David Kanter opines in “Voting fraud ‘so rare it’s practically nonexistent’” [Maryland Independent July 25] that requiring voters to show ID is unnecessary because voter fraud is supposedly rare.

Well, hijacking is even rarer, but you still have to show a photo ID to get on a plane. All of the statistics and studies that were cited to back up the premise do not prove voter fraud is rare. They prove only that convictions for voter fraud are rare and thus prove a proactive remedy, not the reactive remedy provided by courts, is needed to prevent voter fraud.

A voter ID requirement is such a remedy. It stops voter fraud before it happens.

Along with the wrongheaded conclusions, the letter makes the oft-heard, discredited charge that voter ID is prompted by racism. That is such nonsense. What in fact is racist is to say, as the letter suggests, that a person is too ignorant or lazy to acquire a photo ID (which would be provided free for purposes of voting) because that person is of a particular race.

In conclusion, I would point out to one who still accepts the baseless accusation that voter fraud is rare, it takes only one fraudulent vote to wipe out your vote and disenfranchise you.

Greg Binda, Waldorf