Senate approves voter ID bill; House to do more work

JACKSON — Mississippi voters are a little closer to needing to show photo identification before voting.

The Senate voted today in favor of House Bill 921, which would provide framework to set up a constitutional amendment that voters approved in November.

However, it remains unclear whether the U.S. Justice Department will approve a photo identification requirement for Mississippi. Federal officials have rejected similar laws in South Carolina and Texas.

The bill goes back to the House for more work.

The bill would make voters show current identification, including a Mississippi driver’s license, a Mississippi pistol permit, an Indian tribal identification, a U.S. passport, identification from any public or private college in Mississippi, or other identification issued by the federal or state government or and other Mississippi city, county or local agency.