Arkansas Governor Vetoes Voter ID Law

On March 25th, Democrat Governor Mike Beebe vetoed legislation that would have created a voter ID law for Arkansas, saying it would “negatively impact one of our most precious rights as citizens.”

Under current Arkansas law, “poll workers can request identifying documents, but voters are not required to show them.” The rejected law would have required all voters to show ID and would have required county clerks to provide “ID cards… at no cost for registered voters who do not have other forms of valid identification.”

Beebe cited the cost of supplying the ID cards as part of the reason for the veto as well. The Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research estimates the cost of providing the cards would be $300,000.

Republicans can override the veto with a simple majority in the Arkansas house and senate.