Cyn....only 7 states require PHOTO idea....three are fairly recent - GA, IN, MI - coincidentally swing states, where recent laws were enacted by Republican legislatures. There is ample testimony I could probably find that would point out that such laws are likely to impact minorities and elderly disproportionately because of more limited (not limited entirely) access to state-issued PHOTO ids.
Fewer than 20 other states require something other (less) than PHOTO ID.
From NCSL:
Requirements for Voter Identification
In most states, and under federal law, a social security number should be enough to register to vote and there are provisions for those who dont even have that.
States are also required to maintain voter registration databases to ensure that persons dont register in more than one precinct.
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added:
IMO, the requirement for voting should be when you REGISTER to vote (and a SS# or something comparable should be enough) ...and if the state is doing its job, you will appear in a database...so you should NOT be required to show an ID when you physically go to the polls to cast your vote.
Anyone w/o a permanent address (as a result of losing their home through foreclosure..or any reason) should be able to use their last address, if that is the address they used to register.