RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- For the first time last year, Virginians had to produce any of several forms of identifying documents to cast a regular ballot. Now, Republican lawmakers are trying to further limit the menu of acceptable IDs.
The first bill on the legislative treadmill is Sen. Dick Black's measure that deletes current utility bills, bank statements, government checks or paychecks as ID permissible to vote.
Black showed members of a Senate Privileges and Elections subcommittee his utility bill he said was quickly falsified using common publishing software to appear to be Gov. Bob McDonnell's utility bill. The forgery was replete with the utility's watermark.
Only permanent, secure ID such as driver's licenses, student ID cards, employee badges or concealed handgun permits would become acceptable.
The bill advanced on a 4-2 vote.
