Update Friday May 27, 2011 @ 11:30am
Governor Rick Perry (R) signed SB14 into law this morning requiring voters to present unexpired government issued photo identification to qualify to vote in Texas elections. Photo IDs must be current or must have expired within the last 60 days. They include:
- Texas DPS driver’s license or personal identification card,
- Personal identification card called an “election identification certificate;”
- US passport;
- US military ID;
- Texas concealed weapons license; and
- US citizenship papers containing a photo.
The original version of SB14 passed last January exempted voters age 70 and older from the photo ID requirement, but the House version passed in March stripped the senior photo ID exemption from the bill. The election identification certificate expiration exemption for voters age 70 and older is a compromise reached in joint committee to resolve differences between the Senate and House version of the bill. Voters age 70 and older must present photo identification to election clerks, just like everyone else.
Voters who show up to polls with only their voter registration cards will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot, but then they must present a photo ID in person at the office of their county's election authority within six days, or their provisional ballot will not be counted.
Voter education efforts will begin in fall 2011, but photo ID requirements will not take effect until January 1, 2012.
Texas Voter Photo ID Summary
Effective Dates (Pending U.S. Dept. of Justice clearance)
Starting September 1, 2011 the Secretary of State, and the voter registrar of each county shall provide notice of the ID requirements for voting in each language in which voter registration materials are available. Required government issued photo identification must be presented to polling place election clerks for all elections occurring after January 1, 2012.
Photo IDs Permitted
All IDs must be unexpired or expired no earlier than 60 days before the election. Acceptable identification includes:
- A driver’s license, election ID certificate, or personal ID card issued to the person by the Department of Public Safety (i.e., an election certificate issued to a person 70 years or older does not expire);
- U.S. military ID card that contains the person's photograph;
- U.S. citizenship certificate issued to the voter with their photograph;
- U.S. passport; or
- A license to carry a concealed handgun.
Exceptions Available
A person may obtain an exemption from the ID requirement on the basis of disability if they produce a statement in a form determined by the SOS that the applicant does not have any of the prescribed forms of identification, and they have an:
- U.S.S.S.A. determination of disability, or
- U.S.V.A. disability rating of 50%.
A voter without a photo ID may cast a provisional ballot, which will count if she signs an affidavit attesting to the fact that she:
- has a religious objection to being photographed, or
- does not have an ID as a result of a natural disaster declared by the U.S. President or Texas’ Governor no earlier than 45 days before the election and that disaster caused the inability to access the voter’s ID.
Early/Absentee Voting ID Requirements
The photo ID requirement does not apply to absentee voting, including early voting by mail. Photo ID requirements apply to all in-person or curbside early voting.
Free IDs
Texas will issue an Election Identification Certificate (EIC) to persons who do not have another qualifying ID for purposes of voting. The applicant must present a voter registration card or register to vote at the time of applying for an EIC. There is no fee for an initial or duplicate EIC.
Public Education Requirements
The Secretary of State, and the voter registrar of each county that maintains a website, shall provide notice of the ID requirements for voting in each language in which voter registration materials are available. The Secretary of State shall prescribe the wording of the notice to be included on the websites, and shall also conduct a statewide effort to educate voters regarding the identification requirements for voting. The county clerk of each county shall post in a prominent location at the clerk’s office a physical copy of ID information in each language in which voter registration materials are available.
For additional information to "Conventional Wisdom v. The Facts On Voter Photo ID Law" and click "Read more »"