Nearly a thousand voter-identification laws have been introduced in 46 states since 2001 in an effort to prevent fraud from occurring at polling stations, according to the National Conference of State Legislators. The laws would require voters to present some form of identification when casting ballots.
Despite the efforts of lawmakers to put these policies into effect, the News21 investigation at the Walter Cronkite School found little evidence that there is reason for concern when it comes to in-person voting.
One area that did prove troubling came in the form of absentee ballots.
“They (experts) all pretty much agree that the opportunity for voter fraud is present in absentee ballots more than any other type,” said News21 fellow and Cronkite School graduate student Natasha Khan, who spoke during Must See Monday alongside other News21 fellows.
The News21 fellows submitted thousands of public records requests to state and local agencies around the country, and found certain demographics face difficulties in casting their votes. The report found that elderly people, disabled people, minorities and some college students face trouble when it comes to voting.
Elderly and disabled people often have difficulties traveling to polling stations or filling out ballots that are not tailored to accommodate their specific needs. College students who attend classes out of state and do not have the option to vote at their university must send in an absentee ballot.
A growing trend among conservative groups and some liberal groups is the formation of poll-watching teams. Political groups train volunteers who go to polling stations on Election Day to watch for any suspicious behavior that may indicate voter fraud.
“They show up in such numbers and act so aggressively that it intimidates people from voting,” News21 fellow AJ Vicens said of such watchdog groups. Vicens is a graduate student at the Cronkite School.
The News21 voter-fraud project comprises pages of comprehensive research compiled in an easily accessible format on the project’s website.
“What we wanted to do was tackle the issue of voter fraud, try to figure out if there was any voter fraud, if it would affect the election and if ID laws could prevent (voter) fraud,” said Corbin Carson, a News21 fellow and Cronkite School graduate student.
Contact the reporter at amclar15@asu.edu
Editor’s note: Jack Fitzpatrick, a managing editor and news editor for the Downtown Devil, participated in the News21 summer fellowship. He did not contribute to the reporting of this article.
