Feds Jumping On Election Day ID?

[Annie]

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/05/photo_id_requir.html

May 18, 2006
Photo ID Required For Federal Elections?

We very rarely get "ALERTS" from the calm, composed folks at Electionline.org, so our heart pumped a bit when this crossed our inbox.

An amendment to the immigration bill being debated in the U.S. Senate would make it mandatory for all voters to present photo identification before casting ballots in a federal election by Jan. 1, 2008.

Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., introduced the amendment (S.A. 4021) to The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (S.B. 2611).

Calls to McConnell's press secretary were not immediately returned, however, a staffer in his office said the vote on the amendment had not yet been scheduled.

Electionline's Doug Chapin sends along the relevant amendment text:

(a) IN GENERAL.--Notwithstanding the requirements of section 303(b), each State shall require individuals casting ballots in an election for Federal office in person to present before voting a current valid photo identification which is issued by a governmental entity and which meets the requirements of section 7212 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (49 U.S.C. 30301 note)."

The full amendment is after the jump.

SA 4021. Mr. McCONNELL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2611, to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:


At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. . IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.

(a) REQUIREMENT FOR IDENTIFICATION CARDS TO INCLUDE CITIZENSHIP INFORMATION.--Section 7212(b)(2)(D) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (49 U.S.C. 30301 note) is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (vi), by inserting ``and'' at the end of clause (vii), and by adding at the end the following new clause:

``(viii) whether the person is a United States citizen;''.

(b) IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR VOTING IN PERSON.--

(1) IN GENERAL.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15481 et seq.) is amended by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 and 306, respectively, and by inserting after section 305 the following new section:

``SEC. 304. IDENTIFICATION OF VOTERS AT THE POLLS.

``(a) IN GENERAL.--Notwithstanding the requirements of section 303(b), each State shall require individuals casting ballots in an election for Federal office in person to present before voting a current valid photo identification which is issued by a governmental entity and which meets the requirements of section 7212 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (49 U.S.C. 30301 note).

``(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.--Each State shall be required to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) on and after January 1, 2008.''.

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.--Section 401 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 15511) is amended by striking ``and 303'' and inserting ``303, and 304''.

Posted at 12:45 PM