Nathan Macias - Texas State Representative District 73

Re-Elect Nathan Macias - Heart for Service, Heart for Texas

	TEXAS REPRESENTATIVE NATHAN MACIAS DISTRICT 73: Serving Bandera, Comal, Gillespie, and Kendall Counties
	For Immediate Release April 26, 2007	Contact: Adam Bell 512-463-0325

Macias Votes to Protect Texas Elections
Members approve measure to require voter identification

Austin, TX - Yesterday the Texas House of Representatives passed legislation to ensure the highest possible integrity of our most basic right by requiring voter identification at the polls.

Rep. Macias stated, "This bill will strengthen the integrity of our voting process in elections and solidify Texans' confidence that their vote will not be undermined by persons attempting voter fraud."

House Bill 218 requires all voters show a photo ID from a list of seven including drivers' license, passport, military ID card, etc., or to provide two forms of non-photo identification from a list of eleven different categories such as a utility bill, bank statement, library card, etc. Voters who forget their identification or do not obtain them by the date of the vote can still cast a provisional ballot, which is counted after the votersÕ identity has been established.

A recent Baselice poll showed that 85 percent of Texans support voter ID, a result that remains consistent across all ethnic lines.

Rep. Macias concluded, "It is important to affirm that while this bill provides for voter identity, this bill also provides careful safeguards to ensure that all legally-eligible voters will be permitted to vote."

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