Legislators coming to Brownsville to discuss Voter ID law

Texas legislators will likely vote on a bill that would require Texas voters to provide proof of citizenship in order to vote in local, state and national elections this year.

Some politicians, including state Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, say the legislation would disenfranchise a number of South Texas voters. Anchia is hosting a hearing in Brownsville on Friday to address the issue.

Hundreds of Rio Grande Valley residents are currently struggling to get passports because of the State Department's suspicions of fraudulently granted birth certificates. If the voter ID bill is passed, those same people, Anchia said, will lose their voting privileges.

"These cases reveal serious flaws with the proposal to require proof of citizenship in order to vote, an idea proposed by some of my more conservative colleagues," Anchia said. "We will hear testimony at the hearing that demonstrates that not only would people find it more difficult to vote, but actual citizens will be prevented from voting under a proof of citizenship voter registration requirement."

During the 2007 legislative session, Texas Republicans made two attempts to reassess voting requirements in the state. Though neither measure was approved, Texas Republicans say the bills will likely be reintroduced this year.

"The lieutenant governor has made it clear that it will make it one of his priorities," said Rich Parsons, spokesperson for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. "He wants to make sure that only U.S. citizens are casting their votes in U.S. elections."

Anchia's hearing will be in the Cassia Room at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College at 10 a.m. Friday.