The REAL Voting Problem in Texas

By Matt Simpson Policy Strategist Even though there’s no evidence of voter fraud at the polls, the governor included a Photo Voter Identification law as an emergency priority requiring immediate passage by the legislature. As the ACLU of Texas has said from the beginning, Voter ID is a solution in search of a problem. There is, however, a real voting problem in Texas: turnout. We are ranked among the worst states in terms of voter participation. This fact stands in startling contrast to the current push for more stringent voting procedures which could further discourage voting, particularly by elderly and low income voters. That’s because requiring photo identification to vote means that the elderly and low income individuals, such as students who may not otherwise need a state-issued ID, must find a way to get to the Department of Public Safety offices and request such a document and pay for it. In some counties, DPS offices are far apart and difficult to reach. For some travel costs pose a financial burden as well as a logistical problem. On Thursday, March 17, the State House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Photo Voter Identification Bill, known as SB 14. This Voter ID bill has been rushed through the Senate and through committee in the House. Now the full House will consider this proposal, the most stringent in the country. We encourage you to contact your state legislators and communicate your concern about this proposal and the wrong direction this bill is taking our state. Texas should focus on the real issues with voting, such as our low participation. We should be encouraging full participation by all eligible voters, not creating new bureaucratic requirements that further undermine our already low voter turnout. The money spent implementing Voter ID (currently listed as $2 million but likely to be more) could be used to train Texans to assist individuals with voting or provide transportation to the polls. Let’s identify solutions to our real problem, voter participation, rather than creating solutions for imaginary problems.