The House Judiciary Committee sent a bare-bones, edited version of a new voter-identification law to the chamber floor Thursday for consideration by the full West Virginia House of Delegates. The original bill would have required state-issued photo identification to vote, making West Virginia one of the strictest states, in terms of voting standards. However, the new version of the bill only delays last year’s voter identification law — which has not yet been enacted — until July 1, 2019. The new bill also stops a requirement that the Division of Motor Vehicles forward to the Secretary of State’s Office information from anyone who opts out of registering to vote.
To cast a ballot under the originally proposed bill, voters would have needed to present a driver’s license, West Virginia identification card, a government-issued employee photo identification card or a military photo identification card.
The House passed a similar proposal last year, although the Senate whittled it down to the state’s new standards, where voters can use almost any form of identification, including a hunting license, bank card or even another adult to vouch for their identity to a poll worker.
Full Article: Charleston Gazette-Mail | WV House committee sends watered-down voter ID bill to floor.