Voter ID Advocates Push Unworkable “Gun Purchase” Model While Ignoring Real Barriers

The debate over voter ID laws is nothing new, but a recent letter to the Scranton Times-Tribune offers a revealing glimpse into the mindset driving these restrictive proposals. The author, a self-described lifelong gun rights supporter and poll watcher, suggests that voting should require not only government-issued photo ID but also background checks, just like purchasing a firearm.

On the surface, this idea might sound tough on fraud. But it’s a red herring that would only serve to suppress voter participation. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that any ID required for voting must be provided free of charge. Yet even a simple photo ID mandate struggles to pass in many states due to concerns about disenfranchisement.

The letter’s suggestion to turn Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid cards into photo IDs with scannable strips and voter eligibility notations is an odd pivot. These cards have never been designed for identification or voting purposes, and retrofitting them would create massive logistical hurdles without addressing the root issues.

What the letter sidesteps entirely is the lack of evidence for widespread in-person voter fraud—the very problem these proposals claim to solve. The author admits that proving fraud is “virtually impossible,” yet doubles down on measures that would make voting more complicated and less accessible.

This approach fits a broader pattern among voter ID proponents: conflating rare or nonexistent fraud with a justification for sweeping restrictions that disproportionately impact marginalized communities. By pushing a “gun purchase” model for voting, they weaponize fear and misinformation to undermine democratic participation.

At a time when voting rights are under attack nationwide, we cannot afford to be distracted by proposals that masquerade as solutions but ultimately erode the franchise. Real reforms should focus on expanding access, safeguarding ballots, and ensuring every eligible voter can cast their ballot without unnecessary hurdles.

Only Clowns Are Orange will keep tracking these efforts and exposing how voter ID laws serve political agendas, not election integrity. Democracy demands better than this.