Voting is a constitutionally protected right. Accessing a credit line is not. Requiring a national ID to vote potentially discriminates against those too old/poor/immobile to go out and buy the ID card. It's a de facto poll tax, which is illegal.

But, your point is still true. Americans have an irrational fear of a national ID .

> Americans have an irrational fear of a national ID .>

Americans have a rational fear of a national ID.

How so? Many other western democracies have a national ID program. What does a national ID program give the government that they don't already have?

In Europe, ID Cards are free.

You still have to...

- drive to the government office (cost of transit)

- typically during business hours (non-free for hourly employees)

- provide some backing ID (otherwise, what's to stop somebody claiming to be me/you). That might not be free.

Basically, anything that might disenfranchise a protected class of citizen is going to have a tough time getting bipartisan support. Look no further than state-wide voter ID programs - almost all originate in conservative, GOP-led states - and almost all are thinly veiled attempts to prevent poor and minorities from voting (those two groups are more likely to support Democrats).

Same with voting...

In some cases, yes. But, not always. The states are a bit of a hodgepodge...

- Washington and Oregon votes by mail for most/all elections (>95% mail ballot). No clue how they validate the sender, but you don't have to leave the house on election day.

- NC voters have to show an ID. But, just about any official-looking bill, bank statement, pay stub, or government document with voters name and address on it will do.

- Arizona similar to NC, but if no photo ID, must show 2 non-photo documents.