No ID? Your fault

This year’s upcoming presidential election has probably been one that will go down in history. This election has certainly succeeded in sparking political interest in several groups of people, such as college students and minorities that was not there before. However, recent voter ID laws that have been enacted in several states have many in an uproar. Many believe that the government is attempting to suppress minority vote.

My question is: Are they really?

North Carolina doesn’t have any voter ID law, however; some of our neighboring states, such as South Carolina and Georgia do. This law requires that a voter produce a photo ID before they are allowed to cast a ballot. Many have claimed that such a requirement will turn away the young and low income, who typically don’t have any identification.

My next question is: Isn’t it irresponsible for someone over the age of 18 to not have any identification to their name at all?

There isn’t anyone I know in college that doesn’t have a state-issued ID.  

You would need one to get your student ID and since when has requiring an ID for something ever deterred anyone from it?

You need an ID to buy cigarettes and alcohol. People are able to do so.

You need an ID to go to the club. People are able to do so.

You need an ID to do all sorts of things that people are able to do every day.

So why is it that when it comes to voting, needing an ID has become an issue of suppression and discrimination? I personally think that anyone living in this country as a citizen should have something on them that identifies themselves. It’s socially irresponsible not to for obvious reasons.

There have been recent statistics that have shown a percentage of registered voters such as minorities do not have a state-issued ID. However, in the states that require them, one would be able to receive a voter ID card for free by simply showing a copy of their birth certificate.

In less strict states, you can even show a utility bill to prove your identity. Therefore, there should be no reason as to why anyone that may not have an ID cannot still cast their vote.

I think that if you are engaged enough in society to register to vote and make a decision on who you wish to be the leader of our country for the next four years, you are civilly responsible to handle your business and obtain an ID.

Far too often there are policies enforced that minorities are quick to write off as discriminatory. We need to stop blaming “the man” and do what we need to do to be as socially adroit as our non-minority counterparts. It starts with us.