Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has long opposed the requirement for voters to present identification when voting, as evidenced by a collection of his past writings and interviews that have recently resurfaced.
The material examined by Fox News Digital dates back to 2008, during the lead-up to that year’s presidential election. In these writings, Kennedy referred to voter ID laws as discriminatory, labeling them as “racially rancid,” and asserting that voter fraud was essentially non-existent.
In one of his previous works, a comic book co-authored with investigative journalist Greg Palast and supported by various liberal and left-leaning organizations, Kennedy specifically argued that voter ID laws disproportionately targeted Black individuals. He highlighted the difficulties faced by Americans, particularly within the African American community, in obtaining government-issued identification.
Kennedy criticized voter ID laws further, citing instances where voters, particularly Black individuals, were turned away from polling stations due to expired or nonexistent licenses during previous elections.
During a 2008 interview with HuffPost, Kennedy compared voter ID requirements to Jim Crow laws, accusing Republicans of exploiting fears about voter fraud to disenfranchise minority voters.
Kennedy also addressed the issue in a piece published by Rolling Stone, acknowledging that the requirement for government-issued ID might seem reasonable but contending that many traditional Democratic voters, including young people, minorities, and seniors, lacked such identification.
In a separate interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, Kennedy emphasized the impact of voter ID requirements on Black voters, highlighting the significant percentage without driver’s licenses.
Despite Kennedy’s past assertions, voter ID laws continue to enjoy widespread support across the United States, with numerous polls indicating that a majority of Americans favor such requirements.
Kennedy is currently running for president alongside Nicole Shanahan, a former Democrat and wealthy entrepreneur, whom he announced as his running mate during a rally in Oakland, California, last month. Fox News Digital has sought comment from Kennedy’s campaign.
