Answer:
Many people don't have photo identification. Requiring people to show a photo identification to vote would keep those without this type of identification from voting. Those who often don't have identification include elderly individuals who no longer drive and citizens living in high-poverty areas where transportation is limited. They would be denied the chance to vote. Sociologist Mark Abernathy writes, "requiring photo identification in order to vote essentially eliminates a whole population of American voters. These voters are part of society, but they are denied a basic right guaranteed to all Americans over the age of eighteen. Elections are then determined by only a small portion of the population, not the entire population" (page 820 of the article "Photo Identification Disenfranchisement"). Some people think this is not true. Ria Olberson, an economist at Alabaster University, states, "Few Americans are without drivers' licenses. Even if the license is expired or revoked, it still counts as photo identification. To claim that requiring identification disenfranchises a segment of the American population is simply inaccurate" (page 101). Olberson is just wrong! A lot of people don't have licenses because they either don't need them or they don't want them. Consider people living in major cities. They have no reason to get driver's licenses: public transportation. This extremely large group of people would be forced to obtain driver's licenses to participate in a process that they are guaranteed as citizens of the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are a lot of people who don't have identification for their photographs. Requiring photo identification to vote would prevent those without it from voting. Those who lack identification include the elderly, non-drivers, and residents of low-income areas with limited transportation. They would lose the right to vote. Mark Abernathy writes: "Requiring a photo ID to vote effectively eliminates a whole group of American voters. But these voters are denied a basic right guaranteed to all adults over the age of eighteen. So only a portion of the population decides elections " (page 820 of the article "Photo Identification Disenfranchisement"). Some say this isn't true. Alabaster University economist Ria Olberson says, "Few Americans lack a license. Even an expired or revoked license counts as photo identification. Requiring identification does not disenfranchise a segment of the American population " (page 101). Olberson is WRONG!!! Many people lack licenses because they do not need or desire them. Consider city dwellers. They don't need licenses: public transport. This huge group of people would be forced to get licenses to participate in a process that they are entitled to as US citizens.