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Commissioners bar use of county employee ID cards for voting in 4–1 vote
Summary
The Washington County Board voted 4–1 to follow staff recommendation and not allow county-issued employee photo IDs to be used as voter identification; County Manager/Attorney Curtis Potter told the board not all staff have badges and the county must be consistent. Commissioner Phelps voted no and said other counties allow such IDs.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners voted 4–1 on Oct. 7 to prohibit the use of county-issued employee photo identification as acceptable voter identification.
County Manager and County Attorney Curtis Potter told the board he did not recommend using county photo IDs because not all staff have them and the county must maintain a consistent policy. Potter said the county has a process to produce an ID for anyone who needs one for voting, and that Ms. Bell (election staff) can make an ID on request.
Commissioner Phelps said he opposed the recommendation, noting other counties permit employee ID cards to serve as voter identification. After discussion, Commissioner Sexton moved to follow staff recommendation; Commissioner Walker seconded. Chair Johnson called the vote: Commissioners Johnson, Riddick, Sexton and Walker voted aye; Commissioner Phelps voted nay.
Why it matters: The decision sets a local administrative rule about what the county will accept as voter ID at polling sites. Board members framed the vote as an administrative consistency decision rather than a change to state law.
What’s next: Chair Johnson suggested inviting election official Ms. Bell to the next meeting to provide further information before statutory deadlines referenced by staff; the board noted there are time constraints on follow-up actions.
