The Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday that bars the use of foreign national IDs or driver’s licenses for voting in state elections.
SB 158, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, mirrors HB 480, introduced by Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Morris, which cleared the House on April 16.
While individuals from other countries with legal U.S. status can obtain IDs or driver’s licenses through the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, they are not permitted to vote.
Democrats argued the bill addresses a non-issue.
“Our citizens might think that there’s a problem with foreign nationalists using any form of ID they might have gotten from this country to register to vote,” said Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham. “But we don’t even have enough documentation to show where a foreign national would even try to register, let alone vote in the United States.”
The measure passed with a vote of 82-13 and now heads to Gov. Kay Ivey for consideration.
