The claim: Americans must show ‘papers to eat at a restaurant, but not to vote’
In the days before the senate vote on the Democrats’ voting rights legislation, claims of lax voter ID requirements in the US circulated widely on social media.
“When you need to show papers to eat in a restaurant, but not to vote, something is wrong,” reads the text. a Facebook post from January 18.
The publication racked up more than 3,500 shares in two days. Similar claims have it also racked up tens of thousands of interactions on Facebook and Instagram, according to CrowdTangle, a social media insights tool.
The posts seem to point to COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements, which in some places apply to people dining in restaurants. But the claim paints too broad a picture of both voter ID laws and vaccination requirements across the country.
“This is a patently silly statement,” joshua douglas, a research professor of law at the University of Kentucky, said in an email.
USA TODAY has contacted the Facebook user who shared the claim for comment.
Most states require identification at the polls.
The claim makes it appear that voters in most states do not have to show ID at the polls. But that is misleading.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 35 states have laws requesting or requiring voters to show identification at the polls. Each state has its own rules, some stricter than others.
“Some states have strict limits on what counts as a government-issued ID.” Richard Briffault, a law professor at Columbia Law School, said in an email. “Texas, for example, has a government-issued gun permit, but not a state college student ID.”
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Other states require ID, but residents can still vote without it.
In Florida, for example, voters who do not present identification cast a provisional vote, and officials compare the signature with the one they have on file. In other states, including Michigan and south dakota, voters who do not present identification must sign an affidavit before casting their ballot.
In the remaining 15 states and the District of Columbia, voters can cast ballots without presenting any form of identification, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. But election officials they still verify their identities.
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In California, for example, officials must confirm that voters are on the registration list. First-time voters who did not provide their driver’s license, state ID, or partial Social Security number on their registration It may be required present identification at the polls. other states, including Illinois and New MexicoThey have similar rules.
“Largely due to litigation, virtually every state now has a fail-safe backup if a voter shows up without ID,” Douglas said. “That’s important because it offers a solution for an ID requirement. The same goes for other things that people say require an ID, like flying or buying Sudafed.”
It is worth noting that confirmed cases of voter fraud are relatively rare.
An Associated Press review found fewer than 475 cases of voter fraud in six states contested by former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. In most cases, ballots were not counted. USA TODAY has previously discredited the claim that widespread fraud affected the outcome of the elections.
Some major cities require proof of vaccination
USA TODAY was unable to find evidence of a statewide proof of vaccination requirement for indoor diners. However, some major cities have such rules, and private businesses in most states can require their customers to get vaccinated.
According to Ballotpedia, five states have specifically exempted fully vaccinated people from some COVID-19 restrictions. Others have vaccination mandates for certain types of workers.
Neither of those rules singles out all in-person diners, as the Facebook post makes it seem.
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some states, including california and washington, require businesses hosting large indoor gatherings, including concerts and sporting events, to verify the vaccination or testing status of attendees. In Hawaii, travelers who are fully vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19 are exempt from the state’s mandatory five-day quarantine.
However, some major cities specifically require restaurant patrons to get vaccinated.
One example is New York City, which in August became the first city to announce a vaccination mandate. Anyone over 12 must show proof of full vaccination to dine indoors, go to the gym or go to the movies, while children ages 5 to 11 must show proof of one dose. Several other cities, including Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco, have similar rules in place.
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Meanwhile, 20 states have expressly prohibited vaccination proof requirements by legislation or executive order, according to Ballotpedia.
Most of those measures, including Alaskans and oklahomaProhibit state agencies from requiring proof of vaccination. But some, including measures in Alabama and florid, goes a step further by prohibiting private companies from requiring their customers to be vaccinated.
USA TODAY has previously debunked claims that the vaccine requires break federal law.
Our Rating: Missing Context
Based on our research, we rate the statement that Americans must show “papers to eat at a restaurant, but not to vote” as LACK OF CONTEXT, because without more context it could be misleading.
In 35 states, election officials ask or require voters to show ID at the polls. In states that do not have ID requirements, officials verify voter identities in other ways. Meanwhile, most states allow private businesses to require proof of vaccination. But blanket mandates only exist in a limited number of cities.
Our fact-checking sources:
- USA TODAY, January 19, Senate Democrats fail to advance voting rights legislation and changes to filibuster
- CrowdTangle, accessed 20 January
- National Conference of State Legislatures, accessed January 20, Voter ID Laws
- Richard Briffault, January 20, Email exchange with USA TODAY
- Florida Department of State Division of Elections, accessed January 20, Florida History: Voter ID at the Polls
- South Dakota Secretary of State, accessed January 20, General Voting Information
- Michigan Secretary of State, accessed January 20, A Guide to Voter ID/Affidavit at the Polls
- California Secretary of State, accessed January 20, What to bring to your polling place
- joshua douglas, January 20, Email exchange with USA TODAY
- National Conference of State Legislatures, accessed January 21, Voter verification without identity documents
- Ballotpedia, accessed 21 January Voter ID in Illinois
- New Mexico Secretary of State, accessed January 21, Voting and Elections
- Associated Press, December 14, 2021, Too little voter fraud to tip election for Trump, according to AP
- USA TODAY, January 6, Fact Checking: How We Know The 2020 Election Results Were Legitimate, Not ‘Framed’ As Donald Trump Claims
- USA TODAY, May 25, 2021, Fact Check: Federal Law Does Not Prevent States, Businesses, and Employers from Requiring COVID-19 Vaccines
- USA TODAY, December 31, 2020, Fact Check: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates Do Not Violate US Labor Law
- Kaiser Family Foundation, accessed January 21, State COVID-19 Data and Policy Actions
- NBC News, June 18, 2021, California rolls out digital immunization verification, but don’t call it a passport
- Washington Governor Jay Inslee, October 18, 2021, Inslee issues proclamation requiring vaccination verification for major events
- State of Hawaii portal, accessed 21 January 2019. State of Hawaii Safe Travels Hawai’i Program Frequently Asked Questions
- The New York Times, August 3, 2021, New York City Will Require Proof of Vaccination for Indoor Dining Halls and Gyms
- NYC Health, accessed January 21, Vaccination Requirement: Indoor Public Activities (Key for New York City)
- Forbes, December. 22, 2021, Here are the US cities where you need a Covid vaccine to dine at a restaurant
- Governor Ron DeSantis, May 3, 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Historic Legislation to Ban Vaccine Passports and Curb Government Overreach
- US News and World Report, May 24, 2021, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Bans Passports for Coronavirus Vaccines
- The Oklahoman, May 28, 2021, Governor Kevin Stitt Issues Order Prohibiting State Agencies from Requiring COVID Vaccines
- Office of Governor Mike Dunleavy, April 26, 2021, Dunleavy Issues Administrative Order Preventing Alaska Vaccine Passports
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism