Use of university, college, or technical college identification cards as proof of identification for voting

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Currently, with certain exceptions, an individual who votes in an election must present proof of identification in order to vote. The proof may consist of one of a number of documents specified by law that contains the name of the individual to whom the document was issued, which name conforms to the individual's voter registration, if the individual is registered to vote, and with limited exceptions, that contains a photograph of the individual. With certain exceptions, an individual who casts an absentee ballot by mail must enclose a copy of his or her proof of identification in the envelope containing his or her ballot. One of the acceptable documents is an unexpired identification card issued by a university or college in this state that is accredited, that contains the date of issuance and the signature of the individual to whom it is issued, and that contains an expiration date indicating that the card expires no later than 2 years after the date of issuance if the individual establishes that he or she is enrolled as a student at the university or college on the date that the card is presented.

This bill permits any photo identification card issued by a university or college, or by a technical college that is part of the state technical college system, to be used as proof of identification if the card contains the name of the person to whom it is issued. Under the bill, the card need not contain a date of issuance or expiration date and no proof of current enrollment is required to be presented by the holder of the card.

Who's behind it

11 lawmakers are its authors⁠. All 11 are Democrats.