RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Republican legislation requiring voters to bring photo identification with them to the polls starting in 2014 has passed over Democratic protests that it disenfranchises Virginia's most vulnerable voters.
The House completed passage of the Senate bill Wednesday on a mostly party line 65-34 vote.
Democratic Del. Jennifer McClellan argued that the bill preys on the elderly, particularly minorities, and likened the costs for complying with some requirements for obtaining photo IDs to the Jim Crow-era poll taxes some of them experienced.
Republicans countered that the bill only ensures that people entitled to cast ballots do so. But when pressed by Democratic Del. Joe Morrissey, none could point to a ballot-box voter fraud conviction or even a criminal charge for such an offense.
