An Indiana law that requires voters to present photo identification documents before casting ballots has been challenged. That state’s Democratic Party and civil rights groups claim the law discriminates against poor and minority voters.
Indiana officials’ response is that reasonable identification rules are needed to guard against election fraud.
Many states have voter identification requirements, for the same reason that Indiana enacted its rules. Such laws are attempts to balance a desire for open access to the polling places with safeguards against fraud.
We hope high court justices, in agreeing to hear the case, are merely signaling a desire to examine the specifics of the Indiana law — not to rule on the constitutionality of voter ID rules in general.
Voting indeed is a right in the United States, but like most others, it carries with it responsibilities. One of those is to help elections officials guard against fraud. In that light, the high court should affirm the place of voter ID rules in the elections process.