Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a veto that amends voter identification requirements.

Highlights:

• Specifies that on the day of a primary, an election, or during in-person absentee voting, if a voter is unable to provide proof of identification as required, a voter may cast a ballot if they (Sec. 1):

• Are eligible to vote; 

• Are entitled to vote in that precinct; and

• In the presence of the election officer, executes a voter’s affirmation, on a form written and provided by the State Board of Election affirming:

• The voter is a US citizen; 

• The voter’s date of birth; 

• The voter is qualified to vote in that precinct; 

• The voter’s name, and that the voter is generally known by that name or the name is as stated on his or her voter registration cart; 

• The voter has not voted and will not vote in any other precincts; 

• The voter’s current residential address; 

• The voter understands that making a false statement on the affirmation is punishable under the penalties of perjury; and 

• The voter has one of the following impediments to procure proof of identification, including:

• Lack of transportation; 

• Inability to obtain a copy of their birth certificate; 

• Work schedule; 

• Lost or stolen identification;

• Disability or illness; 

• Family responsibilities

• The proof of identification has been applied for but not yet received; or 

• The voter has a religious objection to being photographed. 

• Specifies that in addition to the requirements above, in order to cast a ballot, a voter who is unable to provide proof of identification must provide the following to an election officer (Sec. 1):

• The voter’s Social Security card; 

• Any identification that has been issued by the county containing the name of the voter and that has been approved in writing by the State Board of Elections; 

• Any identification card with the voter’s picture and the name of the voter stated; 

• Any food stamp identification card, electronic benefits transfer card, or supplemental nutrition assistance card, that is issued by the state and has the name of the voter state; or

• A credit or debit card with the name of the voter stated. 

• Authorizes an election officer to, if the voter is personally known to the election officer, execute an election officer affirmation affirming the voter’s identification as being personally known to them, and once the affirmation is executed by the election officer, the voter must sign the precinct signature roster and proceed to cast their vote (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the voter affirmation and the election officer affirmations executed under this section will be prosecuted in the same manner as an oath of voter affidavit (Sec. 1).

• Defines “proof of identification” as a document that was issued by (Sec. 23):

• The United States or the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and contains:

• The name of the individual to whom the document was issued, and the name conforms to the name on the individual’s voter registration card; and 

• A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued;

• The US Department of Defense, a branch of the uniformed services, the Merchant Marine, or the Kentucky National Guard;

• A public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school located within the state and contains:

• The name of the individual to whom the document was issued; and 

• A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued. 

• A city government, county government, urban-county government, charter county government, consolidated local government, or unified local government located within the state and contains: 

• The name of the individual to whom the document was issued; and

• A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued. 

• Specifies that on the day of a primary, an election, or during an in-person absentee voting when a federal elective office is on the ballot if a voter is unable to provide proof of identification, or of the voter fails to meet the requirements of section 1, the voter may cast a provisional ballot for the federal elective office of president, vice president, United States senator, and United States House of Representative if the individual conforms to the provisional voting requirements in accordance with the Help American Vote Act of 2002 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor Andy Beshear

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends voter identification requirements.

Highlights:

• Specifies that on the day of a primary, an election, or during in-person absentee voting, if a voter is unable to provide proof of identification as required, a voter may cast a ballot if they (Sec. 1):

• Are eligible to vote; 

• Are entitled to vote in that precinct; and

• In the presence of the election officer, executes a voter’s affirmation, on a form written and provided by the State Board of Election affirming:

• The voter is a US citizen; 

• The voter’s date of birth; 

• The voter is qualified to vote in that precinct; 

• The voter’s name, and that the voter is generally known by that name or the name is as stated on his or her voter registration cart; 

• The voter has not voted and will not vote in any other precincts; 

• The voter’s current residential address; 

• The voter understands that making a false statement on the affirmation is punishable under the penalties of perjury; and 

• The voter has one of the following impediments to procure proof of identification, including:

• Lack of transportation; 

• Inability to afford a copy of their birth certificate; 

• Work schedule; 

• The proof of identification has been applied for but not yet received; or 

• The voter has a religious objection to being photographed. 

• Specifies that in addition to the requirements above, in order to cast a ballot, a voter who is unable to provide proof of identification must provide the following to an election officer (Sec. 1):

• The voters Social Security card; 

• Any identification that has been issued by the county containing the name of the voter and that has been approved in writing by the State Board of Elections; 

• Any identification card with the voter’s picture and signature; or

• A credit or debit card with the name of the voter stated. 

• Defines “proof of identification” as a document that was issued by (Sec. 23):

• The United States or the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and contains:

• The name of the individual to whom the document was issued, and the name conforms to the name on the individual’s voter registration card; and 

• A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued;

• The US Department of Defense, a branch of the uniformed services, the Merchant Marine, or the Kentucky National Guard;

• A public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school located within the state and contains:

• The name of the individual to whom the document was issued; and 

• A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued. 

• Specifies that on the day of a primary or an election, or during in-person absentee voting, if a voter is unable to provide proof of identification as required, or if the voter fails to meet the requirements of section 1, the voter may cast a provisional ballot if they (Sec. 2):

• Are eligible to vote; 

• Are entitled to vote in that precinct; and 

• In the presence of the election officer, executes a voter’s affirmation, on a form written and provided by the State Board of Elections affirming:

• The voter is a US citizen; 

• The voter’s date of birth; 

• The voter is qualified to vote in that precinct; 

• The voter’s name, and that the voter is generally known by that name or the name is as stated on their voter registration card; 

• The voter has not voted and will not vote in any other precinct; 

• The voter’s current residential address; 

• The voter understands that making a false statement on the affirmation is punishable under the penalities of perjury. 

• Specifies that in order for the voter’s provisional ballot to be validated and counted, the voter must personally appear before the county clerk no later than the close of business on the Friday immediately following a primary or an election and either provide proof of identification as defined in this act or their Social Security card (Sec. 2).

• Requires a voter to affirm to one of the following impediments if the provisional voter fails to procure proof of identification, including (Sec. 2):

• Lack of transportation; 

• Inability to afford a copy of their birth certificate; 

• Work schedule; 

• The proof of identification has been applied for but not yet received; or 

• The voter has a religious objection to being photographed. 

Full Bill Text