House Republicans squeak through voter ID mandate
Senate chances uncertain, pitting Dewhurst against Democrats.
By W. Gardner Selby

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF


Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Republicans narrowly won a round Monday in what critics call a push by the Bush administration to discourage voting as House members moved to require Texas voters to show a photo identification or other proofs of identity — possibly including a concealed-handgun license or documentation of a sex change — before balloting.

Members tentatively approved House Bill 218 by Rep. Betty Brown, R-Athens. In the 76-68 vote, two Republicans joined all Democrats in attendance in voting no.

They postponed action to next week on House Bill 626 by Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, requiring applicants for voter registration cards to prove citizenship by showing documents such as a birth certificate or passport.

Democrats, echoing national criticism of the Bush administration's Justice Department, charged Brown with attacking a nonexistent voter impersonation problem and possibly encouraging fraud by individuals who could forge documents.

"You can buy any of the documents on this bill," said Rep. Rafael Anchía, D-Dallas. "College students do it all the time to drink."

GOP advocates, who agreed to exempt voters 80 and older, said Texas needs the photo ID mandate to ensure the integrity of elections and to fuel faith among voters. Brown said her proposal was "designed to keep illegal aliens, noncitizens and other people otherwise not qualified" from voting.

She gave members a handout noting that as of 2005, a photo ID has been required in Texas to purchase certain cold medicines, the state imposes similar requirements on Medicaid recipients, and seven states — Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio and South Dakota — have a photo ID requirement, though court challenges have erupted.

Before the debate, Secretary of State Roger Williams, the state's chief elections officer, told reporters that he's supportive of an ID mandate if it doesn't cause disenfranchisement.

"I don't know that I can say that it improves turnout," Williams said.

Dana DeBeauvoir, the Travis County clerk, said her peers must ultimately heed what decision lawmakers reach. But DeBeauvoir, a Democrat, said clerks have concerns over an ID mandate being too restrictive for "ordinary people who are just trying to hold their jobs and families and lives together who are really too busy to come up with extra documentation of who they already are."

After final approval, likely to come today, Brown's proposal will land in the Senate, where Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has vowed that an ID mandate will make it to GOP Gov. Rick Perry — unlike two years ago.

Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, has pledged to stop what he has rated as a chilling Jim Crow-like assault on turnout by minority voters.

He has said the Senate's 11 Democrats are committed to voting against bringing up the ID mandate. Under Senate tradition, it takes 21 of 31 members to bring up a proposal for floor debate.

Ellis conceded Monday that he could lose a Senate vote or two, or the ID requirement might be tacked onto a measure as an amendment, undermining his strategy of securing enough votes to stop the measure from being debated outright.

"It's worth the fight," Ellis said.

Brown's measure, as amended during more than six hours of debate, would still permit someone not showing appropriate identification to vote using a provisional ballot.

Otherwise, acceptable forms of identification would include a driver's license or personal ID card issued by the Department of Public Safety or federal government; a passport; a U.S. military identification card with the person's photograph; a valid employee identification card; an ID card issued by a state agency or institution, including a college in the United States; or a state-issued license to carry a concealed handgun.

Alternatively, voters could show two of forms of identification not required to have a photo. Options include a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter, ranging from court records of a person's adoption, name or sex change to a library card or hunting or fishing license.

Without charge, individuals could obtain ID cards for voting purposes from the DPS.

wgselby@statesman.com; 445-3644