Voter ID laws and Voter Fraud

I seem to be obsessed with politics these days. 

I for one have been a little perplexed at the debate over Voter ID laws for several reasons.  For one, I would think that it would be a nonpartisan issue.    Also, I have been perplexed that the reporting on these laws seems biased.   You might object to that conclusion but every article I have seen about this issue seems to make some sort of claim that some group is trying to deny another group its right to vote.  You may say that is exactly what is happening, but with the exact same set of facts, another valid conclusion is that one group opposes any reasonable measures to prevent voter fraud.  And I have NOT seen that being written.

If you haven't already left in a huff, I propose the following thought experiment.   

For the sake of argument, suppose I was a zealous supporter of one candidate or party  and suppose that this zeal overcame my usual sense of decorum and led me to believe that victory was really more important than another person's right to vote.    If I want more votes for my candidate, I could perhaps go to the graveyards and try to register deceased citizens and vote under their names.  OR even more effectively, I could vote under the names of people I know support the other candidate!   The second option allows a double benefit, so I choose that option.

I get up early and go to the voting place of a friend I know who supports the other party and cast his vote for my candidate.   No one is allowed to ask me for a voter ID.  I simply promise that is who I am.  

Now, my friend later goes to the same poll and tries to sign in for his vote.  He however, is turned away because, according to their records he has already voted.  He has an ID and shows the poll workers the ID.  Still they can't let him vote because he has already voted.   He swears that is not him but how are they to know for sure?   The vote is already cast and there is no guarantee that this person is simply trying to vote twice.

Here is my question -  Would you argue that the state has an obligation to protect my friend's right to vote?  .....

(pausing here for you to think on this a little)

If so, how would you propose the state accomplish this.  If they are not allowed to check ID's, I don't think they can.  

Another way to look at this is to say that it is more important to protect the rights to vote of those of one group than another.    But if that is the case, who gets to decide which group should have more say? 

I cannot support this idea.   In my opinion, if one voter shows up with a valid ID identifying himself as who he claims to be and another shows up without an ID, the person with the ID should clearly get to be the one who votes.    Also, if we are going to continue to be a democracy, I don't think we can start claiming that one person's vote is more important than another's.

I know it is not perfect, but I do think it is reasonable.  It is not as though people don't know in advance and have plenty of time to get things in order before Election Day.  

Just my opinion.   Thanks for reading and I promise that I will do some more on real estate.  Lately I've just had politics on my mind. 

Have a great day.

David

David W. McCoy
Associate Broker
Commonwealth Commercial Real Estate
10444 Bluegrass Pkwy
Louisville, KY  40299

BTW - I am sure that my managing broker would appreciate me clarifying that the opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Commonwealth Commercial Real Estate, its brokers, agents or employees (other than me, of course).   If you have another opinion, you are free to express it in the comments.  You are not free however, to make inappropriate, obscene or hateful comments.  Should I see any such comments, I will exercise my right to delete these.

ALSO - If you would like an opinion regarding real estate, I would love to help.  I am a broker licensed in Indiana and Kentucky and I specialize in Commercial Real Estate.   I work with sellers and buyers, landlords and tenants, and investors.   I handle Office, Industrial, Land, Retail and Investment properties.  Heck, I can even set you up if you need help with residential real estate.   In any case, give me a call or send me an e-mail.  I would love to help.