And how is that done in France? Everyone has a birth certificate and Social Security card automatically issued when they’re born in the US. If you have those things you can get a photo ID. If you don’t have those things, I don’t see how you’re in a different situation than someone in France who loses their national ID?
I don't know. I assume that most places getting official ID absent any existing proof of identity is at least somewhat challenging.
In the US, I haven't had a social security card for decades (it was in a wallet that was stolen) and I honestly don't know if I could unearth my birth certificate from my files someplace. But I do have a valid passport and drivers license so it doesn't really matter.
Most of the noise about ID cards is very politicized. Most people have government-issues photo IDs; lots of things are very hard without them. And, for those who don't, by and large, they'd have problems rounding up the documentation to get one issued in most places. At the same time, there is essentially no evidence that voter fraud is a significant outcome of ID not being required.
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