ID Laws Suppress Minority Turnout

Preliminary research presented to the US Election Assistance Commission by the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University this week suggests that voter ID requirements disproportionately suppress minority turnout in elections.  These findings confirm the League’s belief that restrictive voter ID requirements in many states are disenfranchising minority voters.  They should also serve as a wake-up call that these provisions harm voter participation and turnout.

This research is a clear sign that ID laws, such as those requiring that voters have photo IDs with current name and address, have harmful effects on our electoral process. We will continue our work to ensure that the voice of every eligible voter, regardless of race or income, is heard at the ballot box.

Read more on the League’s Web site at www.lwv.org, or find the EAC report here.