House approves bill requiring photo ID to vote
Your county-issued voter identification card could become obsolete in a few years.
Jim Olsen
House Bill 1005 by Jim Olsen, R-Roland, cleared the House floor on a party-line Republican vote last week. The bill would require voters to present a state, federal or tribal-issued photo identification card for all elections held after Jan. 1, 2027.
Service Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State Election Board would be tasked with developing and providing a free photo identification card. The cards would be valid for 10 years and cost about $2 each to print, according to a fiscal impact report.
Several Democrats criticized the bill, arguing it would put an unnecessary burden on voters without a driver’s license or other state-issued photo identification.
On the House floor, Olsen said constituent concerns about election security, not a specific incident of fraud or abuse, prompted the legislation.
“Oklahoma’s elections are among the safest in the nation, and House Bill 1005 presents another opportunity to safeguard the integrity of our elections,” he said in a written statement. “By requiring a photo ID for all voters, we are securing the votes of all Oklahomans and enhancing transparency and accountability in our elections.”
The bill now heads to the Senate, where Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, is the principal author. The deadline for bills to advance out of committee in the opposing chamber is April 10.
Other election and voting bills alive in the Legislature include:
• House Bill 1678 by Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore: Requires a second election when a tie vote occurs.
• House Bill 2106 by Mike Osburn, R-Edmond: Reduces the number of possible election dates from 12 to 5 per year.
• Senate Bill 990 by Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City: Establishes a framework for voters to recall a statewide elected official.
• Senate Bill 1027 by David Bullard, R-Durant: Adds several hurdles to the initiative petition process.
Oklahoma Watch (OklahomaWatch.org) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.
