The United States Department of Justice ruled Monday that Texas cannot enforce a new law requiring people to show a photo ID before they can vote. The department objected to the law because many Hispanic voters lack state-issued identification.
Senate Bill 14 was passed by the Texas Legislature and signed into law in 2011 to prevent voter fraud. SB14 requires voters to provide certain government issued photo identification when voting to help ensure positive identification at the polls.
Brazos County Voter Registrar Kristy Roe says as a result of the Dept. of Justice’s refusal, the voting process will just continue as it has in the past.
Voters will only have to provide their Texas Voter Registration Card or at least one of the following approved documentation:
- A driver’s license or personal identification card issued to you by the Texas Department of Public Safety. You may also bring a similar document issued to you by an agency of another state, even if the license or card has expired
- A form of identification that contains your photograph and establishes your identity
- A birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the person’s identity
- Your United States citizenship papers
- Your United States passport
- Official mail addressed to you by a governmental entity
- A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address
Comments from Kristy Roe, March 12, 2012