Compromise would allow two nonphoto IDs to replace one photo ID for voting

12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, April 30, 2009
By EMILY RAMSHAW
eramshaw@dallasnews.com

AUSTIN – The voter identification bill that's likely to reach the House floor would allow Texans to cast ballots if they can show two forms of nonphoto ID, despite pressure from many Republicans to require picture IDs for all voters.

Rep. Todd Smith's compromise bill – designed to draw support across party lines – also calls for increased funding for voter registration, greater allowance of provisional ballots and a four-year transition into the new voter-identification system.

The bill may be considered in the House Elections Committee by this weekend and could come up in the House as early as next week.

Republicans, who generally support tougher identification standards, acknowledge there's not much evidence of voter impersonation in Texas. But they say that's because such cases are hard to prosecute.

Democrats, meanwhile, have long felt the proposal is partisan – an effort by the GOP to discourage voting by seniors, the disabled, the poor and other groups that tend to vote Democratic.

Smith's legislation is similar to the voter ID bill that passed the Senate in March, which would allow voters to produce two nonphoto IDs in lieu of a photo ID. One key difference: In Smith's bill, the new rules take effect in January 2013, while the bill passed by the GOP-dominated Senate requires them next year.

But Smith's bill is less stringent than the version the House Republican Caucus has demanded. Tuesday, 51 House Republicans said any voter ID bill considered in the House must require valid photo ID of all voters. Smith, R-Euless, did not sign the letter.

Rep. Larry Taylor, chairman of the House Republican Caucus, said Wednesday that the compromise language is "not our No. 1 preference."

"But I don't think it's a deal-breaker," he said. "In the course of a piece of legislation, you have to be willing to work with your colleagues. ... This still goes a long way."

Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, who has been working closely with Smith on the compromise legislation, said toughening up voter requirements will naturally lead to some disenfranchisement. He said the key is to offset that with increased access. Smith's bill provides free identification for people who need it to vote and an additional $7.5 million over the next biennium for voter registration efforts in Texas.

Smith is "trying to mitigate the potential for disenfranchisement," Anchia said. "He's been very collaborative and has taken a more holistic approach."

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