Voter ID Legislation Passes State Senate
By: Lisa Mendenhall
Updated: February 21, 2013
The Arkansas Senate advanced a bill Wednesday that would require voters to have a photo ID card when they head to the polls.
SB 2 cleared the Senate 23-12 on party lines with the exception of Democrat senators Bruce Maloch (Magnolia) and Larry Teague (Nashville) voting for the measure.
Sponsor Sen Bryan King (R-Green Forest) says the bill cuts down on voter fraud and helps to ensure election integrity.
Senators that spoke against the bill cited few, if any, documented cases of voter impersonation at polling locations in Arkansas.
King told colleagues he estimates it will cost the Secretary of State's office about $300,000 to place photo ID machines at 87 county clerks offices statewide.
However, other estimates have the program costing closer to $2.5 million.
The measure moves to the House for consideration next week.
