Despite his personal stance against voter ID laws, President Barack Obama was asked to show a form of photo identification when he voted in Chicago on Thursday. While Illinois does not have a voter ID law, the state does require voters who take advantage of early voting to show a driver’s license, a state-issued identification card or government-issued photo ID.
“Voters don’t need reasons or excuses to use Early Voting — but voters do need to present government-issued photo identification to use Early Voting,” according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
The Justice Department has opposed voter ID laws in Texas and South Carolina but approved of less-stringent voter ID laws in Virginia and New Hampshire.
