S. 5271: A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identification.

A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identification.

This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to mandate that individuals voting in person in federal elections present a valid physical photo identification, such as a state driver's license, passport, military ID, or tribal ID. Voters lacking an ID may cast a provisional ballot, but it will only be counted if they provide the required ID or a religious exemption affidavit within three days. For absentee and mail-in voting, the bill requires voters to submit a copy of their photo ID or, alternatively, the last four digits of their Social Security number alongside an affidavit attesting they could not reasonably obtain an ID, with exceptions for military, overseas, and disabled voters. To facilitate compliance, the legislation directs states to provide free public access to copiers or scanners at government buildings and requires that all voter registration systems explicitly notify applicants of these new photo identification requirements.