GOP Rep: voter ID bill might discourage some voters

by MARTIN BARTLETT / KVUE News

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Posted on March 24, 2011 at 12:47 PM

Updated
Thursday, Mar 24 at 12:48 PM

AUSTIN – Fewer than 12 hours after the Republican-dominated state House of Representatives passed stringent voter ID legislation, a key Republican leader left open the possibility that some Texas voters may be discouraged from going to the polls once the bill becomes law.

“There may be something out there,” said State Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, when asked specifically if rural Texans who live in counties without Department of Public Safety offices and are otherwise legally eligible to vote might be prevented or discouraged from voting by the new restrictions.

Democrats unsuccessfully argued geography and limited hours would make it unduly burdensome for rural, poor, and minority Texans to get state documents which would be required to vote under the bill.

Taylor, chair of the House Elections Committee, was one of more than two dozen Republican lawmakers who spoke at a celebratory news conference held Thursday morning at the State Capitol. He said the bill was never intended to disenfranchise any legally eligible voters; if any are, he said, he and other legislators would work to rectify that.

“I think we’ve done all we can do to make sure we’ve made a fair process that everyone can be a part of,” Taylor continued.

State Rep. Patricia Harless, R-Spring, who sponsored the House bill, said it could increase voter turnout in Texas.

On follow-up, Taylor explained that imperfection is not unique to the voter ID bill.

“There’s never a perfect election,” he said. “There’s never a perfect bill.”

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Comments: Displaying 1 – 3 of 3

rams1956 said on April 8, 2011 at 12:00 PM

voting is for americans not illegal aliens.

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rams1956 said on April 8, 2011 at 11:30 AM

voting is for americans not illegal aliens.

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dirtydeeds210 said on March 24, 2011 at 3:25 PM

Yes, it will discourage illegal voters reduce voter fraud! Steps must be taken to correct our abused system, this puts us one step closer to eliminating fraud (and illegals voting for the crooked politicians to create sanctuary cities). Rock on Texas! m/

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