FRANKFORT, Ky. — A change could be coming to what forms of identification are needed to vote in person. Senate Bill 80 passed its committee favorably 9-2 Wednesday; if enacted, it would remove college IDs as a primary form of identification to vote.

What You Need To Know

  • Voters in Kentucky can show a driver’s license, military ID or college ID to vote in person in Kentucky 

  • SB 80 would remove university IDs as a form of primary ID at polling places 

  • Bill sponsor State Sen. Adrienne Southworh, R-Lawrenceburg, said these IDs are easy to make fakes compared to government issued identification  

  • Secretary of State Michael Adams, R-Ky., says if approved, this would drive young people away from voting

State Sen. Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, said SB 80 would remove IDs issued by colleges as a primary source of identification when voting at the polls.

“Student IDs actually would still qualify under the secondary form of ID currently, which says anything that has your name or photograph on it,” Southworth said.

Right now, university IDs are included as a form of primary ID along with government issued IDs. But Southworth said including university student IDs with government issued IDs as primary identification cards makes little sense.

“If you have a government issued ID, that is one of those main ones that has a lot of different information on it, there’s other ways to verify things. Those IDs have a little more behind them and to them,” Southworth said.

Southworth’s main concern with college identification cards is the ease of making fakes; unlike a driver’s license, which has certain characteristics that make it more difficult to make a fraudulent copy.

“I’ve had kids tell me — when I say kids you know, maybe they’re 18 or 19 years old, they’re total nerds they know how to do all this stuff — telling me how fast they can create an extremely great looking credit card, student ID and so forth,” Southworth said.

Southworth did not know of a specific instance where a college ID was fraudulently used to vote, but says she’s heard concerns from constituents.

Secretary of State Michael Adams, R-Ky., does not agree with the intent of the bill. He touts Kentucky’s election integrity and transparency.

“That bill has been filed by a senator who’s numerous times made inappropriate comments alleging that the elections are rigged, alleging that county clerks are rigging the elections and said some really irresponsible things,” Adams said.

Adams said there are no instances in Kentucky of people impersonating voters. He believes if passed, this bill would drive young people away from polls.

“This alienates young voters. My goodness, have we not learned enough from 2023? We got killed among young voters in 2023 in the governor’s race and when you take away college students’ ability to vote by not letting them use a college ID, that just worsens our brand as Republicans,” Adams said.

College students from other states can change their residence to Kentucky if they want to vote in the Commonwealth.

Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said a 2020 law made government issued voter identifications available at county clerk’s offices for free. He voted favorably for SB 80 in committee.

“This is all about voter access, but it’s also about protecting the integrity of the ballot and I appreciate the senator’s efforts,” Thayer said.

The bill would also eliminate credit and debit cards as a secondary form of identification.

With its passage in committee, SB 80 will now be read on the Senate floor for the first time.

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