The state Senate passed a bill by a 29-9 vote Thursday that would impose stricter voter identification requirements in Kentucky.
Legislators say the measure, known as Senate Bill 2, would require a voter to present photographic identification at the poll. The commonwealth already has a law that requires identification to vote, but it does not require photo IDs.
According to legislators, a voter who shows up to the polls with no ID would be able to cast a provisional ballot, a process involving filling out a separate envelope before casting a separate ballot. The ballot would not count unless the voter visited the county clerk’s office by the Friday after Election Day, at which time the voter would have to fill out a separate affidavit explaining the reason for not having an ID.
Another provision of Senate Bill 2 would provide a free state-issued ID card for individuals who are at least 18 and do not have a valid driver’s license, which currently costs $30 for that ID.
Senate Bill 2 not goes to the House of Representatives for its consideration. If the bill becomes law, legislators indicate the photo IDs would not be required for the May primary election but would be required for the November general election.
