Voter photo ID bill perseveres

Associated Press

Updated: Jan 30, 2013 7:31 AM

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — One bill requiring Virginia voters to present photo identification at the polls is dead, but another lives for at least a few more days.

A Senate committee has voted 7-6 to advance Republican Sen. Mark Obenshain's bill to a vote by the full Senate later this week. That came more than 12 hours after a House subcommittee effectively killed a related measure.

During a sometimes-chaotic Privileges and Election Committee debate on Obenshain's bill, Democratic Sen. Don McEachin noted that it didn't specify the state had to provide photo IDs for free to voters who lack them.

The bill was amended to provide for the free cards because without them, federal courts would void the law as an illegal poll tax.

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