By Judge Greg Mathis

Election reform is a serious issue in this country, one that has to be dealt with. But denying American citizens the right to vote is not the way to do it.

And that’s exactly what’s happening in states that implement new identification requirements. A new study shows that voter identification requirements designed to combat fraud may actually reduce turnout, particularly among voters of color. Data recently released by the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University shows voter turnout for the 2004 elections was about 4 percent lower in states that required voters to sign their name or produce documentation. Turnout was 10 percent lower for Hispanics and about 6 percent lower for Blacks and Asians. With some states threatening to enact even stricter laws, it is a safe assumption that turnout would be reduced even further. This is simply not acceptable.

Federal law currently requires first-time voters to verify their identity. Approved identification varies, ranging from social security cards to utility bills to signatures. Only one state, Indiana , currently requires voters to produce a government-issued photo ID. The federal government, however, would like to change that. The Federal Election Integrity Act would require voters to present government-issued identification at the polls. Though a Georgia court has declared such a law unconstitutional, the American government has continued to push it ahead. The House of Representatives passed the measure last year; the Senate has yet to vote.

According to a report sponsored by the Justice Department, such a requirement would disproportionately affect Latinos and African Americans, the elderly, the homeless, low-income people and married women; studies show these groups are less likely to carry a photo ID.

Because the law is designed to prevent undocumented citizens from voting, voters would be required to prove citizenship with a photo ID. Since most states don’t require citizenship to obtain a state ID or driver’s license, the only piece of identification that meets this requirement is a passport, which can cost up to $100. Recent statistics indicate only 25 percent of voting age Americans have a passport; that number is significantly lower among minorities. Several states, including California, Mississippi and Texas, are considering some version of a photo ID law this year.

In 1965, the United States made a commitment to historically disenfranchised people when the Voting Rights Act was passed by guaranteeing that no American would be denied the right to vote on account of race or color. However, given that large numbers of people of color do not possess government issued photo identification, it seems that the original intent of the Voting Rights Act is being undermined.

Editor’s note: Judge Greg Mathis is national vice president of Rainbow PUSH and a national board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.