Government issued photo ID and signature verification should be required at the time of voting.

This is the short version. Full research backs every line: 64 facts, 127 sources, tested through our four questions: what it means, why the evidence says so, who it affects, and what's best for the common good. Read the summary below, or open the Full Report for the complete registry and our proposed law.

What Does This Claim Mean?

Before casting a ballot, every voter must (1) present a government-issued photo ID and (2) provide a signature that officials verify against the voter's registration record. Two checks, at the moment a ballot is cast in person. Mail-in voting is covered by a separate claim (#04-003-003). No state requires both today, so this claim is stricter than any current law. The Constitution assigns its enactment to state legislatures and Congress - not the president.

Why Is This Claim True?

Every fact in this claim's registry links to its end source - the statute, court record, database, or study itself - so readers can check us. Listing a fact does not mean we endorse it as true. Our conclusions appear in Q3 and Q4.

Who And What Does This Claim Impact?

Voter fraud is real, and courts have proven it. Confirmed fraud is also rare - the actual total is unknown. The danger is that in a close election, even a small amount can change the result.

The rules and processes for managing elections are different in every state, and technology is making it cheaper and easier to fake an identity every year. Even the official counts of how many Americans are registered disagree by tens of millions.

Large majorities of Americans in both parties call this requirement reasonable. The burden on honest voters is real but limited, and it can be managed - several states have already proven it. What remains falls on a small share of voters, and clear communication to them matters as much as the law itself.

When we started, two questions had no answers. Now they do:

What Is Best for the Common Good?

The facts support this claim. It should become law - with the safeguards the evidence demands built into it:

The full report contains our proposed Voter Verification Act - a complete draft for a law written in plain language, published for education and public discussion.

We provide this information, so citizens of good conscience may:

1. Understand this issue and a viable solution that serves the common good.

2. Have the facts to support polite discussion.

3. Consider applying this knowledge to engage effectively with their elected officials on this type of law.

Consider each question with its evidence and conclusions. Forward this to others.