Voter ID Law
A voter ID law sets what identification, if any, voters must present to receive a ballot in a particular jurisdiction. Where identification is required, it may need to include a photo; depending on the rules, voters without acceptable ID may have an affidavit or provisional-ballot option.
A voter ID law sets what identification, if any, voters must present to receive a ballot in a particular jurisdiction. Where identification is required, it may need to include a photo; depending on the rules, voters without acceptable ID may have an affidavit or provisional-ballot option.
Example: Crawford v. Marion County Election Board was a Supreme Court challenge to Indiana’s 2005 law requiring in-person voters to present qualifying photo identification.
Common misconception: Federal law does not require every voter to show photo ID at the polls. The EAC describes HAVA’s identification requirement as applying to first-time voters who registered by mail and have not previously voted in a federal election in that state; state polling-place ID rules vary.
Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Crawford v. Marion County Election Board amicus brief; U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Best Practices: FAQs