Cummings: Tougher Voter ID Laws To Stop Fraud Are Not Necessary In Md.
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Less than two months until the election, a Maryland congressman fears low turnout from minority voters.
Adam May looks at the confusion and the debate surrounding voter identification.
At New Shiloh Baptist Church in West Baltimore, ministers from across the city meet with election officials to clarify voter rights.
"Maryland is a state that does not require ID from voters," said Armstead Jones, Elections Director.
But that's not the case in a growing number of other states, which recently passed tough voter ID laws.
Congressman Elijah Cummings is a vocal critic.
"All the research shows that a disproportionate number of minorities do not have the types of identifications these laws are requiring," Cummings said.
He claims Republicans are pushing the laws to reduce President Barack Obama's chances of winning in swing states.
"While these laws are supposed to stop people from committing fraud at the polling place, there is no real fraud," Cummings said.
But supporters of ID laws claim voter fraud often goes unreported.
Maryland officials disagree.
"We get a lot of talk of fraud but we don't have large incidents of fraud at all in Baltimore City or the state of Maryland," Jones said.
So for now Marylanders can still vote without ID. Registration requires either a driver's license, MVA ID card or Social Security number.
The last day to register in Maryland is Tuesday, Oct. 16.
