Several dozen people spoke before the state House Elections Committee yesterday at the General Assembly to express their opinions about a proposed voter ID measure. Committee leaders say they plan to bring forth a measure that would require voters to bring photo IDs with them to the polls. Jo Nicholas is with the League of Women Voters.
"Wasting precious taxpayer dollars to pay for photo voter ID, when our state has effective state identification procedures already in place, will be seen by voters for what it really is: politics as usual at a time when we are cutting essential government services. There is no such thing as a free voter ID," said Nicholas.
Republican Committee Chair David Lewis says he wants to eliminate the possibility of voter fraud. But voting rights advocates say the percentage of voter fraud in the state accounts for less than one percent of all ballots tallied.