The House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee on Thursday voted down a bill to require voters to show photo identification at the polls. But it advanced bills concerning a system for permanent absentee ballots, election recounts and the date at which an absentee ballot must be accepted. Committee members voted down a voter ID bill that was brought by committee member Rep. Lars Lone, R-Cheyenne. Lone said he was given a ballot for an incorrect precinct when he went to vote and said if he had been required to show identification, that situation could have been avoided. Lone said he was not bringing the bill because of voter fraud concerns.
However, questions were raised about the effectiveness of voter ID laws, how absentee voters would need to prove identity and disenfranchisement of voters who may not have a government photo identification.
County clerks said voter fraud is extremely rare and didn’t know how having to show identification would have fixed Lone’s situation.
Several people, including Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett, said the bill could be an issue for elderly voters, some of whom have never had a photo identification.
Full Article: House committee rejects voter ID bill | Wyoming News | trib.com.