Requires a valid government issued photo identification card to be presented when casting a ballot

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Anil Beephan and 9 co-sponsors

Requires voters to present a valid government-issued photo ID when casting a ballot, potentially affecting those without IDs.

HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN ELECTION LAW

Summary of Bill A 1927 – Photo ID Requirement for Voting

Overview

Bill A 1927 would require a valid government-issued photo identification card to be presented when casting a ballot. The measure is currently HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN ELECTION LAW, with its introduction in January 2025 and ongoing committee activity.

Purpose and Intent

Establishes a voter identification standard intended to verify voter identity at the time of ballot casting.

Aims to align voting procedures with a formal photo ID requirement, subject to any amendments or exemptions that may be added during the legislative process.

Key Provisions (as stated)

All individuals presenting a ballot must present a valid government-issued photo ID.

Notes:
- The provided information does not specify which forms of ID are accepted, exemptions (e.g., for certain voters or in specific circumstances), procedures for those without IDs, provisions for provisional ballots, penalties for non-compliance, or how the ID requirement would be implemented at polling places. These details would be found in the full text of the bill.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Voters: Those casting ballots would need to have and present a valid government photo ID, potentially affecting eligibility to vote if no acceptable ID is available.

Election administrators and polling place staff: Would need to verify ID compliance and implement the new requirement in day-to-day operations.

Government agencies issuing IDs: Could experience changes in demand for photo IDs or associated processes, depending on how the bill defines acceptable IDs and any exemptions.

Note: Without the full language, it is unclear how the measure interacts with existing ID requirements, exemptions (e.g., for first-time voters, mail-in ballots, religious objections), or accessibility considerations.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Introduced: January 14, 2025

Legislative action: Referred to Election Law on January 14, 2025

Status updates: Held for Consideration in Election Law on April 2, 2025 (listed twice in the actions)

Current status: In committee, awaiting further action or amendment

Sponsorship

Primary sponsor: Matthew Slater

Cosponsors: Scott H. Bendett, Robert Smullen, Angelo J. Morinello, Lester Chang, Anil Beephan Jr., Keith Brown, David McDonough, Stephen Hawley, Patrick Chludzinski

Related Legislation

A 6297 (prior-session bill)

S 1885 (companion in the Senate) — listed as companion bills

Notes for Readers

The summary reflects the bill’s stated core objective and the top-line scope based on the provided text. For a complete understanding, including any proposed exemptions, enforcement mechanisms, cost estimates, and implementation timelines, the full bill text and fiscal notes would be required.