Republican Secretary of State and Supporters Oppose Legislation
The Kentucky Senate has passed a bill that would limit the use of student IDs as primary identification for voting. The bill, which still allows student IDs as a secondary form of identification, received a 27-7 vote in the Senate and will now move to the House for consideration. With Republican supermajorities in both chambers, the bill’s passage seems likely.
Republican Secretary of State, Michael Adams, a key proponent of the state’s 2020 voter ID law, has expressed opposition to the new legislation. Adams, whose focus has been on making voting easier and reducing fraud, believes that the bill could jeopardize the current photo ID law. His concerns center around potential challenges to the law’s success if the bill becomes law.
Supporters Argue Change Won’t Impact Student Voting
Despite opposition from the Secretary of State, supporters of the bill argue that the change would not hinder students’ ability to vote. They claim that students have other primary documents, such as driver’s licenses, that they can use at polling places. If the bill is enacted, college ID cards could still be used as a secondary form of identification. Students would simply need to attest to their identity and eligibility to vote.
“Anybody in college can read that affidavit and sign it and vote,” said Republican Sen. Gex Williams. “So there is absolutely, positively no impediment to voting with a student ID as a secondary ID.”
The bill’s lead sponsor, Republican Sen. Adrienne Southworth, argues that the change is necessary to tighten the list of primary documents accepted at polling places. Southworth believes that the current list should be more carefully curated to ensure that only unquestionable forms of identification are allowed.
Critics Fear Impact on College Student Voter Participation
Opponents of the bill, including Democratic Sen. Gerald Neal, worry about the message it sends to young voters. They express concerns about the potential impact on voter participation among college students. Kentucky’s election system has been praised for working well and avoiding significant irregularities. In 2021, Democratic Governor Andy Beshear even signed legislation, passed by the GOP, that allowed three days of no-excuse, early in-person voting before Election Day.
In addition to restricting student IDs, the bill would also eliminate the use of credit or debit cards as secondary documents to prove a voter’s identity.
As the bill moves to the House for consideration, the debate over voting rights and identification requirements continues in the Bluegrass State.