Over 7 Million U.S. Citizens Lack Government-Issued Photo ID, Contradicting Social Media Assertions

A recent social media post by user C3 asserted that out of 244 million legal citizens aged 18 and over in the U.S., "Only 2.4 million or 1% do not have any form of photo ID." The tweet further questioned, "Why wouldn’t you make it law to show ID to vote if 99% of US citizens have ID? Because Dems need to cheat to win." However, comprehensive research indicates a significantly higher number of Americans lack valid government-issued photo identification.

According to a 2023 analysis by the University of Maryland’s Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement (CDCE) and VoteRiders, based on 2020 data, over 7 million voting-age U.S. citizens did not possess any form of non-expired government-issued photo ID. This figure contrasts sharply with the 1% cited in the social media post. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that nearly 29 million eligible voters lacked a current driver’s license, a common form of identification required in many states.

The disparity in photo ID ownership disproportionately affects specific demographic groups, including young people, individuals with lower incomes, and communities of color. Research from VoteRiders in 2024 highlighted that citizens of color are almost four times more likely than white citizens not to possess a current government-issued photo ID. Barriers to obtaining ID often include the cost of documents like birth certificates, which can be around $50, and other bureaucratic hurdles.

Amidst a growing number of states enacting new or stricter voter ID requirements, the debate over election security and voter access continues. While proponents argue for ID laws to prevent voter fraud, critics contend that such requirements disenfranchise eligible voters, particularly those facing socioeconomic challenges in acquiring the necessary identification. The social media claim that opposition to mandatory voter ID is solely due to a party's need to "cheat to win" oversimplifies a complex issue with significant implications for millions of citizens.