(THREAD) There's so much misinformation out there about voter ID in Kentucky.
"I already have to show an ID to vote."
Yes, you have to show *something* but not a *photo* ID. (I show my credit card.) The proposed law would change that, requiring an unexpired photo ID. 1/
"I already have to show an ID to vote."
Yes, you have to show *something* but not a *photo* ID. (I show my credit card.) The proposed law would change that, requiring an unexpired photo ID. 1/
"You need a photo ID to buy sudafed or board a plane."
No, you don't. Every instance when we think we *must* show a photo ID, there's always a workaround.
And none of those things are fundamental rights to our democracy. 2/
fda.gov/drugs/informat…
No, you don't. Every instance when we think we *must* show a photo ID, there's always a workaround.
And none of those things are fundamental rights to our democracy. 2/
fda.gov/drugs/informat…
"A photo ID law would improve the security of our elections."
No, it won't. Photo ID laws prevent only one kind of voter fraud: in-person impersonation. And that simply does not occur. It would be a dumb way to throw an election. 3/
washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2…
No, it won't. Photo ID laws prevent only one kind of voter fraud: in-person impersonation. And that simply does not occur. It would be a dumb way to throw an election. 3/
washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2…
"A photo ID law would make people have more confidence in our elections."
No, it wouldn't. A study showed that people feel essentially the same about the security of their elections whether their state has a photo ID requirement or not. 4/ review.law.stanford.edu/wp-content/upl…
No, it wouldn't. A study showed that people feel essentially the same about the security of their elections whether their state has a photo ID requirement or not. 4/ review.law.stanford.edu/wp-content/upl…
"Everyone has a photo ID."
That's simply not true.
One study found that about 17,000 voters (and probably more) didn't vote in Wisconsin due to the photo ID law. 5/ nytimes.com/2017/09/25/us/…
That's simply not true.
One study found that about 17,000 voters (and probably more) didn't vote in Wisconsin due to the photo ID law. 5/ nytimes.com/2017/09/25/us/…
"Photo ID laws have a disproportionate impact on racial minorities & women."
Correct! Although numbers are still relatively small, minorities are more likely not to have a photo ID. Women are more likely to change their names upon marriage or divorce. 6/
lwv.org/blog/how-voter…
Correct! Although numbers are still relatively small, minorities are more likely not to have a photo ID. Women are more likely to change their names upon marriage or divorce. 6/
lwv.org/blog/how-voter…
"Hillary Clinton lost Wisconsin because of the voter ID law."
That's unprovable and probably false. Voter ID laws have an impact, but it's hard to say the exact level of that impact. 7/
politifact.com/wisconsin/stat…
That's unprovable and probably false. Voter ID laws have an impact, but it's hard to say the exact level of that impact. 7/
politifact.com/wisconsin/stat…
But whether photo ID laws actually have changed election outcomes shouldn't matter. We shouldn't impose burdens on voters for no good reason.
In my world, we rely on facts, not hyperbole or speculation. Let's focus on the facts in the debate over voter ID. 8/
In my world, we rely on facts, not hyperbole or speculation. Let's focus on the facts in the debate over voter ID. 8/
Those facts show that strict photo ID laws for voting, like the proposal in Kentucky, provide zero benefits and can harm valid voters.
We need to amend the proposal to ensure it does not have a disenfranchising effect.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk. /end
We need to amend the proposal to ensure it does not have a disenfranchising effect.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk. /end
Oh, and if you want more on the specifics of the proposed new law, see here:
