VOTER ID: Bill could backfire

In his support of the voter ID bill, HB 496, Dan English (My Turn, March 5) admits to not believing in “...any kind of wholesale fraud...in Idaho elections.”  In fact, a little research reveals that voter fraud in any part of this country happens about as often as someone being struck and killed by lightning. In the closely analyzed 2004 election in Ohio, the incidence of voter fraud: 0.00004%.

The Brennan Center For Justice at the New York School of law, in a policy brief on the subject, states that “Fraud by individual voters is both irrational and extremely rare.” Lari Minnite, Barnard College, Professor of Political Science, having studied the issue extensively, has reached the conclusion that the crusade against voter fraud is a “strategic ruse,” the product of a partisan agenda to suppress votes, namely Democratic votes.

 According to the Brennan Center report, the voter ID requirement could disenfranchise up to 10 percent of eligible voters.

 If these sources are at all reliable, the reasons Dan English gives for supporting this legislation just aren’t good enough. The potential for harm so outweighs any possible benefit.

 I would suggest that Mr. English and anyone else supporting this bill do their own research. It could be enlightening.

DEL CAMERON

Coeur d’Alene