Why voter ID remains such divisive issue in US politics

Donald Trump has threatened to bypass lawmakers with a new executive order that would require election officials to verify voter identification before issuing ballots — a key issue in his political campaigns over the past decade.

In a February 13 post on social media, the Republican president signalled he was prepared to act unilaterally, expressing frustration at what he sees as stalled efforts in Congress.

“If we can’t get it through Congress, there are Legal reasons why this SCAM is not permitted. I will be presenting them shortly, in the form of an Executive Order,” Trump's message reads.

His comments came two days after the United States House of Representatives approved a bill that would require proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Analysts, however, say the legislation faces long odds in the Senate.

Voter ID requirements already exist in 36 US states, though the strictness of those laws varies. In most states with such rules, acceptable forms of identification commonly include a valid driver’s license or a state-issued ID card.

A 2024 study by the non-profit VoteRiders found that more than 34.5 million Americans either lack a driver’s license or state ID, or possess one that does not reflect their current name or address. The report also concluded that citizens of colour were nearly four times more likely than white citizens to lack a government-issued photo ID. The VoteRiders study noted that some older Black voters in the US South and Indigenous Americans born outside hospital settings may not have birth certificates at all.

Research published in 2025 by the Pew Research Centre found broad bipartisan support for photo ID requirements. According to the study, 95 per cent of Republicans backed such measures, as did about 71 per cent of Democrats.

Despite that support, voting rights groups and Democratic leaders have largely opposed stricter ID laws. They argue that obtaining government-issued identification can pose challenges for low-income and marginalized communities, particularly for those without easy access to foundational documents such as birth certificates.

Among Americans without a driver’s license, 19 percent cited bureaucratic or financial barriers — including the inability to afford licensing fees or secure required documents like a birth certificate or Social Security card. The average cost of obtaining a copy of a birth certificate is around $50, a figure often highlighted as a barrier by critics of voter ID proposals.

In the past, Trump has frequently claimed that the absence of stricter voter ID laws has enabled election fraud. He has cited those concerns when refusing to accept the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

Congress has debated similar measures in recent years, including in 2025. The issue has regained momentum ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, as Trump presses for greater federal oversight of election procedures.

While voter identification laws remain deeply contentious in the United States, the practice is common internationally. Many European countries, including Azerbaijan, require voters to present government-issued photo identification at polling stations, and several European Union member states mandate advance voter registration to be eligible to participate in elections.

By Nazrin Sadigova