Louisiana OMV office locations |
| Maine | $30 for 6 yrs; $21 for 4 yrs (65 and older) | $5 for new/renewal IDs |
| Maryland | Varies; expect to pay $45-$50 | 18+ = $24 for new/renewal IDs; 65+ = free; Disabled (limited mobility) = free. Replacement for lost/stolen IDs = $20 |
| Massachusetts | $30 for written test; $20 for road test; $40 for license | $25, new, renewal or replacement |
| Michigan | $25 | New/Renewal/Replacement Standard ID: $10 if <65; free if >65 or blind, or cannot drive due to a disability. New/Renewal/Replacement Enhanced ID: $30 if <65; $20 if >65 or blind, or cannot drive due to a disability. |
| Minnesota | $10 upon third written test; $43 for license ages 21 or older; $23 for license ages younger than 21 | New/Renewal IDs: $20.25 if <65; $16.50 if >65; $0.50 if disabled (physical/developmental, or qualified mental illness). Replacement for lost/stolen IDS: $15.25 |
| Mississippi | $6 for ages younger than 18; $21 for 18 and older | New/Renewal IDs: $17 Duplicate ID card: $9 Replacement ID card: $14 Disability ID card: $19 |
| Missouri | $10 for 3 yrs; $20 for 6 yrs | $11, New/Renewal/Replacement |
| Montana | $40 | Valid 8 yrs; $16 for 21+ |
| Nebraska | Varies depending on duration; anywhere from $7.50-$26.50 | Varies depending on duration; anywhere from $7.50-$26.50; Replacement = $13.50 |
| Nevada | $25 for license; $10 for additional road tests | <65: $21.25 New/Renewal 65+: $7.25 New / $3.25 Renewal Name Change: $7.25 Address Change: $3.25 |
| New Hampshire | $50 | $10 |
| New Jersey | $24 (Note: Does not accept Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before 07/01/2010; if using Hudson Co birth certificate from <1965, must pay additional $25 for certified copy) | $24 (Note: Does not accept Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before 07/01/2010; if using Hudson Co birth certificate from <1965, must pay additional $25 for certified copy) |
| New Mexico | $18 for 4 yrs; $36 for 8 yrs | $10 for an ID valid for 4 years; $18 for an ID valid for 8 years; Free if 75 years old or older. |
| New York | Varies depending on age; up to $115; $10 for 2 additional road tests | 8yr ID: $14 New/Renew 4yr ID: $10 New/Renew 10yr ID: $6.50 if <62 on SSI or 62+ not on SSI 10yr ID: Free if 62+ on SSI |
| North Carolina | Varies; expect to pay anywhere from $4-$15 | 18-65 yrs: $10, valid 8 yrs 66yrs+: $10, valid 5 yrs No-fee ID valid for VOTERID purposes only beginning 1/1/14 only for registered voters |
| North Dakota | $5 for written test; $5 for road test; $10 for license | $8, New/Renewal/Replacement |
| Ohio | Varies depending on age; expect to pay anywhere from $24.25-$23 | $8.50, New/Renewal $7.50, Replacement/Duplicate |
| Oklahoma | $21.50 ($11.25 for ages 61 and older) | $20, New/Renewal/Replacement |
| Oregon | $5 for written test; $9 for road test; $22.50 for license | New: $44.50; Renewal: $40.50; Replacement: $39.50 |
| Pennsylvania | Varies depending on age and duration; expect to pay anywhere from $22.50-$33 | $27.50, New, Renewal or Replacement |
| Rhode Island | Varies depending on age and earlier permits; contact your motor vehicle agency. | <59: $26.50, New, Renewal or Replacement; 59yrs+ = Free Change of address: $6.50 Change of Name: $26.50 if <59 or free if 59 or older |
| South Carolina | Varies depending on duration; expect to pay up to $25 for license | Free if 17 yrs or older $1 to add veteran status to ID |
| South Dakota | $20 | $20 for new/replacement IDs; $10 for replacement IDs |
| Tennessee | $19.50 for license; $2 each time you take and fail a written or road test | $9.50/5yr ID New/Renewals IDs for 65yr+ or physically/ mentally disabled = non-expiring Replacements:$8 (1st); $12 (subsequent) |
| Texas | Varies depending on age; expect to pay anywhere from $5-$24 | New/Renew: <60 = $16 (6 yrs); 60yrs+ = $6 (no expiration) Replacement: $11 Change Name/Address: $11 HD Disabled Vets: Free |
| Utah | $30 for ages younger than 21; $25 for ages 21 and older | $18, New, Renew, or Replace ($13, if Disabled) |
| Vermont | $40 for 2 yrs; $55 for 4 yrs | Std ID: $20 New/Renew; $15 Replace ($10 if on SSI or SSD) Enhanced ID: $45 New/Renew |
| Virginia | Varies depending on duration; $4 per year for up to 8 yrs | $10 <70yrs (web) / $15 in-Person Free: 70yrs+ |
| Washington | $45 (includes testing and license fees) | Std ID: $45 New/Renew; $20 Replacement Enhanced ID: $72 New/Renew; $20 Replacement |
| West Virginia | Varies depending on age; expect to pay anywhere from $3-$10.50 | Varies depending on age; 5yr validity |
| Wisconsin | $28 | $28/8yrs, New/Renew Replace/Change of Address, $16 |
| Wyoming | $20 application fee; $10 for license | $10, New/Renew/Replace |
| Washington DC | $44 | $20 New/Renew/Replace |
Currently, the courts have had a mixed record on striking down some of the Republican-led voter suppression efforts in the States. The Supreme Court issued two onerous decisions against voting rights in North Carolina and Ohio. Then, just this last week voter suppression efforts in Texas and Wisconsin were struck down. But it didn’t end there, the Government Accountability Office released a comprehensive study, showing that strict voter ID laws in Kansas and Tennessee actually did decrease voter turnout by 2-3 points from 2008 to 2012 compared to similar states without voter ID laws.
Voting is your right, your decision and your vote counts when you cast it. Too many people sat out during the 2010 mid-term election and then watched the Republicans skew the redistricting process in their favor for the decade to come. Don’t sit out during the 2014 mid-term election and let the Republican Party skew you out of a vote altogether!
The Challenge of Obtaining Voter Identification
For further reading —
- 147-page opinion by Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos of the Southern District of Texas