What is your opinion on showing ID to vote in the US?

The United States House voted last week to require Americans to show proof of citizenship in order to vote.

Democrats state the legislation would disenfranchise minorities, the poor and the elderly 鈥?who might have difficulty producing identification.

My own common sense question is "How do people without ID cash a check or show they are old enough to buy cigarettes or a lottery ticket(both require you be over 18) ?"

They can't live in a vacuum or they won't want to vote.

I can't even write a check at the store without showing proof of who I am . I can't walk into a branch office of my own bank to cash a check without showing ID. You go into a Rentway or Circuit City to finance anything they want ID.

I'm not wealthy so I can sympathize but asking for ID seems a small price to pay for the right to vote.

I think identification should be required, in order to vote, including proof of citizenship.

well a lot less people would vote I think.

The reason people want to see your ID is because of identity theft. I have no problem showing ID to whomever wants to see it. I'd much rather take 3 seconds pulling out my license than spending MONTHS fixing an error on my credit report.

I agree with you. You can't do anything anymore without an ID, so why complain about showing it to vote. Its just the politicians whining like they always do about anything they can whine about. I'd be willing to bet that most all of minorities, poor, and elderly have IDs. The only ones who might not are the illegals and we don't want them voting anyway. Duh!

Everyone needs an ID for something at some point in their life. In NY, you just had to sign and your signature had to match what they have on file. That shouldn't be a problem.

it should be required. i agree with the need for ID to vote.

There's nothing wrong with having to show an ID, I think. Maybe the legislation should include a federal aid package to get an ID if you can't afford one. Just a thought - after all, we do want everyone to be able to legitimately vote. (Don't we?)

People have been asked to show ID in order to vote for a long time. Even if it wasn't statutory (and it may be depending on state/district).

This is just good sense. It is reasonable, and the founding fathers would have supported it. Previously, you voted in districts where people knew you. You were identified...even if it wasn't w/ a badge.

This should be a non-issue. Anyone saying that it would "disenfranchise" people is lying. They are trying to create problems instead of solve them

For those of us with ID's this is a no brainer. To obtain an ID is extremely easy assuming that you are a resident of this country. Even fake ID's are easy to obtain. This is a step in the right direction but is not going to solve the problems. What we need is a better immigration system. Anyone who wants to work in this country and make it a better place come on in.... If you are going to be a drain on the resources and not add to the betterment of the community, then stay home.

I was under the impression that you already did have to prove identity to vote. When you register to vote you are sent a voter registration card which you are supposed to take to the polls with you. I live in a small town and the poll workers know who I am so I have never had to show mine, but if someone new were to start doing it who did not know me I would expect them to verify my identity, or anyone could come in and vote using my name.

"small price to pay for the right to vote."

You don't even have to pay. States are offering to give photo IDs away at taxpayer expense and come to you for people who are stuck in their homes or nursing homes.

People who oppose this are not serious about fair free elections. They are just pushing victimhood and using demagoguery, like the use of the words "poll tax".

Having to show ID when you vote kind of makes sense to me. I am from a small town with population of only about 10,000 so basically everyone knows everyone. But in larger towns or cities it truly makes esnse. I would not have a problem showing my ID when I go to vote

Every time I have voted I had to show ID. If they want proof of citizenship too, it can be added to the State ID cards. Besides you register to vote (in Michigan) when you renew your License, so it would be easy to add you a citizen to your ID. Or you can show your Social Security Card.

ID should be required

showing id is a good idea....but the problem is....there are so many illegal people here who have fake id's..i dont think that system could be trusted.....

OMG. JUST SHOW YOUR ID!! What's so hard about it!?!?!?! We don't want the illegal aliens voting now do we?

In Georgia they offered to go to peoples home and make the id's for free, the democrats still have a problem with it...makes one wonder who the Dem's have voting for them.. It should be required for all voters to have a picture id. Voting in a federal election is not a right but an Honor..No id.... no vote... Period.

The real problem as the dems see it is that their illegal alien base wouldn't be able to vote anymore, at least until they made their own ID.

Just another ploy on their part to show stupidity. Anyone in this country who is a legal citizen isn't afraid to show proof that they are a citizen.