Photo voter ID is required in Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. A non-photo ID is required in Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Iowa. That’s 18 out of 50 states. First-time voters can vote in a federal election if they register by mail and must show an ID at the polls. No ID is required if in person. In Maine, you are not required to show an ID to vote unless you register on Election Day, then you will need a photo ID and proof of residence.

Here is a list of things you cannot do without a photo ID: buy alcohol, open a bank account, apply for food stamps, apply for welfare, get married, apply for hunting license, rent a hotel, apply for fishing license, buy a cell phone, pick up a prescription, visit a casino, hold a protest or rally, donate blood, purchase mature-rated videos, purchase tobacco products, or apply for unemployment.

It seems strange that you must have an ID to do all these everyday activities necessary to life and yet you can decide on who is to run the most important position in the world: the president of the United States of America without positive identification. Surely, the presidency is as important and most assuredly more important than any of these aforementioned items.

What is the problem?! Let’s put some importance back into our elections, shall we! Sign up for voter ID!

Diane Vernesoni

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