Though nearly half of Americans believe that voter fraud is a pervasive occurrence, it rarely actually happens. A study found that out of the one billion of votes cast from 2000 to 2014, there were only 33 verified cases of voter impersonation.
Yet, since just prior to the 2012 presidential election, a series of predominantly Republican state legislatures have passed strict voter ID laws in an attempt, they claim, to prevent rigged elections.
Critics of these laws say they discriminate against minority and low-income voters, and are a more of a political ploy to disenfranchise these kinds of voters, who tend to be Democrats.
Todd Allbaugh is the former chief-of-staff for Republican Wisconsin Sen. Dale Schultz, during the time in which Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker passed a similar law in 2011. In April of this year, Allbaugh felt compelled to take to Facebook to set the record straight.
In a prophetic coincidence, Wisconsin Congressman Glenn Grothman appeared on television later that day, confirming that Republicans hoped voter ID laws would impact Democrats.
Allbaugh has since left politics for the coffee business, but he joins The Takeaway today to discuss this troubling issue. Click on the 'Listen' button above to hear our full conversation.
