Proof of identification for voting by university, college or technical college students

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. One of the authorized forms of identification specified by law is an unexpired identification card issued by an accredited university or college in this state 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 two years after the date of issuance if the holder establishes that he or she is enrolled as a student at the university or college on the date that the card is presented. With certain exceptions, an individual who casts an absentee ballot by mail must enclose a copy of his or her proof of identification with his or her absentee ballot application or, in certain cases, in the envelope containing his or her ballot.

This bill permits an unexpired identification card issued by a technical college that is a part of the state technical college system to be used as proof of identification if the card contains the date of issuance if the individual establishes that he or she is enrolled as a student at the technical college on the date that the card is presented, and if the identification card meets the same requirements that are applicable to other identification documents under current law except that, under the bill, if any individual uses an identification card issued by an accredited university or college, or by a technical college, as proof of identification, the card need not contain the signature of the cardholder and need not contain an expiration date.

Who's behind it

8 senators are its authors⁠. All 8 are Democrats.

18 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.