An Arkansas House panel has backed a proposal to reinstate the state’s voter ID law that was struck down more than two years ago, moving forward with the restriction months after Republicans expanded their majorities in the Legislature. The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee, after hearing public comment from Arkansans, endorsed the proposal Wednesday requiring most voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot. The measure now heads to the House. State Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle, told the panel Wednesday that the measure, House Bill 1047, is not focused on specific instances of voting fraud.
Instead, Lowery said, it is largely intended to grapple with an “eroding lack of confidence in the electoral process” brought on by perceptions of manipulation at the voting booth.
“This has been crafted very carefully to make sure that we’re not adding another qualification to voting — that we’re really just clarifying the registration process,” he told the committee.
Lowery said that the bill would allow voters to provide identification through a variety of means, including a driver’s license, photo identification card, concealed carry license, U.S. military identification or U.S. passport.
Full Article: House panel advances plan to reinstate Arkansas voter ID law.