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First and foremost, voter ID laws promote election security. While documented cases of in-person voter impersonation are rare, rarity does not equal impossibility. Elections are decided by narrow margins, sometimes by hundreds or even dozens of votes. In such circumstances, even minimal vulnerabilities matter. Requiring voters to verify their identity before casting a ballot is a basic safeguard—one that aligns with common-sense practices used across nearly every other civic and financial activity. Americans are required to show identification to board airplanes, purchase age-restricted items, enter government buildings, and conduct routine transactions. Voting, arguably the most consequential civic act, should not be an exception.
