Voter ID requirements: A Republican contradiction

One of the big ideas that Republicans are pushing is voter ID laws. The implication being that voter ID’s would somehow solve all of the election fraud in the US. Unfortunately voter ID cards would only solve one form of election fraud, which also happens to be one of the least prevalent. Additionally the fervor over election fraud is extraordinary given the lack of evidence that this is actually a problem.

The argument from the left on this topic always focuses on voter suppression. Much like the Republican arguments for voter ID laws there is little evidence that proves this would cause widespread voter suppression. That doesn’t mean if implemented there won’t be a problem of American citizens not being allowed to vote, but at this point this is more speculation than fact.

Having said that, Republican support of voter ID laws is baffling. If enacted, voter ID requirements do a number of things that Republicans claim to be against. It would add more unnecessary regulation to the books, which as we all know kills jobs. It would add costs to the election process, which would have to be paid for by the American taxpayer. It would require additional government employees, which is just more big government. And in some cases if would violate the 24th amendment of the constitution.

For a group that hell-bent on replacing President Obama because they believe he is a big spending, big government president who is killing jobs with unnecessary regulations and occasionally acts unconstitutionally, supporting voter ID requirements must result in a lot of self-loathing.