This belief comes from various sources I have read and/or heard in the past. I stated "believe" because I didn't want to pass it off as fact when I am not 100% sure (only 90%). If you do not believe this to be the case, we can do more research to prove who is correct. I "just threw it out there" because it is not really central to my position which is that we should minimize barriers for voting for everyone.
Yes and if every state offered a free ID, I would not use the cost of an ID as an argument against it.
Actually there have been pretty big efforts to get these kinds of people to the polls. Volunteers often bring elderly or disabled people to the polls. Having to get volunteers to take them to get an ID and also take them to the polls is just another level of burden to being able to vote for those people. The fact that it is already somewhat difficult for them to vote is not a good reason to add another impediment. Also, what does absentee voting have to do with requiring IDs?
No, I believe in enacting better security when the effects of that security outweigh the burden of it. For example, if we had our current level of fraud (extremely low), but absolutely everyone had an ID (burden also extremely low), we could require ID tomorrow and I would be ok with it. The only concern I may have at that point is I would like some assurances that how an individual votes is treated properly (could not be used for intimidation purposes).