Senate Bill 14 will require individuals to show photo identification before voting. Acceptable forms of identification consist of the following: election identification certificate, or personal identification card issued to the person by the Department of Public Safety; a military identification card that contains the voter's photograph; a United States citizenship certificate that contains the voter's photograph; a United States passport; and a license to carry a concealed handgun issued by the Department of Public Safety. 

The bill provides reasonable exceptions to the photo ID requirement, including exceptions for indigent, elderly, and disabled voters. In addition, the bill provides a mechanism by which individuals who are not carrying photo ID with them may still vote provisionally; they would then be required to provide verification of their identity within six days of the election.  

Voter ID was designated as an emergency item by Governor Perry at the start of the 82nd Legislative Session.  With the passage of this legislation, Texas joins other states that have addressed voter fraud with similar legislation.  Eliminating voter fraud is an essential part of protecting voter rights, because every fraudulent vote cancels out a legitimate vote.   The United States Supreme Court has ruled voter identification to be constitutional. 

A primary objective of the TCC Pledge with Texans, improving election integrity, has been accomplished by the 82nd Texas Legislature.