To the Editor:

Your editorial suggestion to make voter IDs convenient (Mar. 8, 2005) is good but more can be done to improve the administration of elections and prevent fraud.

I support your suggestion to take photos of voters without IDs, but it would cost less than you think. Each polling place could simply be issued one or more inexpensive disposable cameras. Photos would be taken of anybody who can't establish their identity through other means specified by law. The disposable cameras would be stored with the used ballots and other election materials. The film could be developed if there was a credible allegation of fraud. If there was no challenge it would be destroyed at the same time the ballots routinely are.

If legislators are primarily concerned about fraud, and not just trying to discourage turnout, it's hard to imagine a more effective deterrent than requiring a voter who can't produce an ID to leave his or her photo with the local election officials. Yet voting would remain convenient and accessible to everyone. The cost should not be more than $20 per ward, or perhaps $50,000 statewide.

To take this idea another half step forward, and actually expedite voting on election day while further preventing fraud, I suggest including a small thumbnail photograph of each registered voter on every poll list (electronic or paper) in the state on Election Day. Electronic photos are already stored for the great majority of eligible voters, in the form of their driver's license, State ID or university ID.

Black and white photos for an entire ward, about 2,000 images on average, can be printed on just 20 sheets of paper and cost less than $2. Polling locations with Internet access could view thumbnails photos online for free. On Election Day, the law could say that people must present a photo ID or have an election worker look up their thumbnail mug shot. If all else fails, they would have the option of posing for a quick photo.

State elections officials are rapidly spending $50 million for a statewide voter registration system. Devoting a few dollars to capturing and presenting photographic identification would guard against fraud without creating barriers to participation. Republicans could be reassured that no fraud is taking place, while Democrats could be confident that people aren't being turned away.

If the two sides could put aside their political games and focus on security and access, they would find it is possible to have both.