By Hans von Spakovsky
Critics of the Texas voter identification law claim that a voter ID requirement suppresses voter turnout.
However, turnout data from elections held with the voter ID law in place show that there is no evidence whatsoever that this requirement has prevented Texans from turning out to vote. In fact, turnout increased during the 2013 state elections–despite the enactment of the new voter ID requirement.
Likewise, during the 2014 midterm elections–a contest that saw voter participation plummet across the U.S.–turnout in Texas declined at a smaller rate than the national average and a smaller rate than the rates in 12 states that have no ID requirement.
Read more of ACRU Policy Board member Hans von Spakovsky’s Heritage Backgrounder.
