Kansas House Passes Voter ID Law

The Kansas House passed a measure Thursday that requires voters to show photo ID before casting a ballot, and to show proof of citizenship when they register for the first time, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Friday.

Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who pushed for the new law, said this gives Kansas the most secure elections in the country.

State Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican, said the measure should not deter anyone from voting. It’s not hard to provide the photo identification, and birth certificates, which could be used to prove citizenship, are required for children to sign up for school sports, she said.

The bill authorizes the secretary of state, attorney general, and district and county attorneys to enforce the law, which also raises the severity of some violations from misdemeanors to low-level felonies.

Election officials can accept a driver’s license, a state ID card, a U.S. passport, a concealed-carry license or a U.S. military ID to register voters.