SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah's law to erect barriers against voter fraud may be hurting the very people who vote the most.
A number of people in their 80s and 90s have come forward to say they can't vote because they don't have a picture ID -- such as a driver's license -- because of their age, said Rep. Marie Poulson, D-Salt Lake City.
The U.S. Census shows the highest voting age group is those over the age of 65.
People in this age group "are mentally active, civically aware and very interested in participating in the process as voters," said Poulson, who is sponsoring House Bill 79, which would allow those older than 65 to use a Medicare card as valid voting ID.
Jason Yocum, Salt Lake County recorder deputy, said his office has received a number of calls from older voters who were turned away at the polls.
"Many of these people, I understand, left frustrated and never returned," he said.
The proposal comes with some heartburn for those who say the Medicare card doesn't have picture on it, which was a main thrust of recent legislation to prevent voter fraud.
The Eagle Forum opposes the bill, though it would support efforts to provide pick-up services to get voters to the polls.
Rep. Craig Frank, R-Cedar Hills, said the state already provides for those who don't drive.
"I think there's a provision in our current code ... that allows for them to receive a state identification card," he said.
That argument, too, was poked at, given the recent woes at the Driver's License Division because of changes to the process to comply with the Real ID Act that have resulted in daylong lines.
"Getting a picture ID or driver's license has become much more difficult in the state of Utah," said Marina Lowe, legislative and policy counsel for the ACLU of Utah.
The bill was passed out of the House Government Operations Committee by a 5-3 vote and will be debated on the floor of the House.
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