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Committee tightens voting‑system testing and voter‑ID rules; nurses and seniors flagged as concern
Summary
Members amended voting‑system test requirements to require individual machine testing and official‑format reporting, and changed voter‑ID draft to require unexpired, original‑form photo IDs while discussing hardship exceptions for homebound seniors.
The Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee pressed for clearer technical requirements on voting‑system testing and tightened language in the voter‑ID draft.
On voting‑system tests (26LSO0047), members added amendments specifying that every voting machine — including ballot‑marking devices and express‑vote units — must be tested individually and that test outputs must be produced in an official/results form similar to the reports used on canvass night. The committee also moved the statute’s effective date to take effect immediately.
On voter identification (26LSO0048), the committee amended the draft so acceptable IDs must be unexpired and presented "in the original form in which they were issued." Members repeatedly raised concerns about voters who cannot get to a Department of Motor Vehicles office — nursing‑home residents, homebound seniors or others — and discussed hardship backstops used in other states (Texas, Iowa, Arkansas) that allow attestation or facility‑administrator verification for those unable to present standard photo IDs.
The committee voted to sponsor the testing and ID bills with the adopted amendments. Several members said they want additional statutory language or administrative procedures to avoid disenfranchising voters who cannot obtain a new photo ID in time.
