Reason and Emotion: The Photo Identification Law Debate
Open Access
Author:
Hutchison, James Paul
Area of Honors:
Communication Arts and Sciences
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Stephen Howard Browne, Thesis Supervisor Lori Ann Bedell, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
James Hutchison Reason Emotion Photo Identification Law Debate Voter Fraud Political Science Communication Rhetoric
Abstract:
This thesis studies the political debate about whether photo identification should be required to vote in states across the country. First, a relevant historical context regarding the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is conveyed. The research proceeds to focus on theoretical perspectives about the effectiveness of logical and emotional appeals. After these two rhetorical strategies are analyzed, three main lines of argument used by proponents and opponents of photo identification laws are identified. Subsequently, these arguments are characterized as either logical or emotional appeals. The thesis culminates with a study that tests the hypothesis that photo identification laws are a burdensome cost to voters. This quantitative research supplements a qualitative analysis of the most prominent arguments for and against photo identification laws.
