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House rejects bill to allow Medicare card as standalone voter ID; debate centers on access vs. photo‑ID protections
Summary
Lawmakers debated and rejected HB 79, which would have allowed Medicare cards as one form of voter identification to ease voting for seniors; proponents cited access and low fraud rates, opponents warned about weakening photo‑ID standards. The bill failed, 27–47.
The Utah House debated House Bill 79 on Jan. 28, a proposal by Representative Marie Paulson to permit a Medicare card as an accepted form of voter identification for certain voters — primarily seniors who lack a current photo ID. Representative Paulson said the change was narrowly tailored to help older voters who no longer drive and lack utility bills or other picture IDs.
"HB 79 makes a simple change focused just on this population," Paulson said, adding that the bill "adds the option of a Medicare card as ID." She and other supporters argued that Medicare cards are commonly carried, are issued after…
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