By BRUCE SCHREINER
Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- A Republican-backed bill aimed at requiring Kentuckians to have government-issued photo identification in order to vote was advanced by a Senate committee on Wednesday.
The revised version sent to the full Senate would allow people lacking photo IDs to present other forms of identification in order to vote. The legislation cleared the Senate State and Local Government Committee on a party-line vote, with three Democratic lawmakers opposing the bill.
Republican Sen. Robby Mills of Henderson, the bill's lead sponsor, said it's aimed at making sure that "voters truly are who they say they are."
Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican who supports the bill, told reporters that 98% of voters possess photo IDs. The fraction of voters lacking such identification would be allowed to vote by presenting other forms of identification -- debit or credit cards or Social Security cards -- and affirming they are qualified to vote at that polling place.
Opponents said the bill will create an obstacle to voting, especially for some disabled, elderly or minority residents. Adams acknowledged he wasn't aware of convictions for voter impersonation in Kentucky. Democratic Sen. Denise Harper Angel called the bill "a solution in search of a problem."
The legislation is Senate Bill 2.
