LeeAnne Poole: Absentee loophole

Regarding the Feb. 12 news article “N.C. DMV says it messed up by rejecting 86-year-old”: I just want to reassure Reba Miller Bowser that she doesn’t need a photo ID to vote. The requirement is only to vote in person at the polls.

The law is an attempt by the legislature to confuse voters and discourage people who do not have a photo ID from voting. If it had anything to do with preventing voter fraud, there would not be a gaping loophole called an absentee ballot.

I received a “State Absentee Ballot Request Form” in the mail recently. It requires only my Social Security number and signature. If someone wanted to commit fraud, this is about as easy as it gets. Just request a ballot for any registered voter with a valid Social Security number or driver’s license and mail in the vote.

How many people will complete the form for a friend or family member with advanced dementia? We will never know, because the legislature really doesn’t care. This has always been about keeping a particular demographic from voting.

I will not be standing in line at one of the ever-more limited polling sites, but I will be voting.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 5:36 PM with the headline "LeeAnne Poole: Absentee loophole."