Voter identification vote will come earlier than expected

Senators today agreed to suspend the rules that would require them to wait 24 hours before they can take up voter identification legislation once again.

That means that they will now start amending a bill that requires voters to show photo identification before casting ballots. They were scheduled to take up the measure at at 9:20 p.m.

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, said this today:

"The senate Democrats, including those who represent districts in which minority voters are electing candidates of their choice and who also speak on behalf of minority voters in this state, have made clear that they are in unanomous opposition to the voter ID legislation. No matter the specific time of the passage of this bill the outcome is inevitable and opposition remains firm. In the interest of continuing debate during appropriate hours and to avoid late-night debate which the public would find more difficult to observe, we will not oppose a vote to suspend the 24 hour layout requirement."

Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, took issue with Van de Putte's comment.

"I appreciate the fact that we are working together to try to move this bill forward," Duncan said. "The only thing I take exemption to is that all members of the Senate represent minority voters."

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