Show Me Your Papers
Voter ID laws make so much sense, if: if, you are from the suburbs, if, you have had no negative interactions with the police or government, and if you are secure that the American Democracy is meant for you. To most Americans, having an ID to cash a check, or go to the store to buy beer or cigarettes, is so common place that it defies common sense that having ID to vote is a big deal.
Voter ID is supposed to protect us from voting fraud. But, there’s really no evidence of widespread voting fraud occurring, with or without Voter ID laws. In North Carolina for example, where the Republican candidate for a Congressional seat is accusing his Democratic opponent of being in favor of voting fraud by not supporting a new Voter ID law, a voting study showed that from 2010-2014 there were 19 fraudulent votes cast out of 12 million. Most of the 19 were longtime US residents, who mistakenly thought they could vote. That’s .00000015% illegal votes, not a “game changing” impact. The North Carolina Voter ID law solves a problem that didn’t exist.
Voter ID isn’t a big deal I f you see the government as serving your interests, not questioning them. Say you’re a citizen of Hispanic ethnicity, and go to the polls to vote and are asked for you ID. Perhaps, in some polling places, a “challenger” (folks whose job is to “challenge” you’re registration, affiliation, address and documentation) will ask for additional information. Language might be an issue, but intimidation might be even a more significant blockade.
It is absolutely true that if a voter stands their ground, ultimately they have the right to vote, at the least on a provisional ballot. But the knowledge of the rules is fully weighted to the poll workers and the challengers; most regular voters don’t know enough to demand their rights when questioned. And if you are a new citizen, or maybe one with a father or mother who is in the US illegally, or a “Dreamer” living with you, will you fight the “voting battle,” or will you avoid drawing attention to yourself and not vote at all?
In newly migrated communities in the United States today, fear of the government is growing. The Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency, “ICE,” has earned a reputation for arbitrary round-ups, and fast and loose play with individual rights. Regardless of what President Trump says, no reasonable politician, Democrat or Republican, is in favor of “open borders.” Reasonable enforcement of immigration law makes sense. But in our nation, with at least 12 million undocumented immigrants living and working here, it also would make sense to target enforcement towards those who are truly dangerous.
That’s not what ICE’s is doing right now with their factory “round-ups” and arranged fake meetings. The US government is even questioning the legal citizenship of some American citizens crossing at the border, demanding documentation beyond Passport cards, and denying their issued birth certificates. An atmosphere of fear has been created in Hispanic communities, among documented, undocumented, and even US citizens.
Folks are scared. They are scared to interact with the government, and they are scared to vote. Demanding additional layers of identification just create additional barriers to participation. That drives down Hispanic participation, and reduces their impact on elections. Will that make a difference? We will see in the Florida Governor’s race between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum, and in the Texas Ted Cruz versus Beto O’Rourke Senate election. Suppress the normally Democratic leaning Hispanic turnout, and elections already on the knife-edge fall Republican. It’s difficult to imagine that’s not intentional.
In the old World War II movies, there was always a scene on the train rolling through occupied Europe. The “good guys” were riding along, and into the railroad car walked the black uniformed Gestapo. “Show me your papers,” was the demand, and the good guys would hope and pray that their forged documents would hold up. “Show me your papers” became the trademark of authoritarian regimes, governments that don’t trust the governed.
If you’re white, suburban, middle-class; it doesn’t feel like it effects you. “Sure, I’ll show you my papers, and sure, I know the government is acting in my interest.” But in minority and newly migrant communities it’s different. “Show me your papers” is a challenge of your right to be here, a challenge made with the full authority of the government.
Martin Niemoller, a German Lutheran, spoke of the Nazis:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
They asked for your papers.
