Voting is a Right, Not a Privilege

By Rafael Fantauzzi, NPRC

Pennsylvania was the cradle of American democracy, but now a Pennsylvania Voter ID law is threatening democracy. The state’s new law throws hurdles in the path of American citizens who seek to exercise their fundamental right to vote. Hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens could have that sacred right snatched away if they are not carrying the right ID when they visit their polling place this Election Day.

Carmen Roman, for example, moved to Philly from Puerto Rico over 40 years ago. She is a U.S. citizen: she has a right to vote, and she has voted, proudly, even when it was difficult to determine the proper polling place or when she wasn’t feeling up to it.

Ms. Roman was planning to cast a ballot this year, too. “These are hard times for people,” she said. “I want to vote in this election.”

But Ms. Roman lost all her vital documents in a fire many years ago, including her birth certificate. She has tried several times to obtain a replacement, but can’t afford an attorney to help her navigate the bureaucracy in Puerto Rico and Pennsylvania. Without a birth certificate, Ms. Roman can’t obtain a Voter ID in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania state officials whose duty is to conduct fair elections have decided to close the door on Ms. Roman and hundreds of thousands like her.

Some say it’s reasonable to require a photo ID at the polling place, to avoid voter fraud. Yet there is no evidence that voter impersonation was a problem before this law was passed: in fact, all the evidence shows that fraud is exceedingly rare—far less common than a fatal lightning strike or a UFO sighting. From 2000 to 2010, there were only 13 cases of in-person voter fraud in the entire nation, out of 649 million votes cast in general elections: a rate of less than one in 50 million.

In contrast, the Voter ID law that purports to fix this nonexistent problem could disenfranchise more than 750,000 Pennsylvania voters. State records show that 9.2% of the Pennsylvania’s registered voters lack a current state driver’s license or alternate PennDot license. In Philadelphia, 18% lack one of the required IDs. We know that nationally, 25% of African-Americans and 19% of Latinos do not have valid IDs, vs. 8% of white Americans.

Additionally, low-income residents, the elderly, college students, and persons with disabilities are all less likely to be able to navigate the new hurdles necessary to obtain ID and vote in this election.

And the sad fact is that disenfranchising these groups is not an unfortunate side-effect of the new law but the law’s true purpose. It’s no secret that it was Republican officials who pushed for the Voter ID law, and it’s no coincidence that the groups most impacted by it tend to vote for Democratic candidates. Rep. Mike Turzai, Republican leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, even bragged in June that “Voter ID… is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania.”

Those words should send a chill down the spine of any patriotic American, regardless of party. Voting is a right, not a privilege. Our democracy is designed to allow every eligible citizen to participate, not just those who jump through the hoops established by the party in charge.

Pennsylvanians are justly proud that the Declaration of Independence was signed here, but those entrusted with running the state government seem to have forgotten the most important parts of that sacred document. They should have noted that the words do not read, “all men with valid IDs are created equal.” They should have reflected on the meaning of the words, “the consent of the governed.”

What can you do about it to show these politicians their attempts to squash your vote will be thwarted? Make sure you have a government issued ID with your picture, register and vote. Don’t let anyone come between you and your right to vote.

For more information, contact the nonpartisan PA Voter ID Coalition Voter Hotline: 1-866-687-8683 (Mon-Fri 9A-5P ET) http://www.seventy.org/Elections_Voter_ID.aspx 

Rafael Fantauzzi is President/CEO of the National Puerto Rican Coalition.