Quick question. When was the last time you boarded a plane without showing your ID?
Never, right? You can't cash a check without one either.
So why are so many politicians fighting this hard against showing ID to vote?
Does Voter ID Keep People Away?
Critics often claim voter ID laws keep people from voting. The research says otherwise.
A 2021 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research looked at a full decade of data. It found voter ID laws have no negative effect on turnout, no matter someone's race, gender, age, or political party.
Nevada already asks for some form of ID when registering to vote, but the SAVE America Act would strengthen citizenship verification nationwide.
Georgia gives us a real-world example of how this plays out. After the state passed its 2021 voter ID law, Georgia hit record turnout in both 2022 and 2024.
Not lower turnout. Record turnout.
The Numbers Don't Lie
Poll after poll shows the same thing. Americans want voter ID, and they want it badly.
Pew Research found 83% of Americans support voter ID requirements. That includes wide majorities of Democrats, independents, whites, blacks, and Latinos.
Gallup found similar numbers. 84% support voter ID overall, including 67% of Democrats. And 83% back requiring proof of citizenship to register.
Harvard's CAPS/Harris poll found 81% support, with 79% of independents and 70% of Democrats on board.
Even the bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, co-chaired by former Democrat President Jimmy Carter, backed the idea years ago. The commission's opinion might sound familiar: IDs are needed to board a plane, enter federal buildings, and cash a check. Voting should be no different.
That's coming from a bipartisan panel with a Democrat president's name on it.
The Mail-In Voting Problem
Mail voting has its benefits, but it comes with real risks too.
The Commission on Federal Election Reform warned years ago that mail voting is more likely to open the door to fraud than in-person voting.
The commission specifically flagged absentee ballots as the biggest source of potential fraud, and warned that buying votes is much harder to catch when ballots show up in mailboxes instead of polling places.
Even the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in back in 2008, pointing to real cases of absentee ballot fraud and confirming the risk is not just theoretical. It can actually swing a close election.
In Nevada, almost every registered voter gets a mail ballot automatically.
When the Court talks about fraud risk, it's talking about how we vote right now.
Broad Support, Real Momentum
The SAVE America Act itself polls strongly too. Harvard's CAPS/Harris survey found 71% support for the bill, including 69% of independents and half of everyday Democrats.
Even more telling, 80% of Americans want states to clean up their voter rolls by removing non-citizens. 60% call the bill a commonsense way to fight fraud and protect elections.
Politicians love to say they're listening to the American people. Passing photo ID requirements is their chance to prove it.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
