Regarding the recent controversy involving voter ID requirements, many have come out against requiring ID due to the fact it might disenfranchise some voters.
They fear that the poor and elderly will be unfairly burdened and will cause them to be under represented, even though ID is required for many health and human services, which overwhelmingly go to the elderly and poor.
In their view, even one potential missed vote is a cause for complete inaction. But my question is: Aren't those who cast eligible votes having their votes negated by fraudulent voting?
Isn't that a form of disenfranchisement?
Frankly, I do not believe there is a huge problem with voter fraud, just as I believe there will not be a huge number of disenfranchised voters when voter ID is implemented.
That being said, those that want to make sure "voters" vote, should be in the forefront of the fight to make sure that those that cast eligible votes have their votes count.
Often they are not.
Having a middle class white person's vote canceled out should not be any less serious than an elderly black person, wealthy Hispanic or poor Asian-American's canceled out by fraudulent votes from ineligible voters.
Voter fraud hurts everyone that casts a valid vote, regardless of their political position.
Lara Jester
Duncansville
