Better chance of winning lottery than having vote stolen

For the past several election cycles (less 2020, when I was not needed), I have worked as an election Judge in Baltimore County. Despite not being a voter ID state, many voters still hand me their photo ID or voter notification card. As instructed by the Board of Elections, I politely take their ID and proceed to look them up the same as any other voter — by asking them their name, month and day of birth, and street address. Every election cycle, some of these voters express their displeasure that an ID is not a requirement to vote in Maryland less a few notable exceptions (e.g. a challenged identity). They express their concern over another fraudulently taking their vote, about the potential for someone to claim they are someone they are not and commit voter fraud.

During the 2020 election cycle, millions of Americans took to the polls. Of those millions of votes cast, less than 475 cases of potential fraud were found in the whole nation according to Associated Press. Some quick math will reveal that you have a better chance getting rich from a scratch-off than having someone fraudulently take your vote due to lack of a voter ID law. Additionally, it would take a conspiracy the size of which is only found in the great works of fantasy and science-fiction to pull off such a fraud to successfully change an election. Not to mention the stiff penalty of a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both. The time is simply not worth the crime.

What if I am listed as already voted? You will still be able to vote; however, it will have to be provisionally, and you will be required to sign an oath that, in short, says you are who you say you are. As long as everything is kosher, your vote will still be counted.

With this all being said, I am not completely against voter ID laws. I am willing to have a relaxed ID requirement in place if there is an option for voters that do not have a valid ID to sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury stating that they are who they claim to be, or provide an ID to the Board of Elections within a reasonable time frame as specified by law.