Recent polls have shown widespread support across the state for requiring voters to present a photo ID before casting their vote. For state legislators however Voter ID has become a nasty partisan issue one that looks to escalate Tuesday morning in the Senate Chamber.
Though much attention will be focused on the Senate this week a 19-12 Republican majority all but guarantees Senate support. Some are saying the Senate bill will pass by March 16th. What will happen in the House Chamber is not so clear.
Texas Insider sat down with Representative Mark Shelton (R-Fort Worth) one of five authors of HB-125 to discuss constituent support of the bill the purpose of the bill and the chances of HB-125 becoming successful legislation.
Shelton began by clearing up any talk that the bill was unfavorably looked upon by voters.
This bill has an overwhelming majority of bipartisan support in the state of Texas" said Shelton Of polling thats been done approximately 90 percent of Republicans and almost 80 percent of Democrats support these requirements."
Everyone who has called e-mailed or sent us a letter has completely been in favor of the bill."
Shelton described that his intent for this bill was to preserve the integrity of our democracy and election process.
While we have a wonderful democratic system set in place there are still those who feel the need to cheat the system Shelton noted We get into problems like we did in the presidential election in Florida and now the election disorder in Minnesota. Texas is not exempt; there are real cases of voter fraud within our state as well but weve been lucky so far in surpassing the messy details and tribulation fellow states have had to endure."
This bill is a huge priority because it ensures the integrity of our election process."
Its hard to cash a check without identification its hard to get on an airplane without identification we need to know that you are who you say you are when you go vote. This is not an extraordinary requirement" reaffirmed Shelton.
Last session a similar Voter ID bill passed in the House and was later killed by the Senate. With the Senate vote merely a formality in the coming days the responsibility to pass this legislation will rest on members of the House. Shelton believes HB-125 has widespread support from House members but whether it can garner the needed 76 votes in a weak Republican House remains to be seen.
Recent polls have shown widespread support across the state for requiring voters to present a photo ID before casting their vote. For state legislators however Voter ID has become a nasty partisan issue one that looks to escalate Tuesday morning in the Senate Chamber.
Though much attention will be focused on the Senate this week a 19-12 Republican majority all but guarantees Senate support. Some are saying the Senate bill will pass by March 16th. What will happen in the House Chamber is not so clear.
Texas Insider sat down with Representative Mark Shelton (R-Fort Worth) one of five authors of HB-125 to discuss constituent support of the bill the purpose of the bill and the chances of HB-125 becoming successful legislation.
Shelton began by clearing up any talk that the bill was unfavorably looked upon by voters.
This bill has an overwhelming majority of bipartisan support in the state of Texas" said Shelton Of polling thats been done approximately 90 percent of Republicans and almost 80 percent of Democrats support these requirements."
Everyone who has called e-mailed or sent us a letter has completely been in favor of the bill."
Shelton described that his intent for this bill was to preserve the integrity of our democracy and election process.
While we have a wonderful democratic system set in place there are still those who feel the need to cheat the system Shelton noted We get into problems like we did in the presidential election in Florida and now the election disorder in Minnesota. Texas is not exempt; there are real cases of voter fraud within our state as well but weve been lucky so far in surpassing the messy details and tribulation fellow states have had to endure."
This bill is a huge priority because it ensures the integrity of our election process."
Its hard to cash a check without identification its hard to get on an airplane without identification we need to know that you are who you say you are when you go vote. This is not an extraordinary requirement" reaffirmed Shelton.
Last session a similar Voter ID bill passed in the House and was later killed by the Senate. With the Senate vote merely a formality in the coming days the responsibility to pass this legislation will rest on members of the House. Shelton believes HB-125 has widespread support from House members but whether it can garner the needed 76 votes in a weak Republican House remains to be seen.
