KY Senate votes to tighten voter ID requirements, advance felon voting rights amendment
Kentucky senators passed two voting rights bills Friday. One would allow more Kentuckians to vote while the other would make it harder to vote for those who lack photo ID.
Senate Bill 154, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, would remove Social Security cards and public benefit cards from the additional documents that voters may use — along with signing an affidavit attesting to their identity — if they cannot provide a primary form of identification, such as a Kentucky-issued drivers license.
After much debate, the bill passed the Senate 31-7.
Tichenor argued that the two forms of identification struck from use are not photo IDs, and don’t align with calls across the country for photo ID laws. The U.S. House, under narrow GOP-control, passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act) last week with an added photo ID measure. The Kentucky General Assembly passed a 2020 law requiring voters to present photo IDs but also providing options for voters who lack photo ID.
https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/20/ky-senate-votes-to-tighten-voter-id-requirements-advance-felon-voting-rights-amendment/