In 2002, with the intention of updating voting technology, hindering voter fraud, and increasing confidence in the election system, President George W. Bush signed the Help America Vote Act (Gerken 14). Since the implementation of this law, controversial voter ID laws have begun to appear across the country. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, “Thirty-one states require all voters to present identification before voting at the polls. In fifteen of them, the identity document must include a photo of the voter; in the remaining sixteen, non-photo IDs are acceptable” (Voter ID Requirements). In 2005, Indiana lawmakers passed one of the strictest voter ID laws in the country, requiring voters to present an unexpired state or federally issued photo ID card before being able to vote (Barreto, Nuño and Sanchez 111). The constitutionality of this law was challenged and it ultimately ended up in the United States Supreme Court. In the case of Crawford v. Marion County Election Board, the Supreme Court upheld this requirement in a 6-3 decision, paving the way for other states to adopt such laws (Vock and Gramlich). What is so controversial about these laws that a Supreme Court ruling is necessary? As with most controversial issues in politics, debate over these laws is strictly divided along partisan lines, with Democrats strongly opposed and Republicans strongly in favor of their implementation. Opponents say these laws are unfair and negatively impact certain segments of voters who do not have or cannot afford required identification, such as the poor, the elderly, the disabled. and minorities. As this category of voters is more likely to vote...... middle of paper ......Mycoff, Jason D., Michael W. Wagner, and David C. Wilson. “The Empirical Effects of Voter ID Laws: Present or Absent?” PS: Political Science and Politics 42.01 (2009): 121-26. JSTOR. Internet. February 9, 2012. Sobel, Richard and Robert Ellis Smith. “Voter ID laws discourage participation, particularly among minorities, and trigger constitutional recourse for loss of representation.” PS: Political Science & Politics 42.01 (2009): 107-110. JSTOR. Internet. February 8, 2012. Vock, Daniel C. and John Gramlich. “With the agreement of the judges, the identification of voters is moving forward.” stateline.org. Stateline, April 29, 2008. Web. February 11, 2012. “Voter ID Requirements.” » ncsl.org. National Conference of State Legislatures, February 8, 2012. Web. February 11, 2012.Weiser, Wendy R. and Lawrence Norden. “Changes to the electoral law in 2012”. www.brennancenter.org. Brennan Center For Justice, October 3, 2011. Web. February 8. 2012.