New York Times examines the Myth of Voter Fraud

by Jonah Goldman

In follow-up to Ian Urbina’s Monday article, the New York Times published an editorial yesterday commenting on The Myth of Voter Fraud.  The editorial discusses bills requiring proof of citizenship requirements in Missouri and elsewhere, calling them an insincere "effort to prevent noncitizens from voting; that is a made-up problem. The real aim is to reduce turnout by eligible voters."

The Times continues, saying:

There is no evidence that voting by noncitizens is a significant problem. Illegal immigrants do their best to remain in the shadows, to avoid attracting government attention and risking deportation. It is hard to imagine that many would walk into a polling place, in the presence of challengers and police, and try to cast a ballot.

There is, however, ample evidence that a requirement of proof of citizenship will keep many eligible voters from voting. Many people do not have birth certificates or other acceptable proof of citizenship, and for some people, that proof is not available. One Missouri voter, Lillie Lewis, said at a news conference last week that officials in Mississippi, where she was born, told her they had no record of her birth.

Proof of citizenship is just one of an array of new barriers to voting that have been springing up across the country. Indiana adopted a tough new photo ID voting requirement, over objections from Democrats that it would prevent eligible voters from casting a ballot. The critics were right. In last week’s Indiana primary, a group of about 12 nuns in their 80s and 90s were prevented from voting because they lacked acceptable ID

The editorial concludes by indicating that the burden is now on "on state legislators, governors, state courts and ordinary citizens to ensure that the right to vote is not taken away for partisan political gain."

To read the editorial, click here.