The panelists supporting photo ID cards included Paul Bettencourt, the Tax Registrar Harris County, Texas, and Patrick Rogers, a New Mexico lawyer. While bringing up a couple legitimate examples of voter fraud, neither gave a convincing argument that the problem was rampant. Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA) argued with Patrick Rogers over his resolve that photo ID cards would eliminate voter fraud. When she demanded that he provide data he could not do so.

Panelist Ray Martinez, Bush appointee and vice-chairman of the Election Assistance Commission, said that there is simply not enough data to warrant compulsory photo IDs for voting. Another anti-photo ID panelist was Dr. Spencer Overton, a law professor at George Washington University. He said that photo ID advocates rely on rhetoric rather than empirical facts.

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) provides that when registering to vote one is asked if he or she is a citizen. If one checks the citizenship box and is found not to be a citizen then he or she is subject to federal prosecution. Granted, HAVA is relying heavily on an honor system to determine citizenship. Nevertheless, there are laws in place that were enacted only two years ago that give the federal government the power to prosecute non-citizen voting.

Echoing Rep. Zoe Lofgren's (D-CA) stance at the hearing, this issue should not be taking precedent. Wednesday, the vote on Voting Rights Act renewal (H.R. 9) was effectively hijacked from the House floor. Why are voter ID cards being debated when there are issues at hand that have yet to be resolved? Voting fraud should be looked at in due time, but today is not the day.