Representative Erin Zwiener refiles bill to allow students to vote with their University IDs

Staff Reports

Austin, TX — Representative Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood) filed House Bill 118, which would expand the Election Code to include student IDs as acceptable forms of identification for voting.

“This bill will help remove barriers to voting for college students in my district and across the state,” Rep. Zwiener said. “The only reason to not allow students and state-run colleges and universities to use their student IDs for voting is if you don’t want young people to vote. Other forms of state ID are accepted, including concealed carry licenses.”

This is the third time Rep. Zwiener has filed this bill. During the 87th Regular Session, the bill was voted out of the House Committee on Elections and was set on the last day of the calendar, but never made it to the House floor.

“I’ve seen Texas State University students turned away from the polls or forced to vote provisionally because they routinely only carry their student IDs on campus,” said Rep. Zwiener. “The purpose of voter ID is not to establish eligibility–that is done through the registration process–but for registered Texans to establish who they are. Student IDs do just that. They are secure, issued by the state, and should be treated the same as any other state ID. Anything else is an arbitrary barrier designed to make it harder for young Texans to vote.”

House Bill 118 would allow Texas college students to vote using their student IDs. The election code currently does not include student identification cards as acceptable forms of voting, which inhibits many students from participating in the voting process. This bill would allow student identification cards as acceptable forms of identification for voting, provided that the student identification card was issued by a public institution of higher education in Texas and contains a photograph, full legal name, date of birth, and expiration date. This would put student identification cards on par with the requirements of other state-issued identification and make it easier for Texas students at public higher education institutions to vote securely.