Voter identification (ID) laws generally require a person to provide some form of official, government-issued identification to register to vote, receive an absentee ballot, or vote in a state or federal election. For example, the Help America Vote Act of 2002 is a federal law that requires voter ID for all new voters in federal elections who registered by mail and did not provide a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number that matched government records. See 52 U.S.C. §20901.
Most states have some form of voter ID requirement, but these laws vary from state to state. Some states request or require voters to show an identification document that has a photo on it, such as a driver’s license, state-issued identification card, military ID, tribal ID, and many other forms of ID. Other states accept non-photo identification such as a bank statement with name and address or other document that does not necessarily have a photo. Voter ID laws are usually located in a state’s statutes.
In Texas, voter identification laws require individuals to present a form of official, government-issued photo identification when voting in person. Acceptable forms of ID include a Texas Driver License, Texas Election Identification Certificate, Texas Personal Identification Card, Texas Handgun License, U.S. Military Identification Card with photograph, U.S. Citizenship Certificate with photograph, or a U.S. Passport. If a voter does not possess one of these forms of ID and cannot reasonably obtain one, the voter may present a supporting form of ID and execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. Supporting forms of ID include a valid voter registration certificate, certified birth certificate, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or any other government document that shows the voter’s name and address. Texas' voter ID requirements are considered to be among the stricter laws in the United States and are codified in the Texas Election Code.
