By Moses Leos III.
When the new Texas Voter Identification (ID) Law went into effect in June, much consternation followed. Many citizens worried they could lose their right to vote.
However, such has not been the case in Hays County, where the process was “smooth,” during early voting, according to Elections Administrator Joyce Cowan.
Under the ID Law, a person must show one of seven accepted forms of identification prior to casting a ballot. The name on the ID must be “substantially similar” to what is on the official list of registered voters (OLRV). If it does not match, a voter must sign an affidavit that the person is who they claim they are.
Those who do not have the proper identification must cast a provisional ballot. The state gives that person six days to show proper ID to the voter registrar, or their vote is nullified.
During the early voting process, Cowan said no provisional ballots were cast in Hays County. She said several people signed affidavits because of differences in middle initials.
A concern over maiden names also was a non-issue during early voting. Several affidavits were signed because of that issue, but Cowan said a voter’s date-of-birth and picture on their ID cleared things up.
One potentially more substantial issue during early voting happened when a woman tried to vote using an out-of-state ID. Election officials offered her a provisional ballot, or said she could return with a Texas Election Certificate or Texas photo ID. Cowan said the woman returned later with a state-issued ID and voted.
How did the law translate to Election Day at a high profile polling place?
In Buda, where two city council places were up for grabs, there were no reports of any voter being inconvenienced.
Buda resident Dennis Clark was in support of the new ID laws, so long as the laws do not become too restrictive.
“If we have to have an ID to buy liquor, or get on an airplane, what is more important than [having an ID for] voting?” Clark said. “I think it’s something that should be done. Everyone should have the opportunity to vote, but everyone should have an ID.”
Other residents welcomed the new law. Sam Franco said he lost his voter’s registration card, but having his ID allowed him to vote.
He felt it was “handy,” with the process non-obstructive.
Voter Mary Effiom had to sign an affidavit prior to casting her ballot. However, she said the process was, “not a hassle.”
However, not all were in favor of the law. Kevin Mays was worried his ID was frayed, and he was not going to be able to cast a vote.
He was able to vote, but he still questions the process.
“It is unnecessary. We have a long history of not requiring (IDs) for voting,” Mays said. “ID’s are not required for a lot of things, so, why bother and trouble people with that hassle?”
Leonard Diggs, a Buda veteran, tried to use his Veterans Affairs (VA) Card to vote. The card is not one of the seven approved voting IDs.
He voted using his driver’s license, but feared other veterans could be disenfranchised.
“What if I was 65-years old and a veteran and that’s all I had?” Diggs said. “This is a glitch in the system.”
But for the vast majority, no problems were associated with the law.
“I don’t understand the problem,” said Linda Bradford. “They don’t discriminate in getting an ID. I’m all for showing an ID to vote.”
