A recent Georgia voting law has raised important constitutional questions about how to balance the principles of the rule of law and consent of the governed. The United States, like other democracies, has long needed to determine the best way to have both legitimate, lawful elections, as well as ensuring that voting is easily accessible. I.D. requirements for voting is one especially controversial issue that sits at the center of this.

Those who argue that states should increase I.D. requirements for voting contend that stricter policies will ensure that our elections are legitimate. They may claim that voter fraud is still too much an issue in our system, and that allowing people to vote with minimal I.D. requirements will allow some people to practice misconduct. Finally, they argue that increased I.D. requirements would not be a burden on Americans, since they need an I.D. to drive, buy alcohol, and do other tasks in society anyway.

Those who argue that states should not increase I.D. requirements for voting argue that obtaining an I.D. is difficult for many Americans. They contend that the cost of getting an I.D. is burdensome on low-income citizens, and that many do not have a car or other means of transportation to go out to get one. They may also argue that voter fraud is a very rare occurrence, and it is therefore unnecessary to have ID requirements. Finally, they may claim that having burdensome regulations on who can vote will decrease voter turnout, which in turn will violate the principle of the consent of the governed.

So, what do you think? Should States Increase I.D. Requirements for Voting? Students can answer Yes, they should; No, they should not; or a nuanced answer in-between!

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Note: Ideal Think the Vote responses include the following:      

• Address the question asked in a thoughtful and meaningful manner     
• Use cited facts and constitutional arguments when appropriate to support their answers      
• Are expressed in cohesive sentences and are free of distracting spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors      
• They address counterarguments and opposing concerns in a respectful manner      
• They organize their answer in a manner that flows logically and reads clearly   

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