5,000 seniors meet to nix voter ID bill

Requires voters to show a photo ID

Updated: Tuesday, 10 Feb 2009, 6:26 PM CST
Published : Tuesday, 10 Feb 2009, 11:43 AM CST

AUSTIN (KXAN) - About 5,000 senior citizens descended on the state capitol on Tuesday to push for various legislation. One bill they are rallying against is a voter ID bill. The legislation requires that voters show a photo ID or a utility bill at the polls. The senior group The Gray Panthers said requiring a photo ID will make it harder for some seniors to vote.

Voter ID has been a controversial issue the last two sessions. In 2007, it passed out of the House but died in the Senate due to the two-thirds rule. The two-thirds rule requires that proportion of senators to vote in favor of bringing a bill to the floor. In the first week of this session, the Senate Republicans changed the rules to exempt the voter ID bill from the two-thirds mandate.

Other reforms the seniors are getting vocal about includes creating a legislative committee on aging, regulation of electric utilities and mandatory geriatric curriculum in Texas medical schools.