Valencia vows to bring Voter ID legislation back to table next year

Will try to roll back voter ID before the 2014 election

STATE HOUSE – Changes to the state’s voter identification law may be off the table for the 2013 legislative session, but Rep. Larry Valencia (D-Dist. 39, Richmond, Exeter, Hopkinton) hopes to come back with an improved version of his bill to quell the concerns of citizens who still believe the ID requirement disenfranchises elderly, disabled and low-income individuals.

Under current law, Rhode Islanders will have to show photo identification at the polls beginning next year. Representative Valencia’s original bill, which the House Judiciary Committee heard in March and held for further study, called for a full repeal of the voter ID law. 

The amended version of his legislation (2013-H 5776A) proposed freezing the requirements in place for the current year, which allows voters to show a birth certificate, a social security card or a government-issued medical card if he or she does not have a photo ID.

 “I sat down with the Secretary of State’s office and others to try to work out a compromise for this legislation, but unfortunately there just wasn’t enough time before the end of session to make changes that were agreeable to all of the major parties involved,” 

Representative Valencia said. “That does not mean we won’t look at this again. I fully intend to introduce my bill in the 2014 legislative session and work closely with the appropriate parties to ensure there is nothing standing in the way of any voter who wishes to fulfill his or her civic duty in the 2014 election cycle.”

The General Assembly could still make changes to the law in time for the 2014 election if it takes action in the next legislative session.