Idaho House Passes Bill Removing Student IDs From Photo ID Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, Feb. 20, the Idaho House passed House Bill 124, a bill that would remove student ID cards from the list of acceptable identification to vote. H.B. 124 passed the Idaho House 59 to 11 on a party line vote, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting against. The bill is likely to pass the Republican supermajority in the Senate, before heading to Gov. Brad Little (R).
Currently, Idaho law requires photo identification at the polls before voting in-person. Acceptable identification includes an Idaho driver’s license or identification card issued by the Idaho Transportation Department, passport or other U.S. government issued photo ID, tribal identification card with a photo, a current student identification card with a photo issued by a high school or an accredited institution of higher education or a license to carry concealed weapons. H.B. 124 would remove student IDs from the acceptable list of identification, while continuing to accept concealed carry permits and more.
H.B. 124 is similar to another bill, House Bill 54, also sponsored by the Idaho House State Affairs Committee that would remove student IDs. However, H.B. 54 would also remove the option to sign a personal identification affidavit swearing one’s identity for voters who lack acceptable identification. H.B. 124, the bill that appears to be moving forward, does not contain such a provision.
Rep. Tina Lambert (R), who sponsored both bills, cited voter fraud as the main impetus: “My constituents are concerned that students, maybe from a state like Washington or Oregon where they vote by mail, may come over here with their student ID and vote in person and then fill out their ballot in another state, thereby voting twice,” Lambert said to the House State Affairs Committee several weeks ago. Neither Lambert nor any other bill supporters cited any instance of double voting or voter fraud by students, which is already a violation of federal election law.