Abstract

Identity Politics

The article discusses the controversy surrounding a new law requiring first-time voters who register by mail to show identification in order to vote in the 2004 U.S. presidential election. The federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) requires first-time voters in a" jurisdiction" who register by mail and who do not include verification with their registration form to present identification. Despite the apparent limited reach of the new requirement, there is already evidence that it could lead to disenfranchisement of minority voters in particular. Officials in South Dakota are investigating complaints from voters--primarily from counties in which Indian reservations are located--that they were not allowed to vote in the June primary when they could not produce photo identification, as is required for all voters under a recently passed South Dakota law. Similar complaints came out of the Ohio primary in March. There are many ways an ID requirement can be used to disqualify people from voting. For example, poll workers might--purposely or inadvertently--fail to give voters the complete list of alternative nonphoto IDs HAVA allows the voter to present. In addition, other voters might not have the kind of identification required by the law. For example, it is not unusual for only one spouse to be listed on household bills or for low-income people, senior citizens, people with disabilities and students not to have driver's licenses, bank accounts or paychecks.