Thread: TX Voter ID battle heads to Senate

Voter ID battle heads to Senate
By R. G. RATCLIFFE and JANET ELLIOTT AUSTIN BUREAU
March 10, 2009, 12:05AM

TEXAS’ VOTER ID PROPOSAL
What the Texas bill would require for voting in person:

• Photo ID: State or federal photo identification, including a valid driver’s license; military identification; passport; concealed handgun license.

• Alternative proof: Current utility bills; bank statements; government checks; paychecks; certified birth certificate; U.S. citizenship papers; library card; hunting or fishing licenses.

• Provisional ballot: A person without the above could cast a provisional ballot by signing an affidavit.

• See which states already require IDs


• • •
AUSTIN — One of the most politically divisive fights the Legislature will confront this year gets its first full-fledged airing today as state senators have it out over whether voters should be required to show photo identification or other documentation every time they cast a ballot.

On one side are Republicans who contend the change would protect the integrity of Texas elections and abate any possibility of voter impersonation and fraud. Democrats proffer a different view: The move is nothing more than an attempt to suppress votes by minorities, the elderly and disabled.

Texas Democratic senators successfully blocked a voter photo identification bill in 2007. This year, Republicans made it a priority; it’s among the first bills they’ve decided to debate.

Seven states already have laws requiring voter photo identification, though none have experienced widespread voter disenfranchisement or exposed significant voter fraud.

“This is about Republicans scaring off just enough eligible elderly, disabled, blacks and Hispanics to stay in power four more years, plain and simple,â€

This is being discussed on the Senate Floor now.

Watch it live:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/bin/live.php