The bill amends the Code of West Virginia to strengthen voter identification requirements by mandating that all valid forms of voter ID must include a photograph. It specifies that identification cards issued without a photograph will generally not be accepted for voting, with limited exemptions. Acceptable forms of identification now include a West Virginia driver's license, a U.S. passport, and various state-issued IDs, while allowing voters aged 65 and older to use expired identification that was valid on their 65th birthday. Additionally, the bill provides provisions for voters without a valid photo ID to vote provisionally by signing an affidavit and ensures that voters in state-licensed care facilities are not required to present identification.

The legislation also outlines procedures and penalties related to voter assistance during elections, including a requirement for voters to leave the election room after casting their ballot and remain outside a designated sixty-foot limit unless permitted by election commissioners. Election Commissioners must return oaths or affirmations from those assisting voters, along with a list of assisted voters, to the county commission clerk for public inspection. The bill establishes penalties for false swearing and unauthorized assistance, classifying false oaths as a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail, while unauthorized assistance by Election Commissioners or poll clerks is classified as a felony, punishable by fines up to $5,000 and imprisonment from one to five years.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-1-34, 17B-2-1
Committee Substitute: 3-1-34, 17B-2-1
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 3-1-34, 17B-2-1