Jackson, Miss. – A bill requiring voters to present identification at polling places was passed today by the Mississippi State Senate. Senate Bill 2617 was introduced by Elections Committee Chairman Terry Burton, R-Newton. It passed the Senate by a margin of 30 to 15.

“I want to thank members of the Mississippi Senate for passing a strong voter ID bill to help ensure fair and honest elections in Mississippi. The Senate’s action is a strong statement that a comprehensive voter ID law is necessary to combat fraud in our electoral process, and I encourage the Mississippi House to take up and pass the bill very soon,” Governor Haley Barbour said in a statement earlier today.

Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Jim Herring shared Governor Barbour’s sentiment. “I applaud the Senate for passing common sense legislation that protects the integrity of our ballots.”

The Mississippi Republican Party is sponsoring a petition to let the Legislature know how important Voter ID is to Mississippians. To sign this petition, please visit www.msgop.org/petitions/.

Please contact your Representative today (www.msgop.org/legislator/) and let them know how important Voter ID is to you.

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