Arkansas Senate panel rejects bill requiring voters to show photo ID at polls

By Associated Press

9:50 a.m. CDT, March 30, 2011

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A proposal to require Arkansas voters show photo identification at the polls before casting a ballot has been rejected by a Senate committee.

The Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday rejected the plan by Republican Rep. Bryan King of Green Forest. The bill would allow a voter without an identification card to cast a provisional ballot. That person would have to present an ID to election officials later for the vote to be counted.

King said he believed the requirement would protect the integrity of the state's voting system, and compared it to laws requiring photo ID to sell scrap metal or buy certain types of cold medicine. Staff at Arkansas voting precincts presently can ask for photo identification, but the voter isn't obligated to provide it.

http://www.kspr.com/sns-ap-ar-xgr--vote ... 3610.story