SB 481

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.