Photo ID Bill Clears First Panel

State Affairs Committee sends it to Judiciary Committee

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By Bill McAllister
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Story Created: Mar 14, 2013 at 4:32 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 14, 2013 at 5:13 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - A bill requiring photo identification for voting cleared its first House committee today.

The House State Affairs Committee sent the bill by Chairman Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage, on to the Judiciary Committee.

It requires either a photo ID at the polls or two separate pieces of approved identification, such as a birth certificate.

"Those who are qualified to vote need to be able to vote,” Lynn said. “We need to make sure the person that shows up at the polls is actually the person that they say they are."

But Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D-Sitka) said, "As far as people impersonating other people, I'm not convinced there's a problem, at least to this point in time, that needs to be addressed."

Opponents say there is no evidence of voter fraud in Alaska and warn that the bill could effectively alienate would-be voters.

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TedtheBear said on Friday, Mar 15 at 8:57 PM

Why would any would be voters be deter by showing a photo ID card? Such ID card are required to entered so many different places in Alaska, including flying, sailing or driving. Why should voting be different? We should be pro-active to prevent voter fraud before it happen. It too late once it does happen. Don't people like Mr. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins think about these thing?? Is he the type who act only after it happened??

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