Grand Canyon Times

Ken Cuccinelli, national chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative (ETI) and former Republican attorney general of Virginia, has applauded the Arizona Legislature for approving a resolution that places a voter ID initiative on the November ballot.

“Identification should always be required to vote—period,” Cuccinelli said in a statement. “We are grateful to House Speaker [Rusty] Bowers, Senate President [Karen] Fann and their caucuses for ensuring voters have a say when they cast their ballots this November. Americans should have faith in secure, transparent, and accountable elections so that they participate in our democratic process, not stay home.”

If approved by the voters, the Arizona initiative will require all those who vote by mail to provide additional information beyond their signature on the ballot affidavit. The additional information required includes date of birth, and the last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number, or driver’s license, or nonoperating identification number.

For in-person voting, a valid photo ID would be required if the ballot initiative is approved. For those requiring identification for voting, the fee for a nonoperating ID will be waived.

In a letter to Fann, Cuccinelli cited both statewide and national polls showing that voters across demographic lines support voter ID measures.

A statewide poll by Data Orbital showed support for voter ID at 93% of Republican voters, 83% of independent voters and 69% of Democrats. In addition, 73% of African American voters support ID measures as well as 82% of Hispanic voters, the poll showed.

An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey showed that 79% of respondents believe voters should be required to show a government-issued photo ID when they vote. A Pew Research Center survey found that 76% of Americans, including 61% of Democrats, favor “requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote.”

Voters “should trust that every legal vote can be counted fairly and openly, and that is why commonsense voter I.D. is overwhelmingly popular among every voting demographic,” Cuccinelli said. “Until their trust and confidence in our elections is repaired, many voters will continue to question whether voting is even worthwhile anymore.”