Illinois Republican Party

State lawmaker wants to require ID to vote
4/30/2008

Mike Riopell, Pantagraph

SPRINGFIELD -- After a U.S. Supreme Court decision this week, a Republican lawmaker says he plans to push forward with a plan to require Illinois voters to show a photo identification card before casting a ballot.

The nation’s high court this week upheld an Indiana law requiring IDs for voting. The move essentially gives officials in any state the OK to do the same.

In Illinois, state Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill, has been trying to convince his fellow lawmakers to approve a mandatory ID law for three years without success. He says the requirement of showing proof of identification is important to preventing voter fraud.

But the Republican-backed concept might not sit well with the Democrat-controlled Illinois House and Senate. State Rep. David Miller, D-Lynwood, said many Democrats agree that requiring an ID to vote could squeeze out some voters.

“Unfortunately, a lot of lower-income people don’t have your traditional ID,” he said.

But Reis argues ID cards are routinely required in daily life to buy certain things.

“Why not to vote?” Reis said.

A House panel narrowly approved Reis’ plan last month, but the full House has yet to vote. Reis hopes to get a vote in the coming week.

The legislation is House Bill 4403.

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