There are many good reasons why Republicans are so eager to introduce voter ID laws, and it’s not because they’re on a moral crusade to preserve the integrity of democracy. In fact, quite the opposite.
Voter ID requirements have been repeatedly found to disproportionately affect minorities and those on limited or no incomes. These are voters considered more likely to vote Democrat, so laws requiring Americans to bring ID to the polls are a way for Republicans to reduce their opponents’ vote.
On top of that, there’s practically no evidence to support a wave of voter fraud in the first place. Bear in mind that Trump has spent years insisting that the 2020 election was stolen, and multiple agencies and MAGA devotees have devoted time and money to poring over every detail. The result?
A single woman imprisoned for tampering with voting machines… Oh, she’s also MAGA to the core, and Trump himself is trying to free her!
I think I’ve heard this one before…
Now, in disquieting news, South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds has told Fox News that Americans will be required to display a “little yellow star” to be able to cast a vote:
Mike Rounds says Republicans just want to make you show your document with a yellow star in order to vote pic.twitter.com/2AYKpk5V3M
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 17, 2026
“You take out your driver’s license and you got a little yellow star up in the right hand corner, it means you already got your Real ID in place and that’s all you need in order to go in and vote.”
Mmm-hm. You know who else forced people to display little yellow stars? Exactly.
Okay, fine, I will admit there is a teeny difference between Real ID and the Judenstern yellow star Jews were forced to wear in public in Nazi Germany. Even so, it is darkly amusing that in arguing for voter ID, you inadvertently reference a monstrous, criminal totalitarian regime that tore up democracy.
What’s even more darkly amusing is that Rounds clearly realized what he’d said as soon as he said it, understood the implications, but grinned and tried to move on while hoping nobody spotted. But we spotted it, Senator!
Whatever the case, don’t let Republicans fool you with arguments that voter ID laws must be passed to protect democracy. They know full well what the real impact would be on the electoral system – millions of Americans with a right to vote being turned away at the polls with zero room for debate.
