Committee forwards constitutional voter‑ID amendment, rejects motion to delay
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Summary
HCR 50‑21, a proposed amendment to the state constitution to require photographic identification at the polls, was amended to explicitly allow tribal IDs and advanced out of the Elections Committee after members rejected a motion to table pending federal action; several members asked to have no votes recorded.
The Committee on Elections voted to advance House Concurrent Resolution 50‑21, which would add a new section to Article V of the Kansas Constitution requiring voters to present photographic identification. The revisor told the committee the amendment would appear on a special election ballot to coincide with the Aug. 4 primary.
During discussion, the chair offered and the committee adopted an amendment to explicitly include tribal government identifications—language proponents said aligns the amendment with current statute. Representative Simmons moved to table the resolution and seek further research into the interaction with the federal "Save Act" and to consult county clerks and the secretary of state's office; that motion failed when the nays carried on a voice vote.
Vice Chairman renewed the motion to pass HCR 50‑21 as amended; the committee advanced the resolution favorably, and several members (Representative Simmons, Representative Meyer, Representative Moseley and the ranking minority member) asked to have their 'no' votes recorded.
The resolution will move to the next legislative stage with the adopted tribal‑ID clarification.
