Lawmakers on Tuesday referred to the November 2018 ballot a proposed constitutional amendment to require voters to show photo identification at the polls. House Joint Resolution 1016 by Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Springdale, passed in the Senate in a 24-8 vote. The House approved the measure last month in a 73-21 vote, so Senate approval was the final hurdle the resolution had to clear to make the ballot. Sen. Larry Teague, D-Nashville, was the only Democrat to join Republicans in voting for the measure. No Republican voted against it, although some did not vote.
If approved by voters next year, the measure would amend the Arkansas Constitution to include among the qualifications to vote a requirement that a person show photo ID before casing a ballot in person and include photo ID when mailing an absentee ballot.
A person who did not show photo ID when voting in person would be allowed to cast a provisional ballot. The provisional ballot would be counted if the voter “subsequently certifies the provisional ballot in a manner provided by law.”
The state would be required to make photo identification cards available to voters at no charge.
Full Article: Arkansas lawmakers refer voter ID proposal to 2018 ballot.