Texas House Bill 218 Options

[impala454]

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R...ml/HB00218I.htm

Here's the meat of it:

On offering to vote, a voter must present to an election officer at the polling place the voter's voter registration certificate and either:
(1) one form of identification listed in Section 63.0101(a):

(1) a driver's license or personal identification card issued to the person by the Department of Public Safety
(2) a United States military identification card that contains the person's photograph
(3) a valid employee identification card that contains the person's photograph and is issued by an employer of the person in the ordinary course of the employer's business
(4) a United States citizenship certificate [papers] issued to the person that contains the person's photograph
(5) a United States passport issued to the person
(6) a student identification card issued by a public or private institution of higher education located in Texas that contains the person's photograph
(7) a license to carry a concealed handgun issued to the person by the Department of Public Safety.

-or-

(2) two different forms of identification listed in Section 63.0101(B):

(1) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter;
(2) official mail addressed to the person by name from a governmental entity;
(3) a certified copy of a birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes the person's identity;
(4) United States citizenship papers issued to the person;
(5) an original or certified copy of the person's marriage license or divorce decree;
(6) court records of the person's adoption, name change, or sex change;
(7) an identification card issued to the person by a governmental entity of this state or the United States for the purpose of obtaining public benefits, including veteran's benefits, Medicaid, or Medicare;
(8) a temporary driving permit issued to the person by the Department of Public Safety;
(9) a pilot's license issued to the person by the Federal Aviation Administration or another authorized agency of the United States;
(10) a library card that contains the person's name issued to the person by a public library located in this state; or
(11) a hunting or fishing license issued to a person by the Parks and Wildlife Department

So basically, to vote, you need either 1 photo ID, or two non-photo IDs. Is it just me or does this not sound extremely reasonable and sensible??? Yet, the bill is being taken down because (quoted here)

Democrats contend the measure is designed to discourage voting by poor minorities and the elderly, who typically prefer Democratic candidates, and that there are no known cases of undocumented immigrants casting votes.

Discourage voting by poor minorities and the elderly??!!!? So are these the same democrats who call for recounts or don't want electronic voting machines because of possible voter fraud, and they're voting against a measure to require some form of ID at the voter's booth (very lenient forms of ID I might add) ????