Voter ID Laws
Team Phil-Is-Sophical
Argumentation and Persuasion
Agenda
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•
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•
•
•
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Introduction
Audience Analysis
Need, Remedy, Disadvantage Analysis
Toulmin Model Analysis
Affirmative
Negative
Conclusion
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
Case Introduction
Affirmative Statement:
“All voters should show a photo ID before voting”
Burden of Proof:
Falls on those who believe photo ID should be required when
voting
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
Introduction
Cont.
• Arguments contained in USA Today editorial
article
– January 8th, 2008
– Affirmative case written by Thor Hearne
• Attorney and lead counsel for bipartisan elections
professionals
– Negative case edited by Ken Paulson
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
Assumptions
• No right or wrong solution for debate
• Both sides of argument are based primarily on
personal opinion/political affiliation
• Only potential voters are affected by issue
(age)
• Cost or process of obtaining photo ID could
prevent fair voting system
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
Audience AnalysisUSA Today
USA Today
Total Readers:
3,882,000
Average Age:
46
Gender:
Men
Women
68%
32%
Education:
Any College
College B.A./Post Grad Degree
71%
43%
Occupation:
Professional/Managerial
Top/Middle Manager
Employed
34%
25%
80%
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
Audience Analysis
So What?
• Debate pertains to readers of USA Today
because they are of voting age
• Interest in topic high because it’s an election
year
• Debate is nationwide, as is USA Today’s
circulation
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
NRD Affirmative Side
Need for Change
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All voters should be required to show a photo id before voting to aid in fraud
prevention, to build confidence in electoral fairness, and to protect the integrity of
the vote.
According to national polls, more than 80% of Americans support the
requirements that people identify themselves with a photo id before casting a
ballot.
Remedy for Change:
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By voters showing an id at the polls, they will ensure that they are who they are
and that they have been registered so that fraud prevention and electoral fairness
are more prevalent.
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
NRD Affirmative Side cont.
Disadvantage to Change:
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Cost of a photo id ($26-50 per id) could prevent some from voting. Mostly
according to research the poor, elderly and minorities are likely to lack photo
identification.
Invasion of Privacy
Devil:
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Democrats who oppose using photo identification to vote, poor, some elderly and
minorities who lack a photo id and therefore may be unable to vote and exercise
one of their major rights as a US citizen.
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
NRD Negative Side
Need for Change
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Requiring voters to show photo identification before voting brings up memories of
poll taxes, and literacy tests once used to discourage blacks form voting.
Using photo identification can be seen as an invasion of privacy.
Photo identification is not required in all states to cast a vote. This may discourage
some voters from voting and/or make them unable to cast a vote.
Photo identification can be costly.
Remedy for Change:
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Develop a method in which photo identification can be provided free of charge.
Utilize the current method that is being used of matching signatures in poll books.
Make photo identification required in all states so that the dilemma is dealt with at
a national level.
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
NRD Negative Side cont.
Disadvantage to Change:
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Utilizing older polling methods are slow and somewhat outdated.
Without using photo identification, you can not ensure the integrity of the vote.
This means that one person can vote several times using a different name.
Photo identification does assist in fraud prevention.
Devil:
•
Republicans and those who support using photo identification to vote. Several
states do require using photo identification to vote.
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
c
Former president Jimmy
Carter, civil rights leader,
Andrew Young and many
others (including,
according to a number of
national polls, more than
80% of Americans)
support the requirement
that people identify
themselves with photo ID
before casting a ballot.
E1
Measures aimed at
upholding the
fairness and honesty
of our election
process, such as
photo identification
requirements
increase public
confidence.
E2
Photo ID is used
everyday by
Americans
E3
…using photo ID eliminates
the older, subjective method
of identifying voters by
having an election judge
recognize a voter or match
a voter’s signature with one
on file in a poll book.
c
Former president Jimmy
Carter, civil rights leader,
Andrew Young and many
others (including,
according to a number of
national polls, more than
80% of Americans)
support the requirement
that people identify
themselves with photo ID
before casting a ballot.
E1
Measures aimed at
upholding the fairness and
honesty of our election
process, such as photo
identification requirements
increase public confidence.
Since fraud prevention would increase public confidence
W
Because making voters show a photo ID, would prevent
fraud, prevents non-Americans from voting, and prevents
people from voting more than once.
SW
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
E2
Photo ID is used everyday
by Americans
Since the majority of voters have and use photo ID on an everyday basis
W
Because we use our ID daily to buy alcohol, board a plane, enter a federal
building, and cash a check (including welfare checks)
SW
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
E3
…using photo ID eliminates
the older, subjective method
of identifying voters by
having an election judge
recognize a voter or match
a voter’s signature with one
on file in a poll book.
Since the older way of voting is outdated and not as reliable
W
Because there are ways of getting around the old voting system
SW
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
c
Make standards too
onerous, and some
eligible voters will
inevitably be unable to
exercise democracy’s
most fundamental right.
E1
Voter ID laws raise ugly
memories of poll taxes,
literacy tests and other
barriers once used to
discourage blacks from
voting
c
Make standards too
onerous, and some
eligible voters will
inevitably be unable to
exercise democracy’s
most fundamental right.
E2
There’s also very
little evidence that
voter fraud
impersonation is a
significant
problem
E3
All of this suggests that while photo
IDs can be useful tools for building
confidence in electoral fairness, they
are hardly foolproof. If required, they
must be made easily available at no
cost to those who qualify – and with
aggressive outreach to those who
have difficulty traveling
E1
Voter ID laws raise ugly
memories of poll taxes,
literacy tests and other
barriers once used to
discourage blacks from
voting
Since history shows voters have been previously turned away
W
Because previous standards have made eligible voters unable to vote
SW
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
E2
There’s also very
little evidence that
voter fraud
impersonation is a
significant
problem
Since research has been unable to prove this a problem
W
Because little on fraud prevention has been documented
SW
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
E3
All of this suggests that while photo
IDs can be useful tools for building
confidence in electoral fairness, they
are hardly foolproof. If required, they
must be made easily available at no
cost to those who qualify – and with
aggressive outreach to those who
have difficulty traveling
Since the availability and cost of a photo ID would prevent a fair voting process
W
Because acquiring a photo ID can be potentially difficult
SW
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
Toulmin Model
So What?
• Warrants of both sides include
– Authoritative (ethos)
– Substantive (logos)
– Motivational (pathos)
• Negative Side
– Claim is a question of fact
• Affirmative Side
– Claim is a question of policy
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
Affirmative Side
1. Supporters of ID laws believe requirements are necessary to
prevent fraud
Evidence: The need to show an ID prevents voter fraud
attempts (Discovery Institute)
2. Advocates argue a law would restore voter confidence,
therefore increasing participation (newsmax)
Evidence: Supporters argue perception just as important as reality
(MSNBC)
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
Affirmative Side
3. Indiana has ID law, and 99% of voters there have a photo ID
-Evidence: “In five years, the whole nation is going to be like Indiana.
A majority of people want this in their elections.” (newsmax)
-Evidence: Not one single case was brought against The State of
Indiana claiming the law inhibited their ability to vote (USA Today)
4. Participation increased in groups previously believed to be
burdened by ID laws
-Evidence: Thor Hearne, writer of the USA Today article, is the lead
counsel for bipartisan elections professionals and Republican
members of Congress who filed Supreme Court briefs supporting
Indiana’s voter ID law.
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
Affirmative Side
5. ID law could be phased in over consecutive years, lessening
possible complications
Evidence: A 2005 report found that ID laws themselves are not the
issue, but a plan to slowly phase in the law would increase- not
decrease- voter participation (Jimmy Carter, New York Times)
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
Negative Side
1. Cost for a photo ID may inhibit the poor/elderly
Evidence: Opponents argue the cost of an ID ($26-$50), is too costly
for those who can’t afford to acquire on simply for voting (MSNBC)
2. No hard evidence of fraud at the polls
Evidence: There are no statistically significant cases of proven voter
fraud (The AP)
3. ID laws raises memories of poll taxes and literacy taxes
previously used to discourage African Americans from
voting
Evidence: "The fee that is required to obtain a five-year state ID card
is tantamount to a poll tax, which was abolished by the TwentyFourth Amendment to the Constitution.“-Neil Bradley, Associate Director of
the Atlanta-based American Civil Liberties Union Voting Rights Project
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
Negative Side
4. Invasion of Privacy
Evidence: Is seen as conflicting with voters’ privacy rights and the
Voting Rights Act
5. Many states won’t allow voting without an ID
Evidence: 19 states require voters to show a photo ID
(Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, etc.)
6. Laws are made at the state level, when the issue of voting is a
national event
Evidence: The way our country is run
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
ConclusionSummary
• Either side lacks “hard” factual evidence
• Debate is generally split along partisan lines
– Affirmative=Republican, Negative=Democratic
• Issue predicted to become a major debate
nationwide in the coming months
– Already a hot topic in Wisconsin, Georgia, and
Indiana
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion
ConclusionEvaluation
Negative Side
Out of 10
Affirmative Side
Out of 10
Introduction AA NRD Toulmin Affirmative Negative Conclusion