Voter I-D Bill Could Come Up For Vote Today

State House members are working through amendments to the voter ID bill, which would require voters to show state or federal photo identification at the polls.
Democratic Representatives proposed nearly all of the 100 amendments to the legislation, in order to prolong floor debate.
Babette Josephs, a Philadelphia Democrat says the measure is unnecessary.

"There are severe penalties for this kind of behavior. That's why people don't do it. That's why people dont engage in this kind of behavior. That's why these kinds of requirements are nothing but a barrier."

Republicans say that barrier would keep people from casting illegal ballots. The sponsor, Representative Daryl Metcalfe of Butler County, says it follows a precedent.

"We drafted this legislation specifically to -- to follow along the same parallel lines as the Indiana legislation has progressed -- to require voter ID, photo ID by voters -- which has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. And we want to keep our legislation in line with what's been tested through the Supreme Court.'

In 2006, a similar bill to require voter ID passed the legislature but was vetoed by then-Governor Ed Rendell.
A final House vote on the proposal is expected as early as today.