[notfromhere]

Because it can be used to disenfranchise voters.

When Alabama enacted voter ID, it simultaneously shut down DMV offices in counties with the most potential black voters.

Or like in Texas where student IDs are specifically prohibited from being used for voting, even though gun permits are, in order to suppress student turnout.

Or in North Dakota, where voter laws were changed to suppress Native Americans from voting using tribal IDs.

[ArchTypical]

> Because it can be used to disenfranchise voters.

So can knives.

> When Alabama enacted voter ID, it simultaneously shut down DMV offices in counties with the most potential black voters.

Most of these problems are now mitigated by years of not needing ID. Now we have voter registration mailouts and such. Don't just throw away a good idea because of past abuse. We strive to be better. Giving up is regressive.

[dragonwriter]

> Don't just throw away a good idea because of past abuse.

The specific (Alabama) “past abuse” referred to by the grandparent was in 2011-2015, not some distant time where there has been intervening radical change in the political culture that would render it irrelevant.

> Don't just throw away a good idea

The whole idea was voter suppression. There is no good idea associated with Voter ID laws in the United States. People involved in them this decade have admitted the racial and partisan purpose (usually, when they thought only members of their race and party were around, obviously.)

[ArchTypical]

> The whole idea was voter suppression.

The whole idea was for some people.

> There is no good idea associated with Voter ID laws in the United States

I disagree. Voting accountability is treated seriously in every state I've resided.