Political Dictionary
Voter ID refers to identification requirements used to verify a voter’s identity before a ballot is issued or counted.
Definition
Voter ID laws require or request voters to present or provide specified identification. Rules vary substantially: some states require photo identification, others accept non-photo documents, and some allow voters without the listed ID to sign an affidavit or cast a provisional ballot.
Why It Matters
Supporters view identification requirements as an election-security measure. Critics argue that strict rules can burden eligible voters who lack accepted documents. The practical effect depends on the law’s design and available alternatives.
How It Works
A voter presents an accepted document or completes an alternative procedure. If eligibility cannot be confirmed immediately, the voter may receive a provisional ballot and later provide documentation.
History
States have long used identity checks, but photo-ID laws became more prominent in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Courts have reviewed these laws under federal and state constitutional standards.
Example
A state may accept a driver’s license, passport, tribal ID, or another approved document.
Common Misconceptions
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