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Politics & Government

Sen. Jennings: Showing ID to Vote 'Reasonable and Just'

State Sen. J.B. Jennings recently introduced legislation to require voters to show some form of identification to cast a ballot in both primary and general elections.

Just last week, Florida identified hundreds of illegal immigrants who voted in the 2012 primary election. The Pew Center recently released a report indicating that nationwide,  there are more than 2 million dead voters on the active rolls.

This is a disgrace to democracy, and it occurs rampantly in Maryland. To ensure the integrity of ballots cast by Maryland voters,  I have introduced a bill that will require voters to show some form of identification to cast a ballot in both primary and general elections.

You can follow the progress of this bill, SB 412, here.

My proposed legislation is reasonable and just.

It does allow for alternative forms of identification other than just a driver’s license, since not everyone has a driver's license. And, if a voter forgets to bring their voter registration card or cannot otherwise produce a photo ID at their polling place, he or she will still be allowed to vote by provisional ballot. That ballot would then be reviewed by the Board of Elections to ensure that the vote is valid (ie., that the person claiming to vote is actually alive, and that he or she did not already vote in another county, or two, or three).

America is undoubtedly the most successful republic the world has ever known, but voter fraud threatens both its legacy and its future.

We must do something real about voter fraud, and the time is now: the U.S. Supreme Court has recently ruled that requiring Voter ID is constitutional because it does not place an undue burden on the voter.

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In fact, there are 19 million more Americans with proof of identification than those that are actually registered to vote.

You need a photo ID to board an airplane, ride the train, open a bank account, or cash a check; to pick up movie and concert tickets at will-call; to go into a federal building; to buy lawn fertilizer or Sudafed; to pick up your child from school; or to apply for food stamps. Voting deserves similar protection, if not more.

Eight states—Georgia, Indiana, Texas, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Indiana and Kansas—have recently adopted laws requiring voters to present photo identification at the polls. More than half of the U.S. requires some form of ID to vote.

While some organizations like Casa de Maryland oppose such legislation, a rising number of minorities do not feel that is a fair representation of their opinions. Requiring a voter to present identification is not an issue that must be polarized in the political arena. In fact, several Democrat elected officials across the country have stood side by side with Republicans in a united effort to help pass voter ID laws.

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Most notably, the state of Rhode Island's Democrat-majority legislature recently enacted a voter identification bill, while former President Jimmy Carter has endorsed a federally mandated voter ID bill.

During a time when Americans have lost confidence in their elected officials, it is vital that we protect our most fundamental right as a democratic society. By restoring the authenticity of Election Day, the significance of the individual vote will be restored and I believe that voter turnout will actually increase rather than decay.

Please let me know your thoughts on this issue.

As always, I am proud to represent you.

Sen. J.B. Jennings represents District 7, which includes part of Baltimore and Harford counties.

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