Skip to main content
Thursday, October 29, 2026Oct 29
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

This story is free to read.

Perspective: Does the U.S. need voter ID laws?

A voting drive volunteer sets up a table in Richardson, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. Democrats are hoping this is the year they can finally make political headway in Texas and have set their sights on trying to win a majority in one house of the state Legislature. Among the hurdles they'll have to overcome are a series of voting restrictions Texas Republicans have implemented in recent years, including the nation's toughest voter ID law, purging of voter rolls and reductions in polling places. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
A voting drive volunteer sets up a table in Richardson, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. Democrats are hoping this is the year they can finally make political headway in Texas and have set their sights on trying to win a majority in one house of the state Legislature. Among the hurdles they'll have to overcome are a series of voting restrictions Texas Republicans have implemented in recent years, including the nation's toughest voter ID law, purging of voter rolls and reductions in polling places. (AP Photo/LM Otero) A voting drive volunteer sets up a table in Richardson, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. Democrats are hoping this is the year they can finally make political headway in Texas and have set their sights on trying to win a majority in one house of the state Legislature. Among the hurdles they'll have to overcome are a series of voting restrictions Texas Republicans have implemented in recent years, including the nation's toughest voter ID law, purging of voter rolls and reductions in polling places. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

By Danielle Root and J. Christian Adams / Tribune Content Agency 8 min read

PRO – Russia thanks you for opposing voter ID

By J. Christian Adams

The overwhelming majority of Americans support voter ID requirements because they instill confidence in our elections. Showing an ID when you help pick the next president is just plain common sense.

But at a time when concerns about foreign interference in our elections are high, ID requirements also help protect the integrity of our electoral process. We can’t stop Russia’s attempts at interference from abroad, but we can protect the security of our ballots here at home.

Voter ID laws serve three core functions: they are checks against errors, they prevent wrongdoing and they give citizens confidence in the voting process in general. Thanks to the more than 30 states with some voter ID requirements, Americans trust electoral outcomes – even ones they do not like.