Published: January 14, 2009 10:15 pm      

Lawmakers start work on voter ID proposals

JACKSON (AP) — Mississippi legislators are preparing to dust the cobwebs off the same arguments they’ve used the past decade when debating — and killing — bills that would require voters to show identification at the polls.

Supporters of voter ID, including Republican Gov. Haley Barbour, say it would help reduce the chance of election fraud. Opponents say an ID requirement could be used to intimidate older black voters who were once subject to Jim Crow laws.

This year, some Republicans are putting greater emphasis on specifying that an ID should also include the person’s photo.

Several House Democrats are proposing a bill that would allow people to show any of several forms of ID. Some forms, such as a driver’s license, would have a photo. Others, such as a utility bill or a bank statement, would not.