LETTER: Buono Critical of Voter ID Laws

To the editor:

Few laws have done more to strengthen our democracy than the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  From banning the use of literacy tests to ordering the Attorney General to challenge poll taxes to putting into place federal oversight of state and local elections, it brought about the end of un-American practices aimed at disenfranchising minorities and the poor.  The VRA and all who voted for it recognized that a healthy democracy requires that everyone’s voice be heard.

Yet, 47 years later, there are those in other states who want to take a step back from the VRA and put up unnecessary and burdensome hurdles to voting in the wake of the 2012 elections.  These attacks on democracy, such as the new Pennsylvania Voter ID law, do nothing to prevent voter fraud—which is virtually nonexistent to begin with.  Rather, they make it harder for the poor, the elderly and those living in urban areas to vote.  Americans everywhere should reject such brazen attacks on democracy and instead work together to encourage even more citizens to get out and vote.

Sen. Barbara Buono (D-18)

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