For 11 years in a row, identity theft has been the most common consumer complaint reported to the Federal Trade Commission. This fact does not come as a surprise to many in our community.
Most of us probably know someone who has fallen victim to identity theft – a type of crime that can leave victims with excessive credit card and utility bills, trashed credit ratings and legal problems. But did you know that identity thieves can also impersonate voters and cast fraudulent ballots?
Thankfully, our General Assembly passed legislation this year that will make it more difficult for that type of voter fraud to occur in the future. Starting next year, voters in Tennessee elections will be required to show photo identification when they go to the polls to vote.
The benefit is obvious: Requiring photo IDs helps poll workers determine that people who wish to cast ballots are who they say they are.
In modern society, we are asked to provide photo identification to board an airplane, to cash a check, to rent a car, to give blood – and the list goes on and on. The most sacred right we have as Americans should be safeguarded with no less of a standard. No one wants to have his or her vote canceled out by someone who is ineligible to participate in an election.