Voter fraud a big problem or non-issue? #tellusatoday

Letter to the editor:

A Paste BN article claimed that the Supreme Court wasn't really conservative leaning ("Roberts' court seems more like Kennedy's," News, Oct. 14). That court recently ruled that key provisions of the Voting Rights Act are no longer necessary. In a rare Saturday decision, it allowed Texas to enforce its voter ID law in the upcoming election.

Although many Republican-controlled states claim that rules about voting combat voter fraud, lower courts have decided that the restrictions are meant to make it difficult for Democratic voters to vote. In-person voter fraud is rare.

It is no fallacy that a Supreme Court allowing state governments to restrict voter access to the polls is seen as conservative.

Marvin W. Schwartzwalder; Walden, N.Y.

We asked our followers what they thought about the Supreme Court decision allowing Texas to enforce its voter ID law in this election. Comments from Twitter and Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

I think a voter ID law is good. You need an identification to vote. Many countries have a photo ID requirement to vote.

— @Letti4U

It is a deliberate tactic to suppress Democratic voters and minorities.

— @Brianrrs37

Yes. The GOP is worried about the changing demographics in the country.

— @dm2008

No photo ID, no vote. It's pretty simple logic to understand, except for liberals.

— @skinsnrugby

I fail to see how minorities are being targeted with voter ID laws. It would appear that the target of this requirement is illegal immigrants.

Are we to assume that minorities can't figure out how to get a picture ID? That seems pretty insulting.

— Daniel Hackett

Every state should require a photo ID to vote to eliminate voter fraud. It's not hurting anyone's civil rights to ask for a photo ID to show that you're who you say you are.

— Jean Gray

This Supreme Court is terrible. Voter fraud is a non-issue. I hope this game the Republicans are playing comes back to bite them, costing them thousands of votes. Poor Republican voters exist in Texas, too.

— Larry J. Mitchell

You have a right to vote if you are a U.S. citizen and are at least 18 years old. Why would anyone not want to require documents to register to vote and a photo ID on Election Day to prove you are the one registered? Democrats argue that the requirement restricts the poor and lower classes. My money says they couldn't care less about voting anyway.

Also, getting a photo ID in order to vote in Texas is free. So there really is no excuse. If you can't take the time to get an election ID, then you wouldn't take the time to vote.

— Ward Steinbach

For more discussions, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday on Twitter.