Editor’s Note: This Letter to the Editor is in response to a column published in Tuesday’s print edition, titled “Voter ID laws flawed but necessary.”

The rise of voter ID laws is a direct result of the diminishing Republican party and the shrinking Caucasian population. One also needs to have an understanding of American racial history and how changes of this nature have been used to keep people from participating in the voter process. One cannot speak intelligently about this issue without referring to voter racial discrimination. Democracy should never be about restricting access to individuals, but about creating wider opportunities for participation in the election process.

The same people who clamor for voter ID laws often have no problems with third world democracies using any means to give people access to vote. Clearly, the goal in creating these laws in the United States is about restricting access and not voting integrity. Every single legitimate study reports that actual voter fraud is nearly nonexistent, and thus the need for these laws is always overstated.

Like it or not, it was the specter of Democrats maintaining control of the White House for the foreseeable future that has encouraged a Republican movement to enact these laws. Perhaps the Republicans should offer better policies instead of trying to keep citizens from voting.

Kevin L. Brown, J.D.

Community Services Manager

City of Evanston

Parks, Recreation & Community Services