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State Senate Panel Approves Voter ID Bill But Democrats Cry Suppression

3 min read

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas voters would be required to show photo identification before casting a ballot under legislation advanced by a Senate panel Thursday, but Democrats question the cost of the requirement and whether it’s aimed at suppressing votes.

The chamber’s State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee endorsed the voter ID bill on a voice vote, with the three Democrats on the Republican-controlled panel objecting. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week.

Arkansas poll workers already are required to ask voters for identification, but voters can still cast a ballot if they don’t show one. Past efforts to require photo ID have failed in the Arkansas Legislature, but Republicans believe they have votes for it now that they control the House and Senate.

Republicans around the country have been pushing for similar laws in other states, though the measures have faced court challenges. Voter ID laws in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have been blocked.

Sen. Bryan King, the bill’s sponsor, told lawmakers that requiring ID would guarantee the integrity of the state’s voting system.

“We know that providing photo identification is part of everyday life,” said King, R-Green Forest. King has also proposed referring to voters next year a proposed constitutional amendment requiring voter ID.

Opponents of the measure say it would violate the Arkansas and U.S. constitutions.

“This just adds an additional layer that is certain to take away people’s right to vote,” Holly Dickson, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas, told the committee.

King’s proposal would exempt voters who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Voters who don’t show photo identification would be allowed to cast a provisional ballot, which would be counted only if they provide ID to county election officials or sign an affidavit stating they are indigent or have a religious objection to being photographed by noon Monday following the election.

It also would require Arkansas provide photo IDs free of charge to voters who don’t have a driver’s license through the county clerks’ offices around the state. The voter ID law would not take effect until there was money available for the state to provide the IDs.

King estimated it would cost about $300,000 to the state to provide the IDs. The proponent of similar legislation that failed in 2007 had also proposed appropriating $2.2 million to provide ID cards to voters.

Sen. Robert Thompson, who voted against the measure, said he was concerned about the lack of a formal estimate on the cost.

“I have yet to find a new program in state government that does not have a very real dollar figure associated with it,” Thompson, D-Paragould, said.

The proposal also led to a testy exchange between another Democratic lawmaker and King over the impact it would have on voters around the state.

“Will you admit that the intention of this bill is suppressing votes?” Sen. David Johnson, D-Little Rock, asked King.

King responded: “That’s absolutely not true.”

Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe has not said if he opposed the bill, but a spokesman said Beebe questioned the need for it.

“The governor thinks we’ve got an ID system now for voters that appears to be effective at preventing fraud without disenfranchising voters,” Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, broadcast or distributed.)
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