Dear John,
As a growing number of states enact new or stricter voter ID requirements, it’s more important than ever that we have a crystal-clear understanding of who these laws impact and how big their impact is on an increasingly diverse electorate.
That’s why VoteRiders partnered with the University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement (CDCE) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of which voters are most impacted by the ever-tightening voter ID law landscape in America today.
We released the analysis this month, which you can read here. Our key findings include:
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As of 2020, nearly 29 million voting-age U.S. citizens did not have a non-expired driver’s license and over 7 million did not have any other form of non-expired government-issued photo identification.
- More than
11 million young people (18-29 year olds) did not have a current driver’s license and more than 3 million did not have any unexpired government issued photo ID.
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18-19 year olds in particular were the most likely by far to lack a driver’s license (39% did not have a license.)
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Members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups were less likely to have a current driver’s license or other government-issued photo ID.
- An estimated
1.86 million Black non-Hispanic Americans (6.2%) and
1.86 million Hispanic Americans (6.1%) lack a photo ID, as do 4.5% of those who identify as Native American, Native Alaskan, or another race. This compares to just 2.3% of White non-Hispanic Americans and 1.6% of Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander Americans.
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Individuals with a high school degree or less were the least likely to have a current driver’s license or any photo ID. Over 18.5 million people who did not complete high school or whose highest level of education is a high school degree did not have a driver’s license.
- The analysis found a strong relationship between income and lack of a driver’s license, with adult Americans earning less than $30,000 lacking a driver’s license at a rate about five times greater than the highest income category of $100,000 or more.
- Those who were not registered and those who did not vote in 2020 were far more likely to lack a current driver’s license and lack any photo ID. Adult Americans who were not registered to vote were
three times more likely to lack a driver’s license (30%) than those who were registered (11%). The results were similar when comparing 2020 non-voters to 2020 voters,
demonstrating the disproportionate barrier that voter ID laws place in front of non-voters or infrequent voters, as well as new or first-time voters.
This data reinforces how the shifting landscape of state-level voter ID laws creates confusion and challenges for millions of Americans seeking to make their voices heard in our democracy, something VoteRiders staff working on the ground across the country see firsthand every day. As states rapidly pass new or stricter voter ID laws, ensuring that voters are informed about these changes and helping them obtain the IDs they need to cast their ballots has never been more important.
VoteRiders commissioned this analysis so that we could be as strategic and targeted as possible in our work. And we’re already shifting our outreach accordingly — working to more intentionally reach out to young people (especially 18- and 19-year-olds), people of color, lower income earners, and individuals without a high school degree. We do that work by partnering with high schools and community groups, running digital campaigns, and setting up in-person Voter ID Clinics in communities with the highest rates of need.
There are 36 states with voter ID laws — and more are likely coming before the 2024 presidential election. Having accurate, in-depth research allows us to confront the true scale of the impact, and take the necessary steps now — 18 months out — to ensure that all Americans have the ID they need to cast a ballot that counts.
Take a moment to read and share this critical research with your networks, and let them know that VoteRiders is here to help them with accurate voter ID information, along with free, hands-on assistance for anyone who needs an ID — including locating original documents, transportation to appointments, and covering any and all fees.
