by Wendy Underhill
In light of all the attention that American legislators have been giving voter identification, I wondered about what our North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico, do. What I learned is that American states fall somewhere in the middle, geographically and administratively.
Here is how the Voter ID page from Elections Canada reads:
To Vote, you must prove your identity and address. You have three options:
Option 1: Show one original piece of identification with your photo, name and address. It must be issued by a government agency. Example: driver's license.
Option 2: Show two original pieces of authorized identification. Both pieces must have your name and one must also have your address. Example: health card and hydro bill.
Option 3: Take an oath and have an elector who knows you vouch for you. This person must have authorized identification and be from the same polling division as you. This person can only vouch for one person. Examples: a neighbor, your roommate.
That's very clear—and it works throughout Canada. Mexico also has a clear rule: bring your "Credencial para Votar" to the polls. This photo-voting card is provided free of charge by the Federal Electoral Institute, and has been since 1991.
- an original birth certificate or naturalization papers;
- a government-issued photo ID such as a passport or driver's license;
- and something to prove the home address, such as a bank statement or lease.
When these documents are all in order, a photo and thumbprint are recorded and a card is created…to be picked up 20 to 30 days later. That card incorporates not only the photo, thumbprint, and all kinds of data, but also tamper-proof technology!
As for here at home this year, Kansas, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin have enacted requirements for a photo ID, and Tennessee's legislature sent a bill to the governor on May 23. Similar legislation failed or was vetoed in 13 states.
Each state has its own twist on the concept of voter ID—who is exempted (religious groups, people in nursing facilities, those over age 65), what documents are accepted (passports, driver's licenses, weapons licenses, tribal ID) and what recourse voters without ID have (voting a provisional ballot, making a trip to an elections office within a few days of the election).
Details on enacted legislation can be found at NCSL's Voter ID: State Requirements page.
A rose from The Thicket to Laszlo Kalloi from the Mexican Consulate in Denver. He's happy to supply an English-language explanation of Mexican regulations about voter ID and other elections matters to anyone who asks.
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