STATE OF TEXAS’ JOINT APPENDIX ATTACHMENT 18€¦ · 11 john watkins 811 kenneth flippen 813 12 annie banks 816 rachel hernandez 817 13 renato de los santos 819 judy holloway 823

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

STATE OF TEXAS, Plaintiff vs. ERIC H. HOLDER, JR., in His Official Capacity as Attorney General of

the United States, Defendant.

Case No. 1:12-CV-00128 (RMC, DST, RLW) Three-Judge Court

STATE OF TEXAS’ JOINT APPENDIX

ATTACHMENT 18

Case 1:12-cv-00128-RMC-DST-RLW Document 210-1 Filed 06/20/12 Page 1 of 248

Williams Janice Self Austin TX

Williams Robert Wayne Self Austin TX

Wilson Andy Public Citizen Common Cause Austin TX

Windberg Thomas J Self Spicewood TX

Wisdom Barbara R Self Austin TX

Wittie David ADAPT of Texas Austin TX

Woods Traci Tarrant County Democratic Party Fort Worth TX

Wygal Shondra E Texas Young Democrats Houston TX

Yarber John Self Austin TX

Yarbrough Christianna South Denton County Democrats and TX Precinct

307

Flower Mound TX

Yeaman John F Self Austin TX

Young Deana Private Citizen Houston TX

On

Banks Annie M Texas Alliance for Retired Americans Houston

Curry Susan Self Alpine TX

Harris R D Cover Texas NOW Dallas ACORN Dallas TX

Higgins Carlos Texas SilverHaired Legislature Austin TX

Mays Sr Kenneth W Self Dallas TX

Sepehri John Secretary of State Austin TX

Providing written testimony

For

Alvarez Rosario Granada Homes Laborer LU1095 San Antonio TX

Gebolys Paul J PCT 4 Montgomery County The Woodlands TX

Harding James C Presiding Judge Harris County Rep Kingwood TX

Lannon Robert Grant Texas Borders Volunteers Austin TX

Lindsey Shirley Self League City TX

McDonald Tony Young Conservatives of Texas Austin TX

Mikus Jr Jerry J Self Pflugerville TX

Opiela Eric Republican Party of Texas Austin TX

Wallace Skipper Texas Republican County Chairs Association Lampasas TX

Against

Bell Doug Travis County Democrats Austin TX

Burke Terri ACLU of Texas Austin TX

TX 00002795JA_003278


Dickinson Glenda Self Sealy TX

Dodd Daniel Democratic Party of Collin County McKinney TX

Flores Jr Enrique UAW and Labor Council for Latin American

Advancement Arlington TXFord Rachel Baker Self Garland TX

Gauthier Lloyd Self Houston TX

Glasscock Nancy Self Temple TX

Henderson Elaine Self Lago Vista TX

Hinojosa Gilberto Cameron County Democratic Party Committee Member

Democratic National Committee Brownsville TX

Korbel George Self LULAC San Antonio TX

Leeder Jennie Lou Llano County Llano TX

Mainard Marcia TDW Greenville TX

Resa Arthur Bell County Democratic Party Belton TX

SandersCastro Judith LULAC and Rosa Rosales Nat l Pres San Antonio TX

Spoon Harley Self Austin TX

Vera Jr Luis League of United Latin American Citizens Washington DC

Whichard Steve Self Austin TX

On

Dean Sheila Self Austin TX

TX 00002796JA_003279


TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE

THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS

EIGHTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SENATE

AUSTIN TEXAS

IN RE

CONSIDERATION OFSENATE BILL 362


TUESDAY MARCH 10 2009

BE IT REMEMBERED THAT AT 1238 p..m. on

Tuesday the 10th day of March 2009 theabove-entitledmatter was heard at the Texas State Capitol

Senate Chamber Austin Texas before the Committee of

the Whole Senate and the following proceedings were

reported by Aloma J. Kennedy a Certified Shorthand

Reporter of

VOLUME 1A PAGES 1 - 208

E- NNEDY11.IF1-_T1- NOiJ21-i LJ

a record of excellence

1801 Lavaca Suite 115 Austin Texas 78701 512-474-2233

TX_ 00 7 iýJA_003280


i

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 PAGE

3 VOLUME 1A

4 PROCEEDINGS TUESDAY MARCH 10 2009 2

5 ROLL CALL NO. 1 2

6 OPENING INSTRUCTIONS BY SEN. DUNCAN 5

7 OBJECTION TO FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF SB 362SEN. WEST 12

8

ROLL CALL NO. 2 38

9

LAYING OUT OF SENATE BILL 36210 SEN FRASER 44

11 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 53

12 VOLUME 1B

13 INVITED TESTIMONY 210

14 TESTIMONY BY HANS VON SPAKOVSKY 210QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 21.8

15

TESTIMONY BY TOVA ANDREA WANG 27716 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 287

17 TESTIMONY BY CAMERON QUINN 300QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 306

18

TESTIMONY BY TOBY MOORE 33619 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 344

20 TESTIMONY BY FRANK B. STRICKLAND 373

QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 41721

TESTIMONY BY ADAM SKAGGS 40822 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 417

23 TESTIMONY OF ROBERT A. SIMMSSUBMITTED BY WES TAILOR 435

24

TESTIMONY BY J. GERALD HEBERT 44225 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 450

KENNEDY REPORTING SERVICE INC.512.474.2233

TX_00003858JA_003281


11

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 PAGE

3 VOLUME 2

4 PROCEEDINGS WEDNESDAY MARCH 11 2009 482

5

QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR CONTINUED 4826

7 TESTIMONY BY THOMAS WHEELER 502QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 510

8

TESTIMONY BY CHANDLER DAVIDSON 5219 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 527

10 TESTIMONY BY ED JOHNSON 559QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 566

11

TESTIMONY BY DANIEL B. KOHRMAN 621


13 TESTIMONY BY COBY SHORTER 653QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 655

14

TESTIMONY BY DENNIS BOREL 70615 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 713

16 TESTIMONY BY GARY GLEDSOE 724QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 731

17

TESTIMONY BY ERIC NICHOLS 74218 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 750

19

20 PUBLIC TESTIMONY 771

21 CLAIRE OXLEY GLUCK 771

22 HAZEL COTTON 773QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 775

23

KATHY HICKS 77624 JAMES E. CARTER 779

RUSTY HICKS 78125


TX_00003859JA_003282


1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 PAGEPUBLIC TESTIMONY CONTINUED

3

TINA BENKISER 7844 B.R. SKIPPER WALLACE 787

ANITA PRIVETT 7895 MARY ANN COLLINS 792

6 ROSA ROSALES 794QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 797

7

DUSTIN RYNDERS 8008

MARSHA CORREIRA 8039 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 806

10 RENE LARA 807LEE MEDLEY 810

11 JOHN WATKINS 811KENNETH FLIPPEN 813

12 ANNIE BANKS 816RACHEL HERNANDEZ 817

13 RENATO DE LOS SANTOS 819JUDY HOLLOWAY 823

14 LYDIA CAMARILLO 825EDWARD B. WILLIAMS 828

15 MADELEINE DEWAR 830HELEN VILLARREAL 833

16 MARK WILLIAMSON 835VANESSA FOSTER 838

17

LUIS FIGUERO 840i8 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 844

19 PATTI EDELMAN 844SYLVIA MENDOZA 846

20 KENNETH KOYM 848KAREN RENICK 850

21 JONI ASHBROOK 853DUANE RAWSON 856

22 ROD FLUKER 858

23 ROLL CALL NO. 3 864

24

PROCEEDINGS CONCLUDED 86925


TX_00003860JA_003283


lv

1 EXHIBIT INDEX

2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 1A Sen. Van de Putte 3/3/09 Memoto Sen. Duncan re ground rules

4 for Committee of the WholePubic hearing 21 21

5

lB Sen. Duncan 3/5/09 Memo to Sen.6 Van de Putte re response to

concerns about ground rules7 for the Committee of the Whole

Senate 21 21

8

2. Letter to Texas Attorney General9 Greg Abbott re Hearing on SB

362 signed by 11 Senators 21 21

10

3. Senate Notice of Public11 Hearing on SB 362 for 3/10/09 21 21

12 4. Texas Senate Agenda 3/10/09 21 21

13 5A 3/10/09 Tag Form signed bySen. Royce West et al 21 21.

14

5B 3/10/09 Tag Form signed by15 Sen. Mario Gallegos 21 21

16 6. Roll Call No. 2 - Sen.Gallegos Appeal of Ruling

17 of Chair on Sen. WestsPoint of Order 120 120

18

7. Institute of Public Policy19 Publication entitled The

Effects of Photographic20 Identification on Voter

Turnout in Indiana A21 County-Level Analysis

by Jeffrey Milyo Report22 10-2007 Revised December

2007 120 12023

24

25


TX_00003861JA_003284


V

1 EXHIBIT INDEX continued

2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 8. AU News publication entitledMuch-hyped Turnout Record

4 Fails to Materialize -

Convenience Voting Fails to5 Boost Balloting 120 120

6 9. Symposium paper entitledThe Empirical Effects of

7 Voter-ID Laws Present orAbsent by Jason D. Mycoff

8 Michael W. Wagner andDavid C. Wilson 120 120

9

10. 9/10/07 Report of the10 Heritage Center for Data

Analysis entitled New11 Analysis Shows Voter

Identification Laws Do Not12 Reduce Turnout by David B.

Muhlhausen and Keri Weber13 Sikich 120 120

14 11. New York Times article -

September 23 2005 - entitled15 Voting Reform is in the

Cards by Jimmy Carter16 and James A. Baker III 160 160

17 12. Harvey Kronbergs Quorum ReportApril 23 2007 entitled Royal

18 Masset The Voter ID Bill WillKill My Mothers Right to Vote 160 1.60

19

13. 2/3/08 article entitled A20 Clearer Picture on Voter ID

by Jimmy Carter and James A.21 Baker III 160 160

22 14. Testimony of Hans A. vonSpakovsky March 10 2009

23 re SB 362 217 217

24

25


TX00003862JA_003285


v


2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 15A 6/11/07 Letter to SenateCommittee on Rules and

4 Administration re Hans A.

von Spakovsky nomination 254 2545

15B 6/12/07 Article entitled6 Obama Raises Concerns Over

FEC Nominees Record of7 Partisanship 254 254

8 15C 10/3/07 Letter to the U.S.Senate from Public Citizen 254 254

9



Turnout in Indiana A12 County-Level Analysis by

Jeffrey Milyo Report13 10-2007 Revised December

2007 SAME AS EXHIBIT 7 265 26514

17. Testimony of Tova Andrea Wang15 Vice President Research Common

Cause March 10 2009 re SB 362 300 30016

18. Report of the Commission on17 Federal Election Reform entitled

Building Confidence in U.S.18 Elections September 2005 313 313

19

20

21

22

23

24

25


TX_00003863JA_003286


Vii


2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 19. Fifteen letters to the Hon.Dianne Feinstein Chair and the

4 Hon. Robert F. Bennett rankingminority member U.S. Senate

5 Committee on Rules andAdministration

6

1. 6/29/07 letter from Hans7 A. von Spakovsky

2. 3/22/07 letter from various8 members of Congress

3. 3/13/07 letter from William9 H. Jordan

4. 2/08/07 letter from Gary J.

10 Smith5. 2/26/07 letter from P. K.

11 Brunelli6. 3/01/07 letter from J. A.

12 Borras7. 2/21/07 letter from Trey

13 Grayson8. 2/20/07 letter from Beverly

14 B. Kaufman9. 2/19/07 letter from Todd

15 Rokita10. 2/16/07 letter from Frank

16 B. Strickland11. 2/14/07 letter from Tom Lowe

17 12. 2/13/07 letter fromT. Rogers Wade

18 13. 2/14/06 letter from JohnnyIsakson

19 14. 2/09/07 letter from WesleyR. Kliner Jr.

20 15. 3/13/07 letter from RayMartinez III 333 333

21

20. Brennan Center For Justice letter22 dated October 3 2007 by

Executive Director Michael23 Waldman with attachments 335 335

24

25


TX_00003864JA_003287



2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 21. Prepared Remarks of Dr. TobyMoore Research Triangle

4 regarding Evidence of the

impact of voter ID requirements5 and the prospects of US DOJ

preclearance March 10 2009 358 3586

22. Harris County Map submitted7 by Sen. Gallegos 366 366

8 23. Testimony of Frank B.

Strickland re SB 3629 March 10 2009 373 373

10 24. Testimony of Adam SkaggsCounsel Democracy Program

1-1 Brennan Center for Justice atNYU School of Law regarding

12 The Myth of Voter ImpersonationFraud at the Polls

13 March 10 2009 408 408

14 25. Written Testimony of Robert A.

Simms Georgia Deputy Secretary15 of State presented to the

United States Senate Committee16 on Rules and Administration

submitted by Wes Tailor 435 43517

26. Testimony of J. Gerald Hebert18 re SB 362 March 10 2009 442 442

19 27. Letter from Rene Guerra March 62009 Criminal District Attorney

20 of Hidalgo CountySubmitted by Sen. Lucio 479 479

21

28. 3/4/09 Letter from Todd22 Rokita Indiana Secretary

of State to Sen. Fraser23 re SB 362 502 502

24

25


TX_00003865JA_003288


IX


2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 29. Testimony of Chandler DavidsonTsanoff Professor of Public

4 Affairs Emeritus Rice Universityregarding The Historical Context

5 of Senate Bill 362 March 102009 521 521

6

30. 3/06 Printout from Texas AG7 Website entitled Helping Stamp

Out Voter Fraud in Texas by8 Greg Abbott Attorney General

of Texas submitted by9 Sen. Shapleigh 550 550

10 31. Dashwood case documentssubmitted by Ed Johnson Harris

11 County Tax Assessor-Collectorand Voter Registrars Office 559 559

12

32. Records from specific Harris13 County voting documents

submitted by Ed Johnson 559 55914

33. Harris County Deceased15 Voting History miscellaneous

registration applications16 submitted by Ed Johnson 559 559

17 34. Texas Voter RegistrationApplication form submitted

18 by Sen. Huffman 570 570

19 35. Testimony of Daniel B.

Kohrman Senior Attorney20 AARP Foundation re SB 362

March 10 2009 621 62721

36. Photographs of Voter Education22 Anderson County Workshop 2008 724 724

23 37. Testimony of Gary L. BledsoePresident Texas NAACP

24 re SB 362 March 10 2009 724 724

25


TX_00003866JA_003289


X


2 MARKED ADMITTED38. Number of voters who have

3 registered since 2006 withouta drivers license number

4 submitted by Sen. Watson 767 767

5 39. The Special InvestigationsUnit Role and Investigative

6 Efforts and Fundingsubmitted by Sen. Huffman 767 767

7

40. Slip Opinion U.S. Supreme8 Court Crawford vs. Marion

County Election Board9 October Term 2007 768 768

10 41. U.S. Supreme Court Crawfordvs. Marion County Election

Il Board on Writ of Certiorarito U.S. Court of Appeals for

12 the Seventh Circuit Brief ofTexas Alabama Colorado

13 Florida Hawaii MichiganNebraska Puerto Rico and

14 South Dakota as Amici CuriaeSupporting Respondents 768 768

15

42. Written Testimony of Claire16 Oxley Gluck from Boerne in

Kendall County re SB 362 773 77317

43. Written Testimony of Hazel18 Cotton of Texarkana Texas

re SB 362 775 77519

44. Written Testimony of Kathy20 Hicks of Texarkana Texas

re SB 362 779 77921

45. Written Testimony of Donald22 Giles of Texarkana Texas

re SB 362 783 78323

46. Written Testimony of Anita24 Privett League of Women

Voters of Texas re SB 362 789 78925


TX_00003867JA_003290


X7.


2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 47. Written Testimony of RosaRosales League of United

4 Latin American CitizensNational President

5 re SB 362 794 794

6 48. Written Testimony of DustinRynders Advocacy Inc.

7 re SB 362 800 800

8 49. Written Testimony of MarshaCorreira re SB 362 804 804

9

10 50. Written Testimony of RachelA. Hernandez re SB 362 817 817

11

51. 10/17/08 Article by Nelda12 Wells Spears Voter Registrar

Travis County entitled 4000013 Voter Registration Applications

Processed in Time For Early14 Voting 825 825

15 52. Written Testimony of LydiaCamarillo SVREP Vice

16 President re SB 362 826 826

17 53. Written Testimony of LuisFigueroa Mexican American

18 Legal Defense and EducationFund MALDEF re SB 362 841 841

19

54. Written Testimony of Sylvia20 Mendoza re SB 362 848 848

21 55. Written Testimony of Dr. RodFluker Sr. Executive Director

22 for Texas Association of BlackPersonnel in Higher Education

23 re SB 362 861 861

24

25


TX_00003868JA_003291


2

1 P R O C E E D I N G S

2 TUESDAY MARCH 10 2009

3 1238 p.m.

4 PRESIDENT DEWHURST Members the Senate

5 will come to order. Pursuant to a resolution

6 previously adopted the Senate resolves itself into

7 the Committee of the Whole for the consideration of

8 Senate Bill 362. The senator from Lubbock

9 Sen. Duncan will please take the chair for the

10 duration of the proceedings in the Committee of the

11 Whole.

12 Off the record 1238 p.m. to

13 1242 p.m.

14 SEN. DUNCAN The Committee of the Whole

15 Senate will come to order. The secretary will call

16 the roll.

17 ROLL CALL NO. 1

18 SECRETARY SPAW Averitt

19 SEN. AVERITT Indicated presence

20 SECRETARY SPAW Carona

21 SEN. CARONA Indicated presence

22 SECRETARY SPAW Davis

23 SEN. DAVIS Indicated presence

24 SECRETARY SPAW Deuell

25 SEN. DEUELL Indicated presence


TX_00003869JA_003292


1 SECRETARY SPAW Duncan

2 SEN. DUNCAN Indicated presence

3 SECRETARY SPAW Ellis

4 SEN. ELLIS Indicated presence

5 SECRETARY SPAW Eltife

6 SEN. ELTIFE Indicated presence

7 SECRETARY SPAW Estes

8 SEN. ESTES Indicated presence

9 SECRETARY SPAW Fraser

10 SEN. FRASER Here.

11 SECRETARY SPAW Gallegos

12 SEN. GALLEGOS Indicated presence

13 SECRETARY SPAW Harris

14 SEN. HARRIS Indicated presence

15 SECRETARY SPAW Hegar

16 SEN. HEGAR Indicated presence

17 SECRETARY SPAW Hinojosa

18 SEN. HINOJOSA Indicated presence

19 SECRETARY SPAW Huffman

20 SEN. HUFFMAN Indicated presence

21 SECRETARY SPAW Jackson

22 SEN. JACKSON Indicated presence

23 SECRETARY SPAW Lucio

24 SEN. LUCIO Indicated presence

25 SECRETARY SPAW Nelson


TX_00003870JA_003293


4

1 SEN. NELSON Indicated presence

2 SECRETARY SPAW Nichols

3 SEN. NICHOLS Indicated presence

4 SECRETARY SPAW Ogden

5 SEN. OGDEN Indicated presence

6 SECRETARY SPAW Patrick

7 SEN. PATRICK Indicated presence

8 SECRETARY SPAW Seliger

9 SEN. SELIGER Here.

10 SECRETARY SPAW Shapiro

11 SEN. SHAPIRO Indicated presence

12 SECRETARY SPAW Shapleigh

13 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Indicated presence

14 SECRETARY SPAW Uresti

15 SEN. URESTI Indicated presence

16 SECRETARY SPAW Van de Putte

17 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Indicated presence

18 SECRETARY SPAW Watson

19 SEN. WATSON Indicated presence

20 SECRETARY SPAW Wentworth

21 SEN. WENTWORTH Here.

22 SECRETARY SPAW West

23 SEN. WEST Indicated presence

24 SECRETARY SPAW Whitmire

25 SEN. WHITMIRE Indicated presence


TX_00003871JA_003294


1 SECRETARY SPAW Williams

2 SEN. WILLIAMS Indicated presence

3 SECRETARY SPAW Zaffirini

4 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Indicated presence

5 SEN. DUNCAN The Chair present.

6 SECRETARY SPAW Mr. President

7 PRESIDENT DEWHURST Indicated

8 presence

9 SEN. DUNCAN A quorum is present.

10 OPENING INSTRUCTIONS BY SEN. DUNCAN

11 SEN. DUNCAN Members before we get

12 started I wanted to kind of briefly discuss how we

13 will proceed here. And I think you all know the

14 resolution gives the Chair the power to allow time

15 limits. Many of you have wanted to bring and begin

16 with invited testimony and those would be persons

17 with expertise that can help the body understand the

18 issues involved in the legislation that we are about

19 to consider and that will be honored. Each side has

20 submitted a list of witnesses and I assume the order

21 of those witnesses is available to us at this time.

22 After the author of the bill is

23 recognized to lay out the bill then I will recognize

24 the proponents first witness their expert in support

25 of their bill. And then after that we will go in


TX_00003872JA_003295


6

1 alternating order so that then those who are in

2 opposition to the bill if they want to bring witness

3 expert or invited witness in then we would go in that

4 order.

5 So in other words well have one for

6 and one against one for and one against as we go

7 through. There are several of those witnesses. I

8 believe there are eight witnesses that have been

9 identified by those in opposition to the bill and

10 there are about seven that have been identified for

11 those in favor of the bill. So we will move that on.

12 The Chair will impose on each one of

13 those witnesses a 10-minute time limit. However Seri.

14 Van de Putte indicates that they have one witness that

15 may take longer than that. And if youll approach the

16 bench before or the dais before that person comes on

17 Sen. Van de Putte we will adjust that time limit to

18 accommodate the concerns that you raised.

19 Members Im going to refrain from

20 recognizing any member to interrupt a witness during

21 their initial time limit. In other words we will

22 allow the witnesses to complete their testimony and

23 then you can ask questions after that. You will be

24 recognized in order of your pressing your call button

25 on your desk.


TX_00003873JA_003296


1 And I will remind each and every one of

2 you we have a number of guests who are here today or

3 members of the public who wish to testify as well and

4 they have been here since about 8 oclock in the

5 morning and they would like to testify on this bill.

6 And so what we are trying to do is accommodate their

7 interest as well.

8 I know that you all have important

9 questions to ask of the invited witnesses but I would

10 ask you to keep in mind that we have members of the

11 public who have also traveled here from other cities

12 and other areas of the state that would like to have

13 their voices heard today as well. So if we could

14 respect that as well.

15 Once we conclude with the invited

16 testimony then we will start the process for public

17 testimony. The Chair intends to impose athree-18minute time limit on public testimony. As with

19 invited witnesses the Chair will not entertain any

20 questions of the witness until they have completed

21 their three-minute testimony or concluded prior to the

22 three minutes.

23 As the persons have enrolled to testify

24 the resolution requires -- and I think our rules have

25 always required -- that before a witness can testify


TX 00003874JA_003297


8

1 they sign an affirmation that is more or less an oath

2 or is an oath before they testify. Persons who have

3 been filling out their cards have been doing that all

4 day long and we have a procedure in there for them to

5 sign up to testify.

6 Its my understanding that the Secretary

7 of the Senate has done a nice job of preparing

8 instructions for them on how the process will work.

9 And they have been given written instructions on how

10 they will be called. It is the Chairs intention to

11 call the witnesses in the order in which they arrived

12 and registered to be witnesses today. Each one of

13 those cards was given a number and those witnesses

14 will be called in order.

15 And there is always a problem with

16 witnesses who are not available at the time theyre

17 called. We will have witnesses hopefully in the

18 gallery. The gallery is not full. So if you know

19 youre going to testify and your number is fairly

20 close you should be in the gallery. We also have an

21 overflow room in the auditorium. Everybody has been

22 instructed as to that. Its the Chairs intention to

23 call witnesses in advance of their being on the floor

24 and they are to report in the back hallway. And then

25 there is a process for security and a process for


TX_00003875JA_003298


9

1 admitting them to the floor.

2 We will have them come through here and

3 give us testimony in an orderly fashion. And if

4 someone does not arrive at the time their name is

5 called or within 30 minutes of their name -- let me

6 repeat that and be clear. If a witness does not

7 arrive within 30 minutes of the time their name will

8 be called then they will lose their opportunity to

9 testify. So were going to try to be very flexible in

10 trying to allow people time to get here. But we need

11 to be able to stay on schedule and move -- and respect

12 every other witness right to be heard.

13 Time limits are -- I think all of our

14 committees observe time limits. At least the ones

15 that I serve on do. And time limits are not designed

16 to limit the testimony that witnesses have to say

17 its designed to allow everyone who has presented to

18 testify if possible. And so what Im concerned

19 about in putting a time limit in is that people

20 understand that your time limit is based on the fact

21 that there are many people that want to testify and

22 so we need to allow them to have their opportunity as

23 well.

24 Finally we had a little discussion

25 about this in the discussion on the resolution when we


TX_00003876JA_003299


10

1 were in session. The rules of decorum of the Senate

2 will be enforced. And that means for those in the

3 gallery that we -- the rules of the Texas Senate do

4 not permit clapping or applause when were in a

5 deliberative session like this do not permit

6 clapping applause or demonstrations. There may be

7 times when you wish to be excited about something you

8 agree with or disagree with but it is inappropriate

9 in the Senate chamber to express that. There will be

10 no placards or billboards or things dropped over the

11 rail. Any of that will subject the person doing it to

12 being expelled from the Senate gallery.

13 And Im sure it wont come do this but

14 if it comes to this it comes to a point in time to

15 where after warning the gallery generally is not

16 observing the rules of the Senate with regard to

17 decorum well then the Chair would entertain a

18 motion at that time or may on sua sponte request

19 that the gallery be cleared. The only reason I say

20 that is is that the decorum and the ability to hear

21 witnesses and to deliberate in a professional way on

22 this is very important. And those rules were designed

23 to allow us to do that and they will be enforced.

24 So those in the gallery and those

25 watching on TV please understand that. I would hate


TX_00003877JA_003300


1 to have to make a ruling or to have anyone removed

2 from the gallery but we will need to do that if it

3 gets out of hand.

4 I need to clarify that the witnesses

5 should report to the front of the chambers. And I

6 always am confused about east west south north or

7 front or back. But the front of the Senate chambers

8 that would be the west doors next to the witness

9 registration desk and that would be the door thats

10 closest to the rotunda in our Texas Senate.

11 Members I want to introduce to you

12 today our court reporter Aloma J. Kennedy of Kennedy

13 Reporting Service. She is an independent certified

14 shorthand court reporter and she will. be taking down

15 the testimony today. So it will be necessary for

16 either me or you to identify yourself in the record

17 whenever you speak or rise to testify or rise to ask a

18 question.

19 Ill probably just recognize you by

20 name and the court reporter will get that. Because

21 the court reporter is a human being we will need to

22 take a rest every now and then for her to rest her

23 fingers and arms because she has a hard job.

24 Normally with a court reporter every hour and a half

25 to two hours and Ill let her kind of give me a


TX_00003878JA_003301


2

1 signal whenever she is ready to take a five-minute

2 break.

3 Members thats more or less the--4those are the issues and those are kind of the way

5 were going to run things. So having explained that

6 the Chair lays out Senate Bill 362 and recognizes

7 Sen. Fraser to explain the bill.

8 OBJECTION TO FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF SB 362

9 SEN. WEST Mr. Chairman

10 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. West for what

11 purpose

12 SEN. WEST Objection on further

13 consideration -- any consideration of Senate Bill 362

14 in that it violates Rule 11.18 and also would raise

15 Rule 11.10. Rule 11.18 is No bill may be reported

16 to the Senate before it has been the subject of an

17 open public hearing before a committee or

18 subcommittee.

19 My specific objection deals with the

20 notice. Notice of the hearing on the bill must be

21 posted in a public place at lease 24 hours before the

22 hearing is to begin. The posting of notice on this

23 particular bill was at 622 p.m. on March the 9th

24 therefore any consideration before that would be in

25 violation of that rule.


TX_00003879JA_003302


13

1 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. West bring your

2 point of order forward.


4 1258 p.m.


6 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. West for what

7 purpose

8 SEN. WEST Mr. Chairman for further

9 clarification on my point of order for further

10 consideration of this bill at this time I would raise

11 Rule 13.04. 13.04 governs the procedure in a

12 committee of the whole The rules of the Senate as

13 far as applicable shall be observed in Committee of

14 the Whole Senate.

15 And then I would raise our Rule No.

16 11.18 as relates to the posting of the bill being at

17 least 24 hours before the hearing is to begin. And

18 specifically the notice of the hearing must be posted

19 in a public place.

20 And then also I would raise Rule 11.1

21 in terms of the No committee or subcommittee except

22 a conference committee shall meet at least without 24

23 hours public notice.


25 114 p.m.


TX_00003880JA_003303


1 SEN. DUNCAN Members a point of order

2 has been raised. Rules 11.10 and 11.18 do not control

3 meetings of the Committee of the Whole and are

4 inapplicable. 13.01 reflects the Senates manifest

5 right to resolve itself into committee of the whole at

6 any time after the morning call. The Senate has

7 resolved into the Committee of the Whole by Senate

8 resolution. The Chair may neither call a meeting of

9 the Committee of the Whole or schedule a bill for

10 hearing.

11 Article XI standing and special

12 committees operate without direct day-to-day

13 supervision of the Senate. Standing and special

14 committees have the ability to meet subject to the

15 call of the chair so long as the Senate is not

16 meeting.

17 Committee of the Whole presents the

18 obverse situation to standing and special committees.

19 The tag rule is intended to give each member 48-hour

20 written notice of the time and place of a public

21 hearing of standing and special committees. The rules

22 directly conflict with Rule 13.01 and the Senates

23 right to resolve into the committee of the Whole at a

24 moments notice if the Senate so desires. Every

25 member of the Senate is a member of the Committee of


TX_00003881JA_003304


1 the Whole having equal rights of notice and

2 participation.

3 Your point of order is respectfully

4 overruled.


6 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. West for what--7SEN. WEST Parliamentary inquiry. So

8 that I can understand this under Rule 13.04 it says

9 that The rules of the Senate as far as applicable

10 shall be observed in the Committee of the Whole

11 So by your very ruling youre saying that the posting

12 notice to the public is a rule that the Committee of

13 the Whole does not have to abide by

14 SEN. DUNCAN Senator that would

15 conflict with the ability in the rules of the Senate

16 to resolve into a committee of the whole at any time

17 it desires. So in its conflict it would be

18 inapplicable.

19 SEN. WEST So public notice does not

20 apply to the Committee of the Whole even though we

21 are taking substantive testimony on this issue

22 SEN. DUNCAN Public notice laid out by

23 the rules that you have cited does not.

24 SEN. WEST Okay. So for future

25 generations of legislators specifically the Senate


TX_00003882JA_003305


1 posting notice does not apply to the Committee of the

2 Whole Thats essentially the ruling Let me ask

3 this question Once

4 SEN. DUNCAN Go ahead Senator.

5 SEN. WEST You have cited Rule 13.01

6 that talks about resolving. Is resolving synonymous

7 with hearing a bill

8 SEN. DUNCAN Senator the Senate can

9 resolve for whatever purpose it desires.

10 SEN. WEST Right. And the question is

11 you cited in your ruling that 13.01 provides the basis

12 for your ruling. And as I understand it resolving is

13 coming into the Committee of the Whole hearing a bill

14 thats separate from resolving. Its a separate act

15 than just resolving.

16 SEN. DUNCAN Well Senator we can

17 resolve for any purpose and the purpose was to hear

18 the bill. Moreover -- and I will remind you that a

19 courtesy posting on the date time and location of the

20 hearing was performed over a week ago which is well

21 in advance of any public notice that would be required

22 of a standing committee. And so the only change that

23 you have referred to was a courtesy posting that was

24 done yesterday with regard to the change of time that

25 occurred whenever there was a motion to adjourn until


TX_00003883JA_003306


1 1000 instead of 900 and so were talking about an

2 hours difference here. So again I think that we

3 have resolved by resolution of the Senate to deal- with

4 this. The Senate certainly was in session pursuant to

5 the constitution and the rules of the Senate.

6 SEN. WEST Yes sir Mr. Chairman. But

7 the broader question though is one of resolving and

8 hearing the bills and whether or not public notice of

9 bills that are to be considered by the Committee of

10 the Whole are required by the Senate rules.

11 I mean essentially youre saying that

12 the Committee of the Whole by your ruling that we

13 dont have to provide the public notice there is

14 no -- we dont have to deal with transparency as

15 relates to considering bills in this committee we can

16 just do it at our own whim and thats inconsistent

17 with everything weve been doing in this body in terms

18 of transparency. If Im wrong about it -- I just want

19 to make sure the record is clear.

20 And historically Mr. Chairman when we

21 have had bills in the Committee of the Whole we have

22 provided notice to the public so that the public could

23 be here like they are now. And what Im hearing today

24 is is that that notice provision is not applicable

25 anymore as a result of the ruling of the Chair. I


TX_00003884JA_003307


18

1 mean correct me if Im wrong.

2 SEN. DUNCAN Senator we are resolved

3 into a Committee of the Whole by the resolution we

4 adopted which laid out the bill that was to be

5 considered. As a result we thought we were following

6 the rules by resolving into a Committee of the Whole

7 which would apply at any time we so desire therefore

8 the rules that youre citing to would conflict with

9 the ability of the Senate to freely resolve into a

10 Committee of the Whole to more informally discuss and

11 debate witnesses -- or the issues including the

12 invitation of witnesses to come in and testify as we

13 have done here.

14 SEN. WEST Does it also conflict with

15 Rule 13.04

16 SEN. DUNCAN Senator 1.3.04 provides

17 the -- it provides for the conflicts that may occur

18 with the concept of committee of the whole and other

19 rules by saying that the rules of the Senate apply

20 if applicable. And if they conflict -- where they

21 conflict those rules wouldnt apply.

22 SEN. WEST And this is my last

23 question. So youre saying that the notice provision

24 the notice to the public concerning legislation at the

25 Committee of the Whole will take up conflicts with


TX_00003885JA_003308


1 9

1 the Committee of the Wholes right to resolve

2 SEN. DUNCAN Senator the way the

3 Committee of the Whole operates and the design of that

4 from time immemorial would -- giving the Senate the

5 ability to resolve into itself as a Committee of the

6 Whole to informally debate an issue at any time it

7 desires would conflict with those posting rules.

8 SEN. WEST Thank you Mr. Chairman.

9 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Mr. Chairman

10 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Shapleigh for what

11 purpose

12 SEN. SHAPLEIGH During the Senate

13 portion of this before we got into committee we had

14 a discussion there about some housekeeping matters

15 that I think we need to make very clear for this

16 record. This portion is being kept for the official

17 record by a stenographer hired by the Senate. Is that

18 correct

19 SEN. DUNCAN Thats correct.

20 SEN. SHAPLEIGH And for the purposes of

21 the official record should it be transmitted to any

22 third party we have agreed that the stenographers

23 record may be utilized

24 SEN. DUNCAN Im not sure I understand

25 your question. Would you repeat it


TX_00003886JA_003309


20

1 SEN. SHAPLEIGH If we have to establish

2 the official proceedings of whats happened here today

3 for for example the Department of Justice in

4 Washington D.C. the record that is being made by the

5 stenographer whose equipment is there and who sits in

6 Patsy Spaws office can be used to establishthat-7record

8 SEN. DUNCAN Senator its my

9 understanding that this will be a record that can be

10 used to establish the record of the testimony that is

11 given to the Senate and the debate.

12 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Now for the purposes

13 of making sure that we have the record to send I

14 would like to talk a little bit about the procedure

15 for the Secretary of the Senate to take documents and

16 keep them to append to the record. Weve had

17 discussions already about several documents the

18 letters to and from Sen. Van de Putte and yourself

19 the letter to AG Abbott the notice of the posting

20 that Sen. West was talking about and this green Texas

21 Senate agenda. Am I to understand that if we want

22 these made a part of the record we can deposit them

23 with the Secretary of the Senate

24 SEN. DUNCAN I would suggest that you

25 do that but I would also suggest that you identify

11


TX_00003887JA_003310


2

1 and just move to put them into the record so that you

2 have a clear marker of where they are and at what time

3 they came in so that whoever is reading the record

4 will have an opportunity to relate the documents to

5 the testimony.

6 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Well at this time I

7 would like to with your permission mark and deliver

8 to her Exhibits 1A and B Sen. Van de Puttes letter

9 to you and your response to her as Exhibit 2 her

10 letter to AG Abbott as Exhibit 3 the notice of the

11 posting time that Sen. West has talked about as

12 Exhibit 4 the Senate agenda that was distributed

13 today and Exhibit 5 the signed tag that brought this

14 point of order to the Chair.

15 SEN. DUNCAN Your evidence is received.

16 Exhibit Nos. 1 through 5 marked and

17 admitted

18 SEN. DUNCAN And it may be that what we

19 would do is just keep a numerical order of those

20 exhibits when they come in. But I put the challenge

21 on you to make sure that you get them marked and

22 submitted to the Secretary so they get into the record

23 appropriately.

24 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Thank you.

25 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Gallegos for what


TX_00003888JA_003311


22

1 purpose

2 SEN. GALLEGOS Parliamentary inquiry.

3 Mr. Chairman in lieu -- on the ruling on

4 Sen. Wests -- what he asked for I want to appeal the

5 ruling of the Chair on this issue.

6 SEN. WILLIAMS Mr. President

7 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Williams of Harris--8or Montgomery rather.

9 SEN. WILLIAMS I would move to table

10 the motion that Sen. Gallegos just made.

11 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Williams

12 Sen. Gallegos.

13 Off-the-record discussion at the bench

14 SEN. WILLIAMS Mr. Chairman -- or

15 Mr. President -- or Mr. Chairman I guess I should

16 say.

17 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Williams.

18 SEN. WILLIAMS Mr. Chairman I

19 respectfully will withdraw my motion to table. As I

20 understand its not appropriate to have a motion to

21 table an appeal to the ruling of the chair in

22 committee. However I also believe that the rules

23 provide that that motion would be in order were we on

24 the floor. So its my mistake. I withdraw my motion.

25 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Williams withdraws


TX_00003889JA_003312


1 his motion to table. Sen. Gallegos sends up an appeal

2 to the ruling of the Chair.

3 Sen. West for what purpose

4 SEN. WEST Out of all due respect

5 Mr. Chairman Im trying to figure out what rules

6 apply and what rules dont. And if we could just get

7 some idea of what Senate rules are going to apply and

8 then you know all. of us will know exactly what the

9 rules are.

10 So I just need to know what rules apply.

11 I thought the Senate rules applied. But again

12 theres some wiggle room in there and I just want to

13 know how to proceed. As an example the Attorney

14 General -- well Ill come back to that. But again 1

15 just need to know what rules apply as it relates to--16you know we can do anything we want to do we can

17 resolve and pretty much do what we want to do. Im

18 trying to figure out why his motion wouldnt be

19 honored.

20 SEN. DUNCAN Senator currently we are

21 in the motion of -- Sen. Gallegos has a motion to

22 appeal before the body. You have a parliamentary

23 inquiry. Why dont we handle that as those issues

24 come up. Lets go ahead and deal with the appeal of

25 the ruling of the Chair that has been raised by


TX_00003890JA_003313


2

1 Sen. Gallegos.

2 Sen. Gallegos youre recognized to

3 speak on that.

4 Brief pause

5 SEN. WENTWORTH Sen. Gallegos youre

6 recognized to argue in favor of your motion.

7 SEN. GALLEGOS Mr. Chairman the reason

8 for my appeal is that evidently the rules are unclear

9 on what rules that were going by on major

10 legislation I think and I believe that the Senate

11 rule should be applicable to major legislation such

12 as the bill that is trying to be laid out before us

13 that any major piece of legislation under the Senate

14 rules the ones that Sen. Royce West said. And Ive

15 got another tag on similar rules that I believe that

16 the Senate rules are applicable to major legislation

17 thats heard on this floor whether it be Committee of

18 the Whole or regular Senate committee hearings.

19 And that is why you know until we find

20 out what rules that were working on I believe that

21 the rules of the Senate should be applicable to this

22 bill here and thats why Im appealing the ruling of.

23 the Chair.

24 SEN. WENTWORTH Okay. Members a

25 motion -- Im sorry. The Chair recognizes Sen.


TX 00003891JA_003314


2

1 Williams.

2 SEN. WILLIAMS Mr. Chairman I would

3 like to speak on Sen. Gallegos motion thats before

4 us.

5 SEN. WENTWORTH Youre recognized.

6 SEN. WILLIAMS Thank you.

7 Respectfully Sen. Gallegos I would

8 encourage you to read the rules that we have on the

9 Committee of the Whole. And before I made this rule

10 change at the beginning of the session I very

11 carefully looked at the rules of the Committee of the

12 Whole. And we also considered how that has worked

13 because I wasnt familiar with it quite frankly.

14 And its clear to me after reading th .

15 and other documents that relate to parliamentary law

16 that a ruling other than what the Chair has made would

17 put the body in conflict with itself. The purpose of

18 the Committee of the Whole is to allow the body to

19 dissolve into that committee and consider important

20 matters before the entire body.

21 And to require that the posting rule

22 apply before we could do that would be to restrict the

23 bodys inherent ability to dissolve into the Committee

24 of the Whole. And so the standing committee rules as

25 I understand it dont apply universally to this


TX_00003892JA_003315


26

1 proceeding that were in.

2 And I think it would be a grave mistake

3 for this body to try to impose upon ourselves a

4 posting rule so that if theres some important matter

5 that we need to consider in an informal basis like a

6 committee hearing is not as we hear it on the floor

7 it would unnecessarily restrict our ability to do so.

8 And there are many examples in our

9 history as a Senate where we have resolved into the

10 body of the whole and considered bills and legislation

11 without posting those things. So respectfully I just

12 wanted to point that out to the body Mr. Chairman.

13 SEN. WEST Will Sen. Williams yield

14 SEN. WILLIAMS I yield.

15 SEN. WENTWORTH Sen. West for what

16 purpose

17 SEN. WEST Question of Sen. Williams.

18 SEN. WENTWORTH Do you yield to Sen.

19 West


21 SEN. WENTWORTH He yields.

22 SEN. WEST Sen. Williams I recognize

23 that oftentimes we resolve and we dont post to take

24 up -- we resolve into the Committee of the Whole to

25 take up issues. But in this instance we decided to


TX_00003893JA_003316


27

1 post follow the Senate rules and post. And then we

2 decided to repost. And now were hearing that posting

3 is not applicable to the Committee of the Whole. And

4 thats why Im taking so much time on this given the

5 issues of transparency that the public demands and 1

6 know that you support.

7 The issue in my mind is is that once we

8 set up and make this ruling were now telling the

9 public were now telling the State of Texas that this

10 committee can take up legislation without giving the

11 public notice. Thats what were saying.

12 SEN. WILLIAMS Well Sen. West

13 respectfully I think you turn the intent of the

14 posting rule on its head with your logic. And if the

15 purpose of the posting rule is so that the public can

16 have adequate notice there is no argument that can be

17 made. This has been widely disseminated over the

18 Internet in the popular media.

19 And in fact the posting here was

20 merely a courtesy. The purpose of the posting rule is

21 not primarily to notify the public. The primary

22 purpose of the posting rule is to make sure that the

23 other members of the body know whats going on when

24 you have a standing committee that comes together and

25 its subject to the call of the chair.


TX_00003894JA_003317


281

1 It is an important secondary thing that

2 we also give notice to the public. But I dont think.

3 you can reasonably argue that the public wasnt aware

4 of what proceedings were going to be taking place. We

5 have over 100 witnesses that have testified. And

6 surely you dont think because it wasnt posted in

7 the back hall that somebody didnt show up for this

8 meeting.

9 SEN. WEST Sen. Williams I understand

10 your logic. And frankly Im kind of baffled by i.t.

11 The reality is is that the decision that yall are

12 going to make today is that the posting notice does

13 not apply to the Committee of the Whole. Thats this

14 argument. And the reality is is that when you decide

15 to post there is a certain amount of things that we

16 have to do according to our rules. There are certain

17 rights and privileges and all of that that are tied to

18 that posting. When you repost it resets the clock

19 it resets the clock.

20 Here is the way I look at it The

21 reality is this -- and you and I had this debate you

22 and I had this debate when we were going through the

23 rules change -- you guys -- the majority of the body

24 decided to change the rules. Okay. And you have the

25 votes you have the gavel you change the rules. And


TX_00003895JA_003318


29

1 thats fine. I can deal with that. But those are the

2 rules.

3 Im just saying lets make certain

4 that given the rules that we now have that all of us

5 can apply those rules to this situation. And when we

6 sit up and say that the Senate of the whole -- the

7 Senate can resolve itself into the whole committee and

8 these rules posting is not applicable I think we

9 need to think about it.

10 I understand that were dealing with

11 issues you know voting issues that was always

12 something that was very divisive in this body. But

13 what Im saying to you as my desk mate and as a

14 colleague were got to really think about the

15 decision that were making today saying that when we

16 take up these types of issues that posting should not

17 be applicable.

18 SEN. WILLIAMS Sen. West I appreciate

19 the courtesy that youve shown me in explaining your

20 side of this. And what I would politely try to point

21 out to you is that I dont believe that we are today

22 deciding that the posting rule doesnt apply to the

23 Committee of the Whole. That has been decided a long

24 time ago.

25 SEN. WEST When was it decided


TX_00003896JA_003319


30

1 SEN. WILLIAMS That is a part of the

2 body of parliamentary law that exists already. And it

3 is in the spirit of whats in the rules that relate to

4 the Committee of the Whole and the purpose. So yes

5 were reaffirming that that doesnt apply today. And

6 the mere act of giving public notice does not then

7 subject you to a rule that didnt apply before. And I

8 think thats the ruling that the Chair has made and

9 think correctly so.

10 Thank you Sen. West.

11 SEN. WEST Look forward to the vote.

12 SEN. WENTWORTH The Chair recognizes

13 Sen. Lucio of Cameron County.

14 SEN. LUCIO Will Sen. Williams please

15 yield for a question

16 SEN. WENTWORTH Sen. Williams you

17 yield


19 SEN. WENTWORTH Sen. Williams yields.

20 SEN. LUCIO Thank you Sen. Williams.

21 I think all of us will agree that rules

22 are important to this process and if were not to

23 follow them then as a point of clarification maybe

24 you could tell me what other rules do not apply to

25 this extraordinary piece of legislation


TX_00003897JA_003320


3

1 SEN. WILLIAMS Well Sen. Lucio it

2 wouldnt be appropriate for me -- Im not presiding

3 over this -- it wouldnt be appropriate for me to

4 presume the role of the chair of this Committee of the

5 Whole. I think its up to his discretion on that.

6 And I think that my -- Ill leave it to -- rather than

7 say to his discretion I think Ill leave that to

8 the Chair to make those rulings as the issues come

9 forward.

10 My response was really centered at--11since the issues that Sen. Gallegos raised when he

12 explained his appeal to the ruling of the Chair. And

13 I would reiterate again that its not my belief that

14 all of the standing committee rules apply to the

15 Committee of the Whole that we should not restrict

16 ourselves on the ability to resolve into the body of

17 the whole. It is designed for the Senate to be able

18 to rapidly take up an issue with everyone involved.

19 It is a unique situation much different than a

20 standing committee is.

21 And so there is a long history as I

22 said of this body resolving into the Committee of the

23 Whole to consider matters resolutions and legislation

24 where no posting was done whatsoever. And to say that.

25 the mere act of giving public notice then subjects you


TX_00003898JA_003321


32

1 to that rule is to turn the Senate rules on their

2 head in my opinion.

3 SEN. LUCIO Well but you know they

4 shouldnt have been posted then if that would have

5 been the case in my opinion as well. Youre a very

6 good student of the rules and thats why I asked this

7 question. I think we need to revisit the rules and

8 we need to rewrite the rules so it can be very clear

9 and not have to waste the publics time next time we

10 have a proceeding as such.

11 SEN. WILLIAMS Thank you Sen. Lucio.

12 SEN. WENTWORTH Sen. Van de Putte.

13 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Thank you

14 Mr. President. I would like to speak -- appeal -- and

15 not maybe particularly at Seri. Williams but he brings

16 up some very interesting comments. According to our

17 Senate rules on 13.04 The rules of the Senate as

18 far as applicable shall be observed in the Committee

19 of the Whole Senate.

20 So as far as applicable. And although

21 this question on this appeal is about posting we

22 dont post when we go into Committee of the Whole.

23 And probably as Sen. Williams has said because we

24 dont know when were going into the Committee of the

25 Whole. We dont know when were going to go back into


TX_00003899JA_003322


33

1 the Committee of the Whole and resolve to talkabout-2the Easter vacation schedule and whether we should be

3 off on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. And although

4 that is important it is about the logistics and the

5 work schedule.

6 This is very different. When the rules

7 of the Senate were changed on the first week of the

8 session it was done so to circumvent our normal

9 two-thirds rule on one particular issue voter ID.

10 And because there is a bill -- this is a legislative

11 bill -- it is not the Senate resolving to talk about a

12 holiday schedule it is not the Senate that is

13 resolving to talk about should we go and attend

14 someone on the Senate their parents funeral and the

15 logistics for that it is not the Senate resolving to

16 plan the retirement party for our former secretary of

17 the Senate Betty King.

18 Those are the things that we do because

19 it is the business of the Senate. This is the

20 business of the people. And we are going to add

21 another barrier to the basic right to vote and yet

22 by the ruling we are going to say the people have no

23 business knowing that were going to take up a

24 legislative bill.

25 And so maybe for the purposes of this


TX_00003900JA_003323


34

1 appeal -- this is special. You made it special. You

2 said this was more important than anything else. And

3 so we are taking up -- and maybe the posting is not--4Sen. Williams I vehemently disagree with you. The

5 posting is not for our convenience. Were here we

6 have staff. We know when were going to meet. It is

7 for the public. It is because we are going to add

8 barriers to their basic right to vote but they ought

9 to have the posting if the Senate is going resolve

10 into the Committee of the Whole to change the way and

11 the possess that they vote. It is their business.

12 And so this is very different from the

13 Committee of the Whole resolving to discuss a work

14 schedule or to plan a party or to make funeral

15 arrangements. This is the peoples business. And I

16 would ask you to think on this appeal. What we are

17 saying is that when there is legislation before the

18 Committee of the Whole that we dont have to give

19 notice.

20 Although notice was given -- and it is

21 very much appreciative -- to have this ruling set in

22 our Senate rules for the senators that may not even be

23 born yet is a terrible precedent. It shuts the

24 public out. So because of the special order and

25 because were meeting in the Committee of the Whole


TX_00003901JA_003324


35

1 for one bill that was deemed so important that it

2 couldnt go by regular Senate rules didnt go to the

3 Committee of Jurisdiction we changed that.

4 But we ought to at least afford the

5 public the opportunity to know in future generations

6 when theyre about to be asked to change how they

7 vote and what processes are used. And so when I ask

8 you to think about the appeal dont think about us

9 think about all the wonderful Texans here who always

10 exercise their right to vote.


12 Sen. Williams.

13 SEN. WILLIAMS Thank you.

14 Well Sen. Van de Putte respectfully I

15 would say theyre here. People from both sides of the

16 issue are here. And I think the effect of Sen.

17 Gallegoss appeal would be to send them home so that

18 they couldnt participate in this process today.

19 SEN. WENTWORTH Members Sen. Gallegos

20 has appealed the ruling of the Chair. The Secretary

21 will. call the roll. A vote of Aye--22SEN. GALLEGOS Mr. Chairman

23 SEN. WENTWORTH Sen. Gallegos.

24 SEN. GALLEGOS May I -- I want to reply

25 to Sen. Williams if I may.


TX_00003902JA_003325


36


2 Sen. Gallegos.

3 SEN. GALLEGOS Sen. Williams you know

4 I respect your remarks. And let me just say what my

5 colleagues have already told you in their remarks.

6 You said its a unique situation. It is. And you

7 said that there was Internet postings the media that

8 has posted so you know everybody is supposed to

9 know.

10 Well I beg to differ with you. This is

11 an issue that is unique because you made it unique

12 when we passed that resolution that completely did

13 away with the two-thirds rule. So when you said its

14 a unique situation it is because only -- and only on

15 this issue do we do away with the two-thirds rule that

16 has always been a tradition of the Texas Senate.

17 And let me remind you Senator that we

18 got elected here everybody on this floor to notify

19 and at least let our constituents know whats going on

20 here. And I will be the last one to say to them that

21 Im going to depend on Internet postings and the media

22 to post you know this unique bill that you have made

23 unique by the resolutions that we passed earlier this

24 session and doing away with the two-thirds rule on

25 this issue.


TX_00003903JA_003326


1 So I would really tell you

2 Sen. Williams that the only really way to tell the

3 people that elected you and me about this unique

4 situation that we have on this floor today is by

5 public posting something that we were elected to do

6 to tell them -- not the Internet not the media or

7 anybody else or the grapevine or whatever else you

8 want to call it.

9 Its a public posting thats what it

10 is. And I will refer in my appeal to the rules that

11 Sen. Van de Putte did 13.04. And it says The rules

12 of the Senate as far as applicable shall be observed

13 in Committee of the Whole Senate. And also on Rule

14 20.02 it says The Presidents ruling is subject to

15 appeal to the entire Senate.

16 And thats what Im doing right now

17 Mr. Chairman and Sen. Williams. With all due respect

18 I do appeal the ruling of the Chair.

19 SEN. WENTWORTH All right. Members

20 Seri. Gallegos has appealed the ruling of the Chair. A

21 vote of aye will sustain the Chair a vote of nay22 will overturn the Chair.

23 The Secretary will call the roll.

24

25


TX_00003904JA_003327


R

1 ROLL CALL NO. 2

2 SECRETARY SPAW Averitt

3 SEN. AVERITT I confirm.

4 SECRETARY SPAW Carona

5 SEN. CARONA Indicated aye vote

6 SECRETARY SPAW Davis

7 SEN. DAVIS Nay.

8 SECRETARY SPAW Deuell

9 SEN. DEUELL Indicated aye vote

10 SECRETARY SPAW Duncan

11 SEN. DUNCAN Present not voting

12 SECRETARY SPAW Ellis

13 SEN. ELLIS Indicated nay vote

14 SECRETARY SPAW Eltife

15 SEN. ELTIFE Indicated aye vote

16 SECRETARY SPAW Estes

17 SEN. ESTES Indicated aye vote

1.8 SECRETARY SPAW Fraser

19 SEN. FRASER Aye.

20 SECRETARY SPAW Gallegos

21 SEN. GALLEGOS Indicated nay vote

22 SECRETARY SPAW Harris

23 SEN. HARRIS Indicated aye vote

24 SECRETARY SPAW Hegar

25 SEN. HEGAR Indicated aye vote


TX_00003905JA_003328


1 SECRETARY SPAW Hinojosa

2 SEN. HINOJOSA Indicated nay vote

3 SECRETARY SPAW Huffman

4 SEN. HUFFMAN Indicated aye vote

5 SECRETARY SPAW Jackson

6 SEN. JACKSON Indicated aye vote

7 SECRETARY SPAW Lucie

8 SEN. LUCIO Indicated nay vote

9 SECRETARY SPAW Nelson

10 SEN. NELSON Indicated aye vote

11 SECRETARY SPAW Nichols

12 SEN. NICHOLS Indicated aye vote

13 SECRETARY SPAW Ogden

14 SEN. OGDEN Indicated aye vote

15 SECRETARY SPAW Patrick

16 SEN. PATRICK Indicated aye vote

17 SECRETARY SPAW Seliger

18 SEN. SELIGER Indicated aye vote

19 SECRETARY SPAW Shapiro

20 SEN. SHAPIRO Indicated aye vote

21 SECRETARY SPAW Shapleigh

22 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Indicated nay vote

23 SECRETARY SPAW Uresti

24 SEN. URESTI Indicated nay vote

25 SECRETARY SPAW Van de Putte


TX_00003906JA_003329


I0

1 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Indicated nay

2 vote

3 SECRETARY SPAW Watson

4 SEN. WATSON Indicated nay vote

5 SECRETARY SPAW Wentworth

6 SEN. WENTWORTH Indicated aye vote

7 SECRETARY SPAW West

8 SEN. WEST Indicated nay vote

9 SECRETARY SPAW Whitmire

10 SEN. WHITMIRE No.

11 SECRETARY SPAW Williams

12 SEN. WILLIAMS Indicated aye vote

13 SECRETARY SPAW Zaffirini

14 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Indicated nay vote

15 SECRETARY SPAW Mr. President

16 PRESIDENT DEWHURST Indicated aye17 vote

18 SEN. WENTWORTH There being 19 ayes 12

19 nays and one present not voting the ruling of the

20 Chair is sustained.

21 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Mr. Chair

22 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Shapleigh

23 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Welcome back.

24 SEN. DUNCAN Thank you.

25 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Can we make that vote


TX_00003907JA_003330


1 since we dont have electronically recorded votes an

2 Exhibit 6

3 SEN. DUNCAN Yes Senator. I think all

4 votes should be made part of the record and they are

5 part of the record.

6 Sen. Fraser. The Chair recognizes

7 Sen. Fraser to lay out Senate Bill 362.

8 SEN. GALLEGOS Mr. President

9 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Gallegos for what

10 purpose

11 SEN. GALLEGOS Mr. Chairman I want to

12 tag this Senate Bill on Ruling 11.19 on 48-hour notice

13 to all Senate members and I believe thats 11.19.

14 SEN. DUNCAN Senator bring your point

15 of order forward.

16 SEN. GALLEGOS My tag is already up

17 there.

18 Brief pause

19 SEN. GALLEGOS Mr. President I would

20 move to tag the bill and request a 48-hour notice to

21 all Senate members pursuant to Rule 11.19.

22 SEN. DUNCAN Senator are you rising on

23 a point of order

24 SEN. GALLEGOS Im tagging the bill.

25 SEN. DUNCAN Let me rephrase the


TX_00003908JA_003331


/2

1 question. I think you would have to raise a point of

2 order on further consideration of the bill based on

3 the tag.

4 SEN. GALLEGOS Well I raise the point

5 of order to disallow any further consideration of

6 Senate Bill 362.

7 SEN. DUNCAN Okay.

8 SEN. GALLEGOS And I have done that in

9 reference by submitting a tag to the Secretary of the

10 Senate.

11 SEN. DUNCAN Thank you Sen. Gallegos.

12 For the reasons previously stated in the

13 prior point of order raised by Sen. West your point

14 of order is respectfully overruled.

15 SEN. GALLEGOS Thank you

16 Mr. President.

17 SEN. DUNCAN Thank you Senator.

18 SEN. WEST To make sure the record is

19 clear--20 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. West.

21 SEN. WEST Parliamentary inquiry.

22 Sen. Gallegos as well as some other members of the

23 Senate filed a motion to tag for further

24 consideration of Senate Bill 362. Your ruling would

25 be the same as it relates to that motion to tag also


TX_00003909JA_003332


ý3

1 There were two motions to tag filed.

2 SEN. DUNCAN Senator the

3 interpretation and the basis for the overruling of

4 Sen. Gallegos motion and your motion and a motion

5 with regard to the tag rule would be that the rules do

6 not apply -- are not applicable and Ive made that

7 ruling. And that would be -- the ruling would be

8 consistent with the earlier ruling I made on your

9 motion.

10 SEN. WEST Okay. And I just wanted to

11 make certain that were basically dealing with all the

12 tagged motions that were up there. So tagged rules

13 dont apply to a committee whole either when were

14 taking up substantive legislation And thats in

15 essence the ruling

16 SEN. DUNCAN Senator for the reasons

17 that we explained earlier and I think for the reasons

18 that were abated by the Senate and prevailed in the

19 appeal that the tag would not apply the tag rule

20 would not apply to the Committee of the Whole.

21 SEN. WEST Thank you.

22 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Fraser you are once

23 again recognized. You have the floor with regard to

24 laying out Senate Bill 362.

25


TX_00003910JA_003333


1 LAYING OUT OF SENATE BILL 362

2 SEN. FRASER Thank you members. The

3 three-minute rule is in effect.

4 Ive been sitting here for four hours

5 waiting to lay this out. And actually we have a _ot

6 of discussion about how I should lay this out

7 discussion on it. And I think the bill speaks for

8 itself. And I am going to be very brief probably

9 three or four minutes and allow the witnesses to move

10 forward because I think weve wasted enough of the

11 publics time and that we should move forward with

12 hearing from the witnesses.

1.3 Members this bill I think probably

14 most of you are going to be very familiar with it.

15 Its something weve talked about a lot. Someone back

16 a while ago when we were having lunch asked me the

17 question said How did the talk about this bill get

18 started

19 And I actually came back and sat down

20 and Ive got probably interestingly more research

21 and more reading and debate on this bill maybe than

22 one Ive ever done because Im very interested in the

23 concept. But I think probably if you track it back in

24 our nations history is that we look at the ongoing

25 threat of voter fraud that this country has addressed


TX_00003911JA_003334


1 really since the start it goes all the way back.

2 And weve got many places where we look.

3 One of them would be Tammany Hall possibly the Kansas

4 City Pendergast machine. Here in Texas we probably

5 should look no further to the 1948 Senate race when

6 the Duke of Duval delivered 201 of the 203 registered

7 voters in Box 13 in Jim Wells County in the race

8 between LBJ and Coke Stevenson. Maybe we refer back

9 to Mayor Richard Daleys Chicago machine in the 1960

10 presidential election where it was alleged that at

11 least one in every 10 votes potentially was a

12 fraudulent or illegal vote and including multiple

13 votes by the dead that continues throughout our Texas

14 history even looking at the activity over the

15 indictments and the convictions over the last several

16 years clarifying that voter fraud not only is alive

17 and well in the United States its very alive and

18 well in Texas.

19 And I think that brings us forward to

20 why were here today. I believe the danger of the

21 voter fraud has threatened the integrity of the entire

22 electoral process for the entire history of the United

23 States.

24 In 2005 I think a lot of you are

25 familiar with the fact that the Federal Election


TX_00003912JA_003335


46

1 Commission asked a bipartisan commission and they

2 went out and they tried to get someone to head that .3 from what Ill call the left the former President of

4 the United States Jimmy Carter a Democrat president

5 that had been the governor of a state Georgia that

6 was a Section 5 Voter Rights Act state. They asked

7 him to be one of the co-chairs of a bipartisan

8 commission. Secretary of State James Baker was the

9 other side. That Commission was put in place to look

10 at voter fraud in the United States and come back with

11 a recommendation of how we address that.

12 That commission in you know their

13 reaffirming the danger said The elections are at the

14 heart of democracy. Americans are losing confidence

15 in the fairness of elections. And while we do not

16 have a crisis today we need to address the problems

17 of our electoral system.

18 During that same time the Supreme Court

19 made a ruling in Purcell and Gonzalez stating the

20 Confidence in the integrity of our electoral

21 processes is essential to the functioning of our

22 participatory democracy. Voter fraud drives honest

23 citizens out of the democratic process and breeds

24 distrust of our government. Voters who fear -- and I

25 emphasize the word fear -- Voters who fear their


TX_00003913JA_003336


1 7

1 legitimate votes will. be outweighed by fraudulent ones

2 will feel disenfranchised. The right of suffrage

3 can be denied by a debasement or dilution of the

4 weight of a citizens vote just as effectively as by

5 wholly prohibiting the free exercise of the

6 franchise.

7 It hit very close to home in 2003 when

8 we had a member of our body that I served with. My

9 chairman when I was in the House of Representatives

10 Steve Wolens a Democratic House of Representative

11 member and a chairman from the Dallas area in 2003

12 he laid out a bill and made a passionate plea to the

13 Legislature because he believed that through voter

14 fraud that there had been an effort not only for him

15 but also his wife that was the mayor of Dallas.

16 And he says in the bill that he laid out

17 in his appeal Rigged elections in Dallas with people

18 harvesting votes have destroyed our -- he said The

19 ability to cast a vote and have our vote counted is

20 the bedrock of our democracy. We must do everything

21 possible to ensure the sanctity of the vote in our

22 state. And as a society we must not tolerate the

23 disenfranchisement of our citizens any longer in

24 accusing a group in a Democratic primary of rigging

25 the election and harvesting votes.


TX_00003914JA_003337


48

1 That same Baker Commission theCarter-2Baker Commission in an editorial that President

3 Carter and Baker co-wrote said At the end of the

4 day there is considerable national evidence of

5 in-person voter fraud. And regardless of whether one

6 believed that voter impersonation is widespread or

7 relatively rare there can be no serious dispute that

8 it is a real effect that can be substantial because

9 in a close election even a small amount of fraud

10 could make the margin of difference.

11 In 2005 that bipartisan commission that

12 was created by the election reform recommended that a

13 fair a free and fair election requires both ballot

14 security and access to voting. We as a commission

15 have offered to bridge or a proposal to bridge the

16 partisan divide by suggesting a uniform voter ID.

17 That recommendation came from a former

18 President of the United States had been put on a

19 commission by the Federal Election Commission. The

20 recommendation came because of a concern about voter

21 fraud. And he recommended in 2005 that we develop a

22 program for a uniform voter photo ID. The bill that I

23 lay out today is in response to that.

24 Senate Bill 362 is really pretty

25 straightforward. Its nothing more than when I walk


TX_00003915JA_003338


1 in to vote and I lay out my voter registration that

2 that person across from me can recognize that I am who

3 I represent to be that I am that person on the roll.

4 And I feel I have an obligation to represent that I am

5 a legal living person that has the right to vote and I

6 am that person on that roll.

7 Under Texas law today we do not have

8 that ability. Were going to have witnesses come

9 forward today and theyre going to tell you about

10 cases. I have questions that Im going to ask and

11 one of the ones is going to be to the Secretary of

12 State. Were going to ask about if when we go into a

13 voting booth if someone could impersonate me and

14 steal my vote and what they could do about it.

15 And I think a lot of you are going to be

16 shocked at what our current law in Texas is today.

17 Without a doubt there is the ability in Texas from a

18 lot of different directions or a different way for

19 someone to steal your identity your right by your

20 voter registration and can vote identify themselves

21 as you.

22 The Baker Commission -- and Im sorry.

23 Let me back up a second and say one of the other

24 things that youre going to hear today is that we have

25 representatives from Indiana and Georgia. After the


TX_00003916JA_003339


1 Baker Commission recommended that the photo ID be

2 implemented one of the first states to do a strict

3 photo ID was the State of Indiana. Theirs is very

4 straightforward. It says that the citizens when they

5 vote will show a photo ID. If someone doesnt have a

6 photo ID the state will pay for it.

7 That law that was put in place actually

8 was in place during the 2006 election and then again

9 in the 2008 election. It has withstood the challenges

10 through the court system. And this last year the

11 U.S. Supreme Court confirmed a decision on the Indiana

12 bill in a majority opinion that was giver by John Paul

13 Stevens which is generally considered a moderate to

14 left-leaning justice. He issued the majority opinion

15 and the opinion was six to three confirming the voter

16 ID bill for Indiana.

17 Since then there have been two election

18 cycles. Im not going to go into the results of that

19 because we have someone from Indiana that is going to

20 testify to that. But I think its going to clearly

21 show that instead of somehow discouraging someone to

22 vote it did just the opposite that the vote total.--23in fact Im going to go ahead you give you those

24 because I think theyre very important.

25 In Indiana over the last two election


TX_00003917JA_003340


1 cycles Indiana had the fifth largest increase of

2 voter increase in the United States in the 2008

3 election. In the Democratic votes that were cast

4 they were No. 1 in the nation. They were the largest

5 increase of Democrat votes in the nation even though

6 next door in Illinois where the presidential

7 candidate was from had no photo ID registration.

8 Indiana had a strict photo ID registration. Indiana

9 doubled the increase of Illinois. It clearly showed

10 that there was not a suppression there.

11 Georgia a Section 5 voter rights state

12 they also implemented a strict voter photo ID bill.

13 This last election cycle Georgia was the largest

14 increase in vote totals in the nation. Of all the

15 states of the other states that did not have it

16 Georgia after they implemented their photo ID

17 legislation had the largest increase in vote totals

18 in the nation. And we have people from Georgia here.

1.9 I think probably a brief description of

20 my bill and well get into that. And if someone has

21 questions about 362 and what my bill does but its

22 really pretty straightforward. It just says that when

23 someone goes in to vote they have not only the choice

24 of showing their photo ID drivers license but were

25 also giving them secondary choices and those


TX_00003918JA_003341


I secondary choices are a lot of secondary choices.

2 They could show their library card.

3 They could show any government piece of mail that was

4 mailed to them. Basically anything that would show

5 their identification as a secondary source of

6 identification is going to be allowed under my bill.

7 And when we start discussing that Ill be glad to go

8 over the list that is listed of things. But in Texas

9 the bill that we are laying out actually has a

10 secondary choice. Then if someone doesnt have a

11 photo ID there is a secondary choice to identify

12 themselves.

13 I should also clarify that we are only

14 addressing the in-person voting we are not addressing

15 mail-in ballots early voting any of the other things

16 in the election cycle.

17 I think Im going to go ahead and close

18 so we can start either the questions and/or bring in

19 the witnesses. But I think its important to note

20 that in upholding Indianas photo ID law In the

21 decision that was given by John Paul Stevens in his

22 majority opinion he stated Confidence in the

23 integrity of our election process is essential. to the

24 functioning of our participatory democracy. Voter

25 fraud drives honest citizens out of the democratic


TX_00003919JA_003342


1 process and breeds distrust of our government. Voters

2 who fear their legitimate votes will be outweighed by

3 fraudulent ones will feel disenfranchised.

4 We believe Senate Bill 362 goes a long

5 ways for correcting that concern.

6 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR

7 SEN. DUNCAN Thank you.

8 Sen. Lucio of Cameron.

9 SEN. LUCIO Thank you Mr. President.

10 For a question.

11 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Lucio.

12 SEN. LUCIO The request was made

13 earlier today to see if we could have the Attorney

14 General here to answer any legal questions we might

15 have on this legislation. As I look around the

16 chamber I dont see the Secretary of State my good

17 friend Hope Andrade who I can -- well who is the

18 Chief Elections Officer of the state as you well

19 know. And Im wondering if she will be present maybe

20 to respond to any questions that the members might

21 have or the Department of Public Safety or any other

22 agency that might come into play with this piece of

23 legislation. Will that be the case

24 SEN. FRASER Ill address the first

25 question first. The Secretary of State I share your


TX_00003920JA_003343


i ý.

1 interest in that. And actually when that person

2 comes up I have a lot of questions that I would like

3 to ask also. Unfortunately the Secretary of State

4 Hope Andrade is on an airplane as we speak out of

5 the country. But the No. 2 the Assistant Secretary

6 is here. Coby Shorter is over on the side right now

7 and will be available for any questions that would

8 come up.

9 Actually that is one of my invited

10 persons for questions. I have him scheduled in the

11 mix. But I think any member that has a question of

12 the Secretary of States office would be free at any

13 time for a resource.

14 The DPS I have not personally asked

15 them to be here to testify but I believe probably

16 theyre monitoring this as we speak. And I would

17 suspect if we wanted somebody from the DPS to answer

18 questions about motor voter or any of those issue I

19 feel sure that we could get them over. I have not

20 invited them.

21 SEN. LUCIO Thank you.

22 Mr. Chairman you also mentioned that

23 voter ID proposal for bipartisan and serve the public

24 interest by protecting the integrity of the ballot

25 and you also mentioned the Commission on Federal.


TX_00003921JA_003344


1 Election reform that was co-chaired by former

2 President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State

3 Jim Baker supported laws that required voters to show

4 a voter ID before voting.

5 I just want to ask you that that in the

6 days after the release of the commissions report Im

7 informed that President Carter and former Secretary

8 Baker stated in an op ed in the New York times that

9 their intent had been misconstrued and clarified that

10 until we have universal registration we cannot make

11 having such an ID be a condition of voting. Are you

12 aware of that op ed

13 SEN. FRASER Tell me where was that

14 SEN. LUCIO That op ed

15 SEN. FRASER What was the date on that

16 Tell me the date on that please.

17 SEN. LUCIO The source is Jimmy Carter

18 and James Baker III Voting Reform Is in the Cards

19 The New York Times September 23rd -- September 23

20 2005.

21 SEN. FRASER And I guess I would

22 defer -- I obviously cant get in the minds -- and by

23 the way we do have someone from that commission here

24 that we can question will be the second person that I

25 will call up. And so youll have the right to ask


TX_00003922JA_003345


1 them because theyre from that commission.

2 All I can go by is a newer -- you know

3 everyone has a right to you know their developing

4 thoughts. But the newest thing I have on record was

5 February 3 2008. It was an op ed contribution A6 Clearer Picture on Voter ID by Jimmy Carter and James

7 A. Baker III which Im assuming -- February 3 2008

8 is after September 23 2005. So this would be their

9 more current thoughts.

10 And in that current editorial that I

11 have here in my hand it said In 2005 we led a

12 bipartisan Commission And Im not going to

13 read the whole thing but it says We bridged a

14 partisan divide by suggesting a uniform voter photo

15 ID. And this is February 8 sic 2008.

16 SEN. LUCIO 2008

17 SEN. FRASER 2008. Yours is 2005. So

18 I dont know what to say other than my story is three

19 years newer than yours.

20 SEN. LUCIO Well I guess they changed

21 their minds after two thousand--22SEN. FRASER Everybody gets to change

23 their mind. All I know is that this is the most

24 current thing that I have on file. But that was a op

25 ed contribution to the New York Times February 3


TX_00003923JA_003346


1 2008 you know. Im--2SEN. LUCIO Thank you very much

3 Senator.

4 SEN. FRASER Thank you.

5 SEN. WATSON Mr. President

6 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Watson of Travis.

7 SEN. WATSON Thank you Mr. Chairman.

8 I just want to ask a couple of question.

9 And first let me say that I think you

10 and I probably agree that there is not a senator in

11 this room that doesnt want to protect the sanctity of

12 the ballot box regardless of how they might feel

13 about 362.

14 SEN. FRASER I would share we without

15 a doubt -- weve had this conversation -- is that I

16 think we both have the same intent is that neither

17 one of us want voter fraud and we would do anything we

18 could to stop voter fraud in Texas. And I think

19 thats--20SEN. WATSON Nobody wants--21SEN. FRASER I think we agree with

22 that.

23 SEN. WATSON Nobody wants voter fraud.

24 And there may be some disagreements about how we go

25 about that. Let me ask a couple of questions about


TX_00003924JA_003347


1 the bill. And first let me mention something about

2 the Carter-Baker Commission. Im not sure there was a

3 change in opinion. But what they said in that

4 February 2008 is they were looking for a universal.

5 voter identification. Is that correct

6 SEN. FRASER I believe the term was

7 uniform--8SEN. WATSON Uniform.

9 SEN. FRASER -- voter ID. And

10 actually what they suggested--11SEN. WATSON Was REAL ID.

12 SEN. FRASER -- is that the federal

13 government would issue a photo ID to every person in

14 the United States.

15 SEN. WATSON And what theyve actually

16 indicated is that in order to be in favor of a unform

17 voter ID they believe that what needs to happen is

18 the government would be in a position to give everyone

19 an identification so that you wouldnt run into

20 situations where there might be discrimination. Is

21 that correct

22 Well for example theyre affirmatively

23 said

--24SEN. FRASER They have affirmatively

25 said that somebody should pay for it the federal


TX_00003925JA_003348


9

1 government or the states but they would issue a photo

2 ID.

3 SEN. WATSON So that everybody would

4 have a uniform identification

5 SEN. FRASER Exactly what Im laying

6 out in this bill.

7 SEN. WATSON And I dont disagree.

8 SEN. FRASER I--9SEN. DUNCAN Senators senators--10SEN. FRASER I can answer you. Just a

11 second.

12 SEN. DUNCAN May I interrupt

13 SEN. FRASER Sure.

14 SEN. DUNCAN Youve got a court--15SEN. WATSON Well were both

16 interrupting. Why dont you

17 SEN. DUNCAN Well no. Im just trying

18 to help you out. The court reporter can only type

19 down one person talking at a time and so you have a

20 tendency--21 SEN. WATSON Fair enough.

22 SEN. DUNCAN -- to talk over each

23 other. So if you could observe that rule it will

24 help the record.

25 SEN. WATSON And we do that even in


TX_00003926JA_003349


Cv

1 private conversations I might add.

2 SEN. FRASER Unfortunately we are on

3 the committee together and this is a common

4 occurrence so we will have to try to control

5 ourselves.

6 SEN. WATSON I think you were the last

7 one talking.

8 SEN. FRASER The final statement I

9 think they say -- let me read this. Actually its

10 interesting that the last -- this was in -- they were

11 writing this in response urging the Supreme Court to

12 validate the Indiana law. And it says that -- they

13 are suggesting that states should move to implement

14 photo IDs gradually that a free ID should be

15 available. But theyre also saying that the Supreme

16 Court can lead the way on the voter ID issue by

17 validating the Indiana ruling which is the photo ID.

18 And again its the thing I just read.

19 It will move our national leaders and the

20 entire country to bridge the partisan divide on a

21 matter that is important to our democracy. The

22 Supreme Court should support voter ID laws that

23 make it easy to vote but tough to cheat from their

24 editorial.

25 SEN. WATSON And they had indicated

--KENNEDYREPORTING SERVICE INC.

512.474.2233

TX_00003927JA_003350


6

1 Im sure well hear some other testimony about this.

2 But the Carter-Baker Commission had indicated that

3 they believed the way Georgia had set theirs up was

4 discriminatory in part because the government wasnt

5 as you just indicated making it easy for people to

6 be -- all people to be able to get a uniform

7 identification.

8 SEN. FRASER They want it to be easy

9 to -- their suggestion was have a photo ID have

10 someone pay for it make it easy for them to get it.

11 But they say Here is what we want to do. We want a

12 voter ID law that makes it easy to vote but tough to

13 cheat.

14 SEN. WATSON Well lets talk about

15 what the current situation is so that we can be clear

16 on what it is that we would be doing if Senate Bill

17 362 were to pass. Currently we have a form of voter_

18 identification in Texas. And what it is is we have

19 an identifying document that we call a voter

20 registration certificate. Isnt that right The

21 state provides a voter registration certificate to

22 those who register to vote

23 SEN. FRASER The answer to that

24 probably is Yes and No is that the way we

25 currently identify ourself when we go in is a voter


TX_00003928JA_003351


62

1 registration certificate. The problem with current

2 law is there is no way that that person that is

3 behind the voting booth knows Are you really that

4 person because -- hold on a second -- you know

5 there is nothing to say that I couldnt pick up my

6 brother Steves voter ID and walk in and lay it on the

7 table and the -- were going to ask the Secretary of

8 State this -- but I think the procedure in law says

9 identify

10 Are you on the list Yes.

11 Is this your correct address Yes.

12 Are you in this precinct Yes.

13 Here is your ballot -- even though Im

14 voting with my brothers card.

15 SEN. WATSON I ought to give you a flag

16 so I know when youre done. But Senator the point

17 is I want to try to set what the benchmark is for

1.8 what is required now when someone goes in to vote.

19 And when someone goes in to vote right now as you

20 just indicated all they have to do is show that

21 certificate. The election officer sees their name and

22 sees that their name is on a list of registered

23 voters and then theyre able to vote. Is that

24 correct

25 SEN. FRASER Well let me ask you


512.474.2233

TX_00003929JA_003352


6

1 the Secretary of State will clarify this. But if

2 youre look in Section -- is 63.001

3 SEN. WATSON It is.

4 SEN. FRASER -- of the election -- and

5 if youve got it in front of you you can read along.

6 It says bring your card registration card hand it to

7 them. They verify Is the name on the card on the

8 list Is Kirk Watson on the card Are they also

9 listed as registered Yes it is. They say

10 Is this your current address

11 Yes it is.

12 This is the proper precinct youre

13 going to be voting in14 Yes it is.

15 Here is your ID sic.16 SEN. WATSON And then you get to vote.

17 SEN. FRASER I mean Here is your--18can I keep going though The interesting thing on

19 this though is Senator that -- let me give you a

20 hypothetical -- and well ask the Secretary of.State

21 to verify this -- is that lets assume that they

22 mailed you your voter registration to your mailbox

23 but your next door neighbor saw them dropping it off

24 and he walked over and picked it up out of box. And

25 he beat you to the polling place. And he walked in


TX_00003930JA_003353


6

1 where someone didnt know who Kirk Watson was and he

2 laid it on the table and he said Im Kirk Watson

3 and they went through all those scenarios that person

4 would be given a ballot and would vote for you that

5 put it in the pile. And they would walk out the door

6 and that vote would count in the selection. Now

7 well verify with the Secretary of State that thats

8 correct but I believe thats the way it happens right

9 now.

10 SEN. WATSON And that really wasnt my

11 questions. So let me ask my--12SEN. FRASER Im practiced with a

13 lawyer where you dont answer the question that was

14 asked.

15 SEN. WATSON I notice youve been

16 trying to do that. Lets just walk through what the

17 process is and the change in the law. Currently all.

18 that is required is to show the certificate walk

19 through the way you just did and then you can vote.

20 Senate Bill 362 changes that.

21 And it says that while you would still

22 submit the voter registration certificate and that

23 part is the same it then adds the requirement that in

24 addition to the current standard practice or procedure

25 of presenting that voter registration certificate you


TX_00003931JA_003354


1 must also submit either a picture identification or

2 two types of other identification thats listed in

3 Senate Bill 362.

4 SEN. FRASER Senator I guess I would

5 ask you -- Im assuming -- you travel a lot. Youve

6 flown since 911

7 SEN. WATSON Im not sure how that is

8 answering my question. Is that what your bill does or

9 doesnt do

10 SEN. FRASER Im saying that this is

11 going to be a whole lot like -- even if you were

12 getting a library card theyre going to say We need

13 a form of photo identification and theyre going to

14 do -- like they do at the airport theyre going to

15 look at the card theyre going to look at you

16 theyre going to look back at the card and say Yes

17 you are the person that you are pretending or you

18 say you are. You -- Kirk Watson is the person on the

19 photo kirk Watson is the person on the registration

20 files. And the answer is yes that would be the way

21 this would work.

22 SEN. WATSON So the answer is yes that

23 there is an additional requirement so that people who

24 could vote under the current voting standard practice

25 and procedure will be precluded from voting if they


TX_00003932JA_003355


6 6

1 dont meet these new requirements. Is that correct

2 SEN. FRASER Im sorry. I was talking

3 to staff. Ask that again please.

4 SEN. WATSON People who could vote

5 under the current voting standard practice and

6 procedure will be precluded from voting if Senate

7 Bill 362 passes if they dont meet those new

8 requirements

9 SEN. FRASER No one is going to be

10 precluded from voting. Everyone that walks in--11under 362 every person that walks in to vote will be

12 allowed to vote.

13 SEN. WATSON If they meet the new

14 requirements

15 SEN. FRASER Every person that--16SEN. WATSON Thats provisional

17 balloting.

18 SEN. FRASER -- walks in--19SEN. WATSON Is that what youre

20 talking about

21 SEN. FRASER Every person that walks

22 into the registration to vote can vote. No one will

23 leave the voting place without being able to vote.

24 SEN. WATSON Let me ask my question

25 differently. If they dont -- if someone walks in


TX_00003933JA_003356


6/

I today under 362 -- lets say 362 passes -- and they

2 dont have the new requirements that are set forth in

3 362 they will not be able to vote a regular ballot

4 the same way people today with just a voter

5 registration certificate are allowed to vote a

6 regular ballot

7 SEN. FRASER Okay. If someone walks in

8 and -- I think right now the data is showing the last

9 year of the people that signed up 98.5 percent of the

10 people that registered to vote had a drivers license

11 and they registered that way. So if they didnt have

12 that if theyre one of that one or two percent that

13 did not have a drivers license they have a long

14 laundry list of things that they could use to identify

15 themselves to show that they are in fact who they

16 say they are. If for some reason they didnt have any

17 of that they will be given a ballot. The ballot will

18 be marked a provisional ballot and then we will have

19 the ability then to identify Are they who they say

20 they are So the answer is no theyre not going to

21 leave without being able to vote.

22 SEN. WATSON And maybe I didnt ask my

23 question well and so you didnt understand it. My

24 question is under 362 if they dont meet the new

25 requirements there will be people that otherwise


TX_00003934JA_003357


1 today would be able to vote by just showing a voter

2 registration certificate that will not be able to vote

3 a regular ballot. Is that correct

4 SEN. FRASER Everyone leaving the

5 polling place will be able to vote.

6 SEN. WATSON But it may be a

7 provisional ballot. Is that right

8 SEN. FRASER Provisional ballot

9 though once they verify their identification and they

10 show that they are who they say they are the vote

11 counts. So the answer is everyone that leaves wi12 be able to vote.

13 SEN. WATSON Let me ask you a question

14 about the statistics you just mentioned. Do you have

15 any data regarding the racial composition of those

16 people who are currently in Texas that are without a

17 drivers license or other photo ID

18 SEN. FRASER Unfortunately no that

19 data is not I dont think readily available. If it

20 is no one has given it to me. All I can go by is the

21 number -- they gave me the raw numbers of who had a

22 photo ID that was registered in you know the Last

23 year. 2006 is the latest number. And of those you

24 know you had 1.5 percent of the population that

25 registered to vote that it appeared didnt have or


TX_00003935JA_003358


1 didnt offer their drivers license up as a deal. So

2 its a very small segment and I dont believe they

3 broke down the racial composition of that.

4 SEN. WATSON Where did that data come

5 from

6 SEN. FRASER DPS motor voter.

7 SEN. WATSON DPS. And how many people

8 would that be

9 SEN. FRASER I may need to correct

10 that. I stand corrected. That came from the

11 Secretary of States office. It was the total number

12 of people registered with a Texas drivers license.

13 Im sorry. I stand corrected.

14 SEN. WATSON Let me make sure I

15 understand the number that youre indicating. What

16 youre indicating is that of the total population

17 thats registered to vote the Secretary of States

18 office is providing data that says 98.5 percent of

19 those have a drivers license

20 SEN. FRASER I dont think I said that.

21 SEN. WATSON Okay. Well thats what

22 Im trying to find out. I want to be clear what you

23 said.

24 SEN. FRASER Okay. Well lets do it

25 again. Last year in 2006 the number of people that


TX_00003936JA_003359


1 registered to vote in 2006 that registered to vote

2 that year of those totals there were 2419188 that

3 registered with a drivers license. There were 37490

4 that didnt use their drivers license to register.

5 SEN. WATSON So that would not--6SEN. FRASER So that--7SEN. WATSON That wouldnt be taking

8 into account any long-time voters who might no longer

9 have drivers licenses or have allowed their drivers

10 license to be expired for more than two years or that

11 nature. Is that correct

12 SEN. FRASER I actually have that data

13 too.

14 SEN. WATSON Good. Why dont you give

15 that to me.

16 SEN. FRASER Total number of people on

17 their staff -- now have to keep in mind that some of

18 these people that have been on the rolls for 30 40

19 50 60 years some of this has changed. And so some

20 of them that signed up once they were okayed and

21 identified they stayed on the roll and they didnt

22 have to add it.

23 My mother would be a good example but-.

2.4 she didnt get her drivers license until well into

25 her married life. On her registration form she is


TX_00003937JA_003360


1 not registered as showing to have a photo ID but in

2 fact I do know that she has one. The ones in the

3 records that show that they show that there were

4 5601000 that have a license. The ones that neither

5 numbers show up either social security number or

6 voter ID 809000. So in their records its about

7 88 percent of the people in their records give the

8 drivers license as their identification source.

9 Theres 12 percent they dont know about. But in

10 that the assumption is a great many of those now

11 have a photo ID people like my mother.

12 SEN. WATSON But we dont know what

13 that number is

14 SEN. FRASER We dont know for sure.

15 SEN. WATSON And how many people are we

16 talking about when we talk about 12 percent

17 SEN. FRASER Well in the records they

18 have 809041 that they dont have in their records a

19 number registered but they also readily will admit

20 that those records are very outdated because what

21 happens when someone is registered as soon as theyre

22 approved as a registered voter they dont ever have

23 do go through this again. So--24SEN. WATSON Right.

25 SEN. FRASER You cant automatically


TX_00003938JA_003361


72

1 make the assumption that theres 809000 people that

2 dont have it. I think the belief -- probably one of

3 the things that we may be having a lot of these

4 questions youre asking that could be answered by

5 other states. Georgia has a very close makeup of the

6 way our population is made up. Indiana is a little

7 different. But in those cases -- I think the

8 registrar of both of those states are going to be

9 here and theyre going to tell you they went throuqý

10 the cycle and identified the ones that didnt have it.

11 And I believe theyre going to tell you they were

12 shocked at how few people didnt have a photo ID.

13 SEN. WATSON Well one of the things

14 that I think we need to be concerned about before we

15 vote on this floor is whether or not when the changes

16 that you propose get made whether or not thats going

17 to have a negative impact on certain populations. And

18 the 12 percent that youre talking about there the

19 800000 to a--20SEN. FRASER The unknown category.

21 SEN. WATSON The 800000 to a million

22 people do we know what the racial breakdown is of

23 that Do you know how many African-Americans how

24 many Hispanics those that speak only Spanish

25 SEN. FRASER Im not advised because I


TX_00003939JA_003362


73

1 dont -- at least I dont remember on the -- I cant

2 remember on either the drivers license and/or the

3 voter that it had a place in there to click you know

4 Anglos.

5 SEN. WATSON Are you familiar

6 Senator with any statistical analysis thats been

7 done regarding the potential effect of Senate Bill

8 362s new requirements on African-Americans

9 SEN. FRASER A lot of what Im at least

10 observing you will hear today from Indiana and

11 Georgia two states that implemented it. And theyre

1.2 going to talk about the people that voted in the

13 racial breakdown before they implemented it and after

14 they implemented it and what happened in--15SEN. WATSON Again I would--16SEN. FRASER So I think -- what Im

17 hoping to do is have facts speak for themselves.

18 SEN. WATSON Well and Im looking

19 forward to that. Im saying you though with regard

20 to your bill Senate Bill 362 are you familiar with

21 any data or study thats been done with regard to some

22 sort of statistical analysis concerning the effect of

23 the new requirements of Senate Bill 362 on -- and Ill

24 just mention a couple of populations --African-25American population Hispanic people making less than


TX_00003940JA_003363


1 $35000 a year people who speak only Spanish any

2 statistical analysis of the effect of these new

3 requirements on those people

4 SEN. FRASER Well I guess the

5 assumption would be the people in Texas even though

6 were independent were also a whole lot like the

7 people in the rest the nation. Those statistics are

8 available nationwide because we already have this

9 being implemented other places. Were going to have

10 witnesses that are going to testify to that. And I

11 think youre asking a subjective question that we have

12 objective data that is available that the witnesses

13 are going to lay out. Youre asking have I done that

14 The answer is no but I am pulling data from the

15 academics that have done that and have delivered back.

16 SEN. WATSON As it applies to Texas

17 SEN. FRASER Well you assume it would

18 apply to Texas if theyre citizens of the United

19 States. And you know I dont know why it wouldnt

20 apply.

21 SEN. WATSON Well so that Im clear

22 what we can expect to hear is data related to states

23 other than Texas. But youre not familiar with any

24 statistical analysis thats been done regarding the

25 impacts or effects of the new requirements of Senate


TX_00003941JA_003364


75

1 Bill 362 on minority populations in the State of

2 Texas

3 SEN. FRASER Actually Senator youre

4 going to hear some testimony from some people from the

5 major cities in Texas and things that have happened

6 and what you know possibly they believe. But I

7 dont know that I can answer your question.

8 SEN. WATSON All right. Fair enough.

9 Let me ask a quick question about funding under this.

10 Can you point me in this bill Senate Bill 362 where

11 there is any provision to educate voters about this

12 change requirement for more identification

13 SEN. FRASER Do you see the section

14 that says Education--15SEN. WATSON Yes I do.

16 SEN. FRASER -- Voted Education

17 SEN. WATSON And tell me -- what that

18 says is that the Secretary of State and voter

19 registrars are going to put it on their website. Is

20 that correct

21 SEN. FRASER Yes.

22 SEN. WATSON Is that the only education

23 thats identified in this bill

24 SEN. FRASER We are anticipating a--25you know were going to have to educate not only the


TX_00003942JA_003365


76

1 registrars the poll workers were going to have

2 posting outside of the voting place of the

3 requirements of this. I would assume one of the

4 things that youre going to ask is in Ohio and

5 Georgia both that they had mailers to the voters

6 talking about these changes. Obviously the specilf_ics

7 of that are not included in this bill. But as a

8 member of the Senate and assuming this bill passes

9 that I think I am assuming everyone in this body would

10 be sympathetic that we should include some funding to

11 make sure that voters are educated.

12 SEN. WATSON So you anticipate that

13 there would be some fiscal note to this bill

14 SEN. FRASER Well no. This bill. only

15 has -- it has no fiscal implications.

16 SEN. WATSON And thats because theres

17 no money put into it for any of the things you just

18 talked about in terms of educating voters

19 SEN. FRASER And again if there was

20 education obviously the education depending on how

21 much education it was there could either be no fiscal

22 impact or it could be some. Again youre being

23 subjective.

24 SEN. WATSON All right. Im not sure

25 thats the case but let me make sure Im clear.


TX_00003943JA_003366


7/

1 Under the current bill theres not any ability to

2 educate the voters about these new requirements other

3 than that it would be posted on the Secretary of

4 States or a county voter registrars website

5 SEN. FRASER We would -- actually--6let me ask a question of staff.

7 Brief pause

8 I think the question youre asking is

9 that every time a registration card is sent out i_here

10 will be an explanation with that registration card

11 which Im assuming youre calling the education part

12 of that. So the answer is yes there will be an

13 education go out when the registration cards are- sent

14 out. So a persons--15SEN. WATSON So if somebody registers

16 newly theyll get that information

17 SEN. FRASER I get a registration card

18 every two years.

19 SEN. WATSON So every time that --what-20youre suggesting is thats going to be -- the

21 substance and sum of the education will be on new

22 registration cards

23 SEN. FRASER And quite frankly youre

24 getting into an area of the technical part of the way

25 this would be administered by the election division.


TX_00003944JA_003367


1 In the bill we do specify that when a registration

2 card is sent out. All I know is I get one every two

3 years I get a new registration card. It couldnt be

4 real difficult in that to include an explanation of

5 this bill what will be included and make sure that

6 they understand that whenever they show up at the

7 polls you need to do this.

8 So the answer of -- the language of the

9 bill says that is anticipated. Now the actual agency

10 itself that administers the Secretary of States

11 office I think probably would be the one to answer

12 that question.

13 SEN. WATSON And we dont know -- you

14 dont know as we stand here today how much that

15 costs

16 SEN. FRASER What it will cost Well

17 right now we have given them funds to send out that

18 registration card. And if all theyre doing is

19 putting another piece of paper in that registration

20 card I just cant imagine that they cant take care

21 of it out of their regular budget.

22 So I think where youre trying to go--23will there be an appropriation for that -- I dont

24 anticipate that thats necessary. But youre a member

25 of this body. And if you want to recommend that


TX_00003945JA_003368


79

1 after this bill passes that if you want to offer up

2 to the Appropriation Committee and talk to Chairman

3 Ogden I think you have every right to do that. I

4 cant speak for the Secretary of State the way this

5 will be administered.

6 SEN. WATSON Well Im just accustomed

7 to when bills come into committee we tend to know or

8 are supposed to know what the fiscal note is at that

9 time so that we dont vote on something only to later

10 have a new fiscal note come in.

11 SEN. FRASER Did you get a copy of the

12 fiscal note

13 SEN. WATSON Yes and it said zero.

14 SEN. FRASER There is your answer.

15 SEN. WATSON Well and what that means

16 is theres going to be little education and well

17 talk about -- Chairman Duncan has made a good point

18 that the court reporter has now been going -- and

19 while you and I may be enjoying our repartee she

20 probably needs a break.

21 So with the Chairs permission and wi_th

22 Sen. Frasers permission Ill be more than happy to

23 yield the floor for the time being so that we can rake

24 a break for the court reporter.

25 SEN. DUNCAN Thank you Sen. Watson.


TX_00003946JA_003369


80

1 And members well stand at ease for 10 minutes.

2 Well go back in at exactly 250.

3 Recess 242 p.m. to 256 p.m.

4 SEN. DUNCAN The Committee of the Whole

5 will come back to order.

6 Sen. Watson.

7 SEN. WATSON Mr. Chairman Ill yield

8 for other staffs questions so we can move forward.

9 SEN. DUNCAN All right.

10 Sen. Shapleigh.

11 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Thank you Mr. Chair.

12 If I may some questions of the author.

13 SEN. FRASER I would love to answer

14 questions.

15 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Senator you in laying

16 out your basis for filing this bill talked

17 extensively about the Carter and Baker Commission. Do

18 you remember the year that commission -- when they

19 issued their report

20 SEN. FRASER Senator there is a

21 reference in the forward to the report that I believe

22 says 2005. And Im assuming the Commission was formed

23 that year and Im assuming they also issued the

24 report. But Im also going to punt on that one

25 because we have someone from the Carter-Baker


TX_00003947JA_003370


1 Commission that is here that if we can get past these

2 questions and get to our witnesses Ive got people

3 that can answer that question a lot better.

4 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Okay. You quoted from

5 their words in an op ed article. And what I would

6 like to do is give you a copy of an op ed article that

7 they put in The New York Times one week after issuing

8 the report so that we can talk about what their

9 intent or what they thought about this report. You

10 have their -- what we just pulled off what Sen. McCain

11 would call the Google an editorial from Jimmy Carter

12 and James Baker themselves dated September 23 2005

13 which was the week after they produced this report.

14 And I would like you to if you would see if Im

15 reading this correctly.

16 This week we issued a report that

17 bridges the gap between the two parties perspectives

18 and offers a comprehensive approach that can help end

19 the sterile debate between ballot access ballot

20 integrity. Unfortunately some have misrepresented

21 one of our 87 recommendations. As a result they have

22 deflected attention from the need for comprehensive

23 reform.

24 Since we presented our work to the

25 president and Congress some have overlooked almost


TX_00003948JA_003371


82

1 all of the report to focus on a single proposal - a

2 requirement that voters have drivers licenses or

3 government-issued photo IDs. Worse they have

4 unfairly described our recommendation.

5 Heres the problem we were addressing

6 24 states already require that voters prove their

7 identity at the poll - some states request drivers

8 licenses others accept utility bills affidavits or

9 other documents - and 12 others are considering it.

10 This includes Georgia which just started demanding

11 that voters have a state-issued photo ID even though

12 obtaining one can be too costly or difficult for poor

13 Georgians. We consider Georgias law discriminatory.

14 Are these the same guys that issued the

1.5 report that youre relying on

16 SEN. FRASER And I guess I would remind

17 you that the Georgia law theyre a Section 5 voter

18 rights state and they were approved. As of

19 February 8 2008 of this year I believe they were--20that final appeal was -- you know they ruled with

21 Georgia. And Georgias act -- both was approved

22 through DOJ approved through Section 5 and was

23 approved through the courts.

24 Again I dont -- all the things that

25 youre asking you address several different issues


TX_00003949JA_003372


83

I that we have witnesses here that actually know the

2 details of this. Youre asking me from 2005 to get

3 in either President Carter or James Baker or staff or

4 the other 21 members on the commission what was in

5 their head then and what was in their head in 2008

6 when they released the article to The New York Times

7 the guest editorial. I think those would be better

8 answered by our witness that is here that is sitting

9 in the back waiting to testify. We also have Indiana

10 and weve got those Georgia people. Theres two from

11 Georgia that will tell you how this impacted their

12 voters including minorities.

1.3 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Lets go if we can--14do you have the fiscal note on this bill the one that

15 came with our packet Im looking at the last

16 paragraph that describes the costs in this bill and

17 what the anticipated fiscal note might be.

18 SEN. FRASER Ive got it. What are yol

19 referring to

20 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Well when you look at

21 the top it says No fiscal impact implication to the

22 state is anticipated. Is that correct

23 SEN. FRASER That is correct.

24 SEN. SHAPLEIGH And when we look at the

25 bottom after it describes putting up a websi_te which


TX_00003950JA_003373


s3

1 would be part of the states obligation then at the

2 bottom it says Based on responses from a sampling of

3 election authorities and county clerks fiscal impact

4 from implementing provisions of the bill would vary by

5 county. Costs would include at a minimum those for

6 printing signs to post at each polling place which

7 would not be significant. Other potential costs would

8 be associated with additional training and posting

9 information to the county website. Again those costs

10 are not expected to be significant. One smaller

11 county response anticipates that the new provisions

12 regarding casting a provisional ballot would require

13 hiring additional staff resulting in a moderate to

14 significant cost.

15 Now my question is where is the

16 training going to be done Who will do the training

17 with respect to those that will administer and enforce

18 the rules that you propose to pass today

19 SEN. FRASER And I will tell you again

20 that we have an expert resource witness that can

21 answer that question that if we can get on with the

22 testimony that the persons we have here I think are

23 prepared to answer that question.

24 SEN. SHAPLEIGH But as the author of

25 the bill -- and your intent is important in


TX_00003951JA_003374


1 establishing this -- in this fiscal note there is no

2 money for training at the state level that in this

3 fiscal note its contemplated that locals in a broad

4 verify of the polling places around the state would be

5 responsible for the training under this bill. Is that

6 correct

7 SEN. FRASER My intent of this bill. is

8 to establish a system of voter identification to try

9 to eliminate fraudulent voting and would be

10 implemented by the Secretary of State. The fiscal

11 note to the bill is like we always do on every piece

12 of legislation. It is sent back in. And the fiscal

13 note as delivered back to the members of the

14 Legislature it says there is -- no significant fi.sca

15 implication to the state is anticipated.

16 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Okay. Well lets get

17 down if we may to a Yes or No answer. The

18 fiscal note on your bill says Each county clerk

19 would be required to provide a session of training

20 using the standards adopted by and the materials

21 developed by the Secretary of State as soon as

22 practicable as well. Is that your intent under the

23 bill that you drafted

24 SEN. FRASER I guess I would refer you

25 back to the bill itself. Weve got the training


TX_00003952JA_003375


1 section the wording of the bill. If you would

2 like -- Ill read it to you if you would like for me

3 to. But the wording of the bill is the instruction to

4 the Secretary of the State and the counties. And then

5 the Secretary of State would be -- I think its their

6 job to implement. But again the expert witness can

7 answer that.

8 SEN. SHAPLEIGH In your opening in

9 talking about the need for this bill you referred to

10 Cooke County you referred to LBJ and Duval County.

11 Are you aware of and do you personally know Royal

12 Masset

13 SEN. FRASER And I guess I would ask

14 what Royal Masset has to do with Cooke County

15 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Well nothing. But

16 your examples came from other places to lay the basis

17 for the need for this bill. And my question is do

18 you know were you aware that Royal Masset was the

19 political director of the Republican Party for 15

20 years

21 SEN. FRASER Well I guess the fact

22 that I recognize that his name is Royal Ma-say

23 rather than Royal Mas-et would give some indication

24 that I know Royal Ma-say.

25 SEN. SHAPLEIGH So if Royal Mas-et in


TX_00003953JA_003376


1 something that was posted on line last time this bill

2 came up who was the political director of the

3 Republican Party if he were to say Anyone who says

4 all legal voters under this bill can vote doesnt

5 know what he was talking about and Anyone who says

6 that a lack of IDs wont discriminate against

7 otherwise legal minority votes is lying do you have

8 any way -- do you have any way of determining why he

9 would say that

10 SEN. FRASER I have no input.

11 SEN. SHAPLEIGH If Royal Masset were

12 quoted in this account as saying In my involvement

13 with over 5000 Republican candidates I have never

14 seen one case of Republicans committing voter fraud

15 do you have any idea why he would say that

16 SEN. FRASER I am not advised.

17 SEN. SHAPLEIGH If Royal Masset said in

18 his quote When voting in America is only allowed to

19 healthy and wealthy people than sic the America I

20 know is far sicker than my mother. House Bill 218--21which is the bill that came up last session identical

22 I believe to the bill that youre carrying -- is a

23 direct descendent of poll taxes and of allowing only

24 white male property owners to vote. In its effect it

25 is racist barbaric antidemocratic and contrary to


TX_00003954JA_003377


E3 8

1 everything that made America great.

2 Do you have any idea why a former

3 political director of the Republican Party would make

4 that statement

5 SEN. FRASER No other advice other than

6 to say that the three sources that I quoted in my

7 opening remarks two were Democrats and one was a

8 left-leaning Supreme Court Justice that all make you

9 know comments the other direction. And actually

10 Rep. Steve Wolens commented about the fraud and the

11 voter harvesting that happened in a Democratic

12 primary. So Im assuming people on both sides of this

13 issue have opinions.

14 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Now I think -- I

15 thought I heard you mention the name Karl Rove as

16 one

--17SEN. FRASER I dont think I mentioned

18 Karl Rove.

19 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Okay. Let me ask are

20 you personally other than the hearsay statements from

21 Steve Wolens and others are you personally

22 acquainted do you know of any voter fraud you

23 yourself

24 SEN. FRASER Well the hearsay

25 statements those were actually statements by Steve


TX_00003955JA_003378


89

1 Wolens he made -- I think he made those on the House

2 Floor in laying out his bill so I dont think those

3 are hearsay. He represented them as facts.

4 SEN. SHAPLEIGH In connection with your

5 investigation and your desire to pass this bill did

6 you talk to the Attorney General of the State of

7 Texas

8 SEN. FRASER Ask that question again.

9 SEN. SHAPLEIGH In your investigation

10 of this bill as you worked it up did you consult wLin

11 the Attorney General of the State of Texas

12 SEN. FRASER I guess I need a clear

13 question. You know what -- consult is a very broad

14 lawyer term.

15 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Did you talk to him

16 Did you ask him about voter fraud

17 SEN. FRASER I talk to the Attorney

18 General quite often on a full range of issues.


20 about this issue

21 SEN. FRASER I have talked to the

22 Attorney General about a wide range of issues.


24 about voter fraud and the nature scope and extent of

25 it here in Texas


TX_00003956JA_003379


90

1 SEN. FRASER No.

2 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Okay. Were you aware

3 that he did a rather extensive investigation searching

4 for voter fraud in Texas and spent approximately

5 $1.4 million on that investigation

6 SEN. FRASER I guess I would dispute

7 the statement that you just made is that the

8 Secretary of State was giving an appropriation of

9 $1.4 million that they used in the special

10 investigation unit investigation. Within that

11 $1.4 million it came from federal funds that were

12 spent on election fraud. The issues they used that on

13 was the Eldorado YZF Ranch case the Texas Youth

14 Commission the hurricane-related rapid response

15 efforts the market manipulation and penny stock fraud

16 case the ERCOT case the cyber case inaudible

17 unit identity theft public corruption money

18 laundering and election fraud.

19 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Okay. So Im looking

20 at Attorney General Greg Abbotts press release from

21 March of 2006 where he announces In Texas an

22 epidemic of voter fraud is harming the electoral

23 process and its time we rooted it out. Do you

24 recall when he launched that investigation

25 SEN. FRASER I do.


TX_00003957JA_003380


1 SEN. SHAPLEIGH And reading further in

2 his press release At first glance these might seem

3 to be like isolated events in far-flung towns. Step

4 back and the picture looks just as sinister as it did

5 60 years ago. For example Texas has long been a

6 haven for paid political operatives who target seniors

7 and the disabled to handle their mail-in ballots for

8 them. Many of the cases referred to my office by the

9 Secretary of State fall into this category.

10 Do you remember that press release

11 SEN. FRASER And I think youre going

12 back and addressing the case of the Steve Wolens bill

13 that he filed on the mail-in ballots and I dont

14 think that particular issue has anything to do with

15 Senate Bill 362. My bill relates to the voter

16 identification issue when were investigating--17SEN. SHAPLEIGH Well I--18SEN. FRASER I make reference to the

19 Wolens bill because it is part of the fraud history

20 and voter fraud. But the investigation youre taking

21 about has nothing to do with the bill. were laying o t_

22 right now.

23 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Well here is his press

24 release. Here is the title of it Helping Stamp Out

25 Voter Fraud in Texas. Thats exactly what youre


TX_00003958JA_003381


92

1 bringing forward today. Right Is that what youre

2 trying to address in your bill

3 SEN. FRASER Could we get a copy of

4 that Youre referencing something. Were looking

5 through. And for some reason -- is all the

6 information we have. For some reason I cant find

7 that one. We thought we had them all. But Im sorry.

8 I dont have that one.

9 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Okay. This is his

10 press release off of the website when he launched his

11 investigation in March of 2006.

12 SEN. FRASER And Senator out of

13 fairness I dont regularly go to the Attorney

14 Generals website to read every press release that

15 comes out. So Im sorry I dont--16SEN. SHAPLEIGH I understand. But

17 youre bringing a bill and you led this Senate to

18 believe and youre laying out the case for widespread

19 voter fraud in the State of Texas. And weve had to

20 my knowledge in the last two years one major

21 investigation by the Attorney General of the State of

22 Texas. And I want to get into exactly what that

23 widespread voter fraud looks like after that

24 investigation. Thats where Im going. Thats what I

25 want to find out.


TX_00003959JA_003382


9 3

1 So in this press release hes laying

2 out the basis for widespread voter fraud and he

3 launched -- his investigation spans as you say among

4 other things -- investigating other issues

5 $1.4 million. And by my account here that

6 investigation produced exactly 13 indictments. Twelve

7 of the 13 were minorities nine Hispanics three

8 African-Americans. Thirteen of 13 of the indictments

9 were Democrats. Now do you have any reason to

10 dispute those numbers with us here today

11 SEN. FRASER Yes I do. The exact

12 numbers are 30 suspects 22 that have already been

13 prosecuted.

14 SEN. SHAPLEIGH In terms of the

15 indictments when he brought the indictments--16SEN. FRASER Indictments on 30

17 suspects.

18 SEN. SHAPLEIGH How many of those were

19 minority

20 SEN. FRASER Im not advised.

21 SEN. SHAPLEIGH How many of those were

22 Democrats

23 SEN. FRASER Im not advised. I dont.

24 know that they asked him what their--25SEN. SHAPLEIGH Well do you have any


TX00003960JA_003383


1 witness here today who can confirm how many of those

2 were minorities and how many were Democrats

3 SEN. FRASER I have not called a

4 witness you know for that. Its possible that -- we

5 have two people from the registrars office in

6 Houston and I know Houston was one of the places that

7 had a problem. And I would suggest that you ask the

8 expert witness from the Houston registrars office. I

9 suspect they probably would have some information.

10 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Well I think this

11 issue of that investigation is the proof that we have

12 of how widespread fraud is in the State of Texas. 1

13 think we have a perfect right to ask those questi_ons.

14 And I want to know if you as a chairman will

15 participate with us in getting a live witness that we

16 can ask about those cases on this floor

17 SEN. FRASER And Im being advised--18let me just confirm.

19 Brief pause

20 Im being advised that the Attorney

21 Generals office is willing to answer your question

22 to clarify the questions you have.

23 SEN. SHAPLEIGH And will that Attorney

24 General bring us with time to review the file on each

25 of these 13 indictments so that we can determine for


TX_00003961JA_003384


95

1 ourselves and can effectively cross-examine him or her

2 on the real nature of these cases Will we have that

3 file in time to really do the job we need to do to get

4 at the heart of this massive voter fraud that we have

5 in the State of Texas

6 SEN. FRASER You know I dont think

7 that the indictments on those -- were in a case that

8 the ability to game the system by representing

9 yourself as someone else. Ive got one area of the

10 voter fraud in this that were addressing and it is

11 voter ID identifying that when you walk in for

12 in-person voting you are who you say you are.

13 SEN. SHAPLEIGH In connection with the

14 indictments brought even your number which differs

15 from my number did a single one would a single

16 indictment have been resolved by this photo ID or were

17 they all mail-in ballots or other issues

18 SEN. FRASER I am not advised. My goal

19 on this is to look at the law itself of implementing

20 people identifying themselves for the ability to vote.

21 We were looking at the Indiana law that is a strict

22 photo ID the Georgia law that is a strict photo TD

23 that have been in place Indiana for two election

24 cycles Georgia for the last. And were going to hear

25 from expert witnesses of how that not only didnt


TX00003962JA_003385


9 6

1 suppress voting it actually increased voting beca..sc

2 it increased voter confidence.

3 SEN. SHAPLEIGH So are you aware of any

4 other investigations other than what Attorney General

5 Abbott has done here in Texas with respect to voter

6 fraud


8 SEN. SHAPLEIGH So if we hear from this

9 witness thats going to come here and share with us

10 the nature and extent of voter fraud in the State of

11 Texas and not a single one relates to photo ID will

12 that make a difference in the way you prosecute this

13 bill

14 SEN. FRASER Again were going to have

15 the expert witnesses come forward. But I think what

16 youre going to hear is the case -- or the example

17 that I used with Sen. Watson of someone stealing his

18 identification going and voting and you know

19 representing themself as Kirk Watson and being able to

20 vote.

21 I think what youre going to hear -- and

22 I dont want to put words in the mouth of the

23 Secretary of State or the other witnesses -- but I

24 think youre going to find that it is extremely hard

25 to identify and even harder to prosecute those cases


TX_00003963JA_003386


9

1 because we have a huge flaw in Texas law. We have not

2 given them the ability to even identify that someone

3 is breaking the law. And if you cant identify

4 theyre breaking the law then prosecuting that person

5 becomes even harder. So I think the point thats

6 going to be made through the testimony on this isthat-7we have a huge deficiency in current law in

8 identifying voters when they come for in-person

9 voting.

10 SEN. SHAPLEIGH You had mentioned and

11 laid out some statistics on those that have photo 1-Ds

12 in the State of Texas and said that your information

13 came from the DPS. Is that correct

14 SEN. FRASER I dont think I

15 represented anything came from DPS. I think the data

16 we had I represented came from the Secretary of State.

17 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Okay. Are you aware of

18 any other data from Texas with respect to those that

19 hold photo IDs that are of voting age

20 SEN. FRASER Help me with that. I--21SEN. SHAPLEIGH Well for example are

22 you aware of say the Texas Conservative Research

23 Institutes finding -- the Texas Conservative

24 Coalition Research Institute finding that 37 percent

25 of Texas residents over the age of 80 do not have a


TX_00003964JA_003387


9 8

1 drivers license

2 Brief pause

3 SEN. FRASER Im not advised. And I

4 dont think unless they called every one of those

5 people they could verify that. My mother is over 80

6 and she still has a drivers license I believe but

7 she votes by mail.

8 SEN. SHAPLEIGH So which is the number

9 the number that the Texas Conservative Coalition

10 Research Institute has for us 37 percent dont have a

11 drivers license or the number that youre bringirq

12 to us

13 SEN. FRASER I dont think Ibrought-14anything forward.

15 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Okay. Thank you

16 Senator. I look forward to another--17SEN. FRASER Youre cutting me short.

18 You told me that I would be here till midnight on your

19 questionings.

20 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Weve still got eight

21 hours.

22 SEN. FRASER Thats enough time.

23 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Were ready.


25 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Thank you.


TX_00003965JA_003388


9 9

1 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Zaffirini.

2 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Thank you

3 Mr. President.

4 SEN. FRASER Is this a test to see if

5 really have this information in the books

6 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Yes it is. Im going

7 to ask you questions about Page 218 Line 4 and what

8 its on.

9 SEN. FRASER The book that I shared

10 with you--11 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Yes.

12 SEN. FRASER -- and showed you all. my

13 data.

14 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Its a wonderful book

15 and I congratulate you and your staff for developing

16 such thorough information very impressive. My staff

17 is not happy to know about it however.

18 Sen. Fraser you were the Senate sponsor

19 of House Bill 218 that never made it to the Senate

20 floor in 2007. Correct

21 SEN. FRASER That is correct. I was

22 the sponsor of the--23SEN. ZAFFIRINI Do you know the main

24 differences if any between the bill that you

25 sponsored in 2007 and the bill that we are considering


TX_00003966JA_003389


1ti 1

1 today regarding voter ID

2 SEN. FRASER Im going to clarify with

3 staff. I think I know the answer but

4 Brief pause

5 Im being advised that the bill that

6 were filing is very very close. There are very

7 very small changes in the bill.

8 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Well thats what I

9 thought. I looked at the two bills and I looked at

10 the two bill analyses and I looked at the two fiscal

11 notes. But what surprised me more than anything is

12 that the bill that we considered in 2007 had a fiscal

13 note of $671000 in each year over a five-year period

14 but the fiscal note for the bill that we are

15 considering today says No Fiscal Implications.

16 Could you explain the difference in the fiscal note

17 SEN. FRASER Good research. And its

18 exactly the same thing that I -- I looked at the two.

19 I asked the same question. We called about the fiscal

20 note. Evidently in the research of this -- and again

21 weve got an expert witness that is sitting -- or they

22 were sitting right over here the Secretary of State.

23 I think they will answer that. And I think the answer

24 is again I dont want to put words in their mouth

25 but I think in doing more research they found out


TX_00003967JA_003390


i ll

1 that a lot of these things are available for them to

2 do within their current budget and it does not create

3 additional expense.

4 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Well I certainly do

5 want to follow up with the LBB to ask them

6 specifically since they write the fiscal notes why

7 such an enormous difference. Its just amazing. I

8 would like the name of the person who developed the

9 new fiscal note. I might want to work with that

10 person for my bills.

11 SEN. FRASER Well as thorough as you

12 are on finance because Ive sat there and watched

13 you and you do a wonderful job in looking at these.

14 And I know exactly the questions youll be asking in

15 Finance and I would encourage you to do that. But I

16 also being a former member of Finance did the same

17 thing asked the questions. And my response back was

18 is that after further examination they realized that

19 this had no fiscal impact.

20 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Ill be asking them to

21 look at some of mine further and see what they can

22 come up with.

23 SEN. FRASER Thank you Senator.

24 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Thank you Senator for

25 that particular answer. But looking at the bill


512.474.2233TX_00003968JA_003391


i v

1 and Senators Watson and Shapleigh touched upon these

2 issues -- there will be some costs to the local

3 officials will there not -- the posting of signs the

4 training will be provided by the state but the local

5 officials will have to engage in a lot of

6 verification participate in that training the

7 posting of signs and development of material or will

8 the state cover that expense

9 SEN. FRASER I expect that is correct

10 is that you know. But that also is not unusual in

11. that the local elected officials any time there is

12 something for notification they do that. And so its

13 not -- Im being told not unusual wouldnt be

14 expected.

15 SEN. ZAFFIRINI There was much

16 discussion yesterday and today and even before that

17 including by Sen. Duncan and Sen. Van de Putte

18 Sen. West and others regarding the need for each side

19 to make a record and then each side those who

20 support this legislation and those who oppose it are

21 making a record for two purposes No. 1 because a

22 lawsuit is expected No. 2 because we will be dealing

23 with challenges before the Department of Justice.

24 Would you agree with that

25 SEN. FRASER You know again youre


TX_00003969JA_003392


i

1 projecting some what-ifs.

2 SEN. ZAFFIRINI I thought it--3SEN. FRASER I would suggest that my

4 intention today is not to make a record. Im not in

5 any way trying to develop any kind of record other

6 than trying to inform my fellow other 30 senators that

7 the bill that Im laying out will increase voter

8 participation rather than the people that believe that

9 their vote is not going to count.

10 And so the expert witnesses that I have

11 brought today are the Secretary of State to talk about

12 the fact that weve got a problem the Houston

13 registrar that says that theyve had a problem there

14 in voter fraud. Weve got people from Indiana to talk

15 about the fact that after we implemented this law

16 they had the largest increase in Democratic votes in

17 the nation. Weve got two people from Georgia that

18 are going to say that they had a huge increase in

19 voter participation and theyre going to talk about

20 the minority increases because evidently Georgia

21 had a huge increase because the Hispanic and the

22 African-American voters were encouraged that their

23 vote was in fact going to count.

24 SEN. ZAFFIRINI But what years are you

25 comparing a huge increase from what year to what


TX00003970JA_003393


7rl A

1 year

2 SEN. FRASER You and I have been in

3 politics a long time and we know that presidential

4 year elections are the comparison. So if youre

5 comparing 2008 you would look at 2004. If you look

6 at 2006 you would look at 2002. In Indiana after the

7 bill was implemented if you compare 2002 to 2006

8 after it went into place there was a two percent

9 increase in the voter participation. All of it came

10 in democratic voters. There were three new

11 congressional people elected in Indiana in 2006.

12 In 2008 during that same election

13 cycle the vote total in Indiana was over double the

14 increase of next door Illinois. They had a 6.7

15 percent increase in all voting. It all came in the

16 Democrat election. They had 6.9 percent in Indiana

17 increase even though Republican voting actually

18 stayed stable or went down a little bit.

19 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Well we looked at the

20 data but we would disagree on the interpretation of

21 the data because we the Democrats believe that that

22 was the impact of President Obama and that it was

23 President Obama who brought out the African-Americans

24 and the Hispanics and the minorities and that he was

25 the motivation and the reason that there was such are


TX_00003971JA_003394


0

1 increase in turnout.

2 SEN. FRASER Im glad you brought that

3 up because the good thing is we got Indiana here to

4 verify that. But I think theyre going to tell you

5 that Obama was from Illinois. He was a senator from

6 his home state next door where we had this

7 repressive -- or the alleged oppressive voter ID bill

8 that was put in place. The increase in Indiana was

9 more than double the increase in Illinois which was

10 the president-elects home state that he was serving

11 in.

12 I believe the facts are going to show

13 just the obvious. Not only did they not depress

14 voting those voters were encouraged that their votes

15 were going to count and it doubled in Indiana over

16 what it was in Illinois. So I would love for you to

17 make that case because I think its going to show

18 that just the opposite happened. I think they were

19 encouraged to vote and they voted in great numbers.

20 SEN. ZAFFIRINI And perhaps if the

21 voter ID hadnt been in place the turnout would have

22 tripled or quadrupled. So we dont know that but we

23 will look into it and pursue those issues with the

24 expert voters. Thank you Senator.

25 SEN. FRASER All right.


TX00003972JA_003395


1 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Now going back to the

2 cost of this particular legislation have you

3 considered at all the cost to the State of Texas to

4 participate in a lawsuit to defend a lawsuit related

5 to this particular bill if it passes

6 SEN. FRASER No. And I have -- the

7 answer is no. As you know its part of the

8 legislative process.

9 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Yes.

10 SEN. FRASER Any time the State of

11 Texas is litigated against we have an obligation to

12 defend ourselves. And as you know since youve been

13 in the Legislature -- you have been here a long time

14 and youve seen it multiple times -- and if the

15 lawsuit is filed then the state has to defend itself.

16 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Have you considered at

17 all the cost to the State of Texas to dealing with the

18 challenge that would be issued with the Department of

19 Justice regarding this particular legislation if it

20 passes

21 SEN. FRASER I guess the question I

22 would ask you if youre asking me if Ive looked at

23 the cost I would ask you the question have you

24 looked at if someone lost an election because someone

25 cheated because they misrepresented themself and they


TX_00003973JA_003396


7rV I

1 werent allowed to serve -- and one of the things

2 were going to be talking about is there is somebody

3 in this room today that won a very narrow election and

4 would not be here today if someone had cheated on a

5 very few votes.

6 So I guess the question Ill ask you

7 what is the cost of the State of Texas if someone is

8 allowed to cheat that would change history someone

9 else to represent them there is a huge cost to the

10 state in the fact that you change history by rigging

11 an election.

12 SEN. ZAFFIRINI But basically what

13 were focusing on at this point in the debate is the

14 cost related to this particular bill not to history

15 and not to the future but the costs associated with

16 this particular bill. On a related note were any of

17 your expert witnesses brought in at any expense to the

18 State of Texas or the Senate in particular

19 SEN. FRASER Im sorry. Ive got two

20 people asking questions. Please ask it again.

21 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Were any of your expert

22 witnesses for today brought in at the expense of the

23 State of Texas or the Senate in particular

24 SEN. FRASER No.

25 SEN. ZAFFIRINI No


TX_00003974JA_003397


108

1 SEN. FRASER Were any of your expert

2 witnesses brought in at the expense of the state or

3 the expense of the Senate

4 SEN. ZAFFIRINI That is my question.

5 SEN. FRASER No. I was asking you

6 that.

7 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Oh I didnt bring in

8 any expert witnesses except one from Austin who I

9 am

--10 SEN. FRASER None of my expert

11 witnesses were at the expense of the state.

12 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Good.

13 SEN. FRASER Let me clarify that. Not

14 unless Coby Shorter is on expense report for driving

15 his car in to the Capitol this morning. I dont think

16 so.

17 SEN. ZAFFIRINI All right. Senator

18 you talked about vote fraud and you referenced the

19 Duke of Duval and something that happened in 1948.

20 Thats a long time ago. You and I discussed other

21 allegations of fraud including one election in which

22 someone apparently bubbled in. The bubbles were

23 erased on ballots that the respective voters had not

24 bubbled in.

25 In other words there were many ballots


TX_00003975JA_003398


09

1 that indicated that a voter had not voted in a

2 particular race and apparently someone else went in

3 and bubbled in and in effect impacted the results of

4 the race. In that particular race there were

5 allegations that there were more votes than ballots

6 counted in a recount. But your bill would not have

7 anything to do with correcting that kind of voter

8 fraud that was alleged at that point would it

9 SEN. FRASER If you go back and examine

10 my opening comments I said how did I move toward even

11 starting thinking about this And I reflected that in

12 the history of the United States theres been a lot

13 of cases where there was either voter fraud voter

14 manipulation stolen election voter harvesting that

15 there is a history out there of people attempting to

16 steal elections.

17 I also made the observation that that

18 has moved people toward losing faith in the system.

19 And if they lose faith in the system and they think

20 their vote is not going to count they dont qo vote.

21 That might have something to do with the fact that we

22 have some elections that theres only eight percent of

23 the people that vote because they have no faith that

24 their vote is going to count.

25 Im addressing one small area of the


TX_00003976JA_003399


1 law and that is something that I think I can impact

2 and that is when Judy Zaffirini walks into your

3 polling place at home and you put your voter

4 registration down there I want them to know without a

5 doubt that that is Judith Zaffirini that is voting and

6 not Tom Smith that is borrowing her -- or Thomasina

7 Smith borrowing -- it would probably be -- it would be

8 better if it was a woman I guess in the example.

9 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Thats all right. I

10 understand Senator. Dont worry about it.

11 SEN. FRASER If someone else is using

12 your card to vote then I think you need that

13 assurance that youve got to make sure that when you

14 go to vote that somebody has not been there you

15 know impersonating you stealing your ability to

16 vote.

17 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Quite frankly Senator

18 that never ever crossed my mind except in relation to

19 the point that youre making. But never ever did I

20 feel threated in any way.

21 My other question for you is do you

22 have any examples at all of any Texas election in

23 which the outcome was impacted by voter impersonation

24 SEN. FRASER Im going to wait until we

25 have all of our expert witnesses. Theyre going to


TX_00003977JA_003400


1.

1 answer questions and were going to talk about the

2 election system in Texas and the ability not only to

3 impact elections but also the extreme difficulty in

4 identifying that someone cheated and prosecuting

5 them.

6 Brief pause

7 SEN. ZAFFIRINI You ready

8 SEN. FRASER Yes.

9 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Senator have you

10 considered at all the questions that many of us have

11 raised -- we who are Democrats we who are

12 minorities -- regarding the impact the negative

13 impact of this legislation on the turnout of

14 minorities specifically African-Americans and

15 Mexican-Americans and specifically in South Texas

16 Have you considered those concerns that we have

17 raised

18 SEN. FRASER Senator actually I

19 considered a lot. And I think -- you know first of

20 all Im going to make a blanket statement I want a

21 large turnout of all Texans and I want a large

22 turnout of minorities making sure that they are

23 encouraged to vote.

24 And again I would encourage you to

25 listen to the testimony of Indiana and Georgia of what


TX_00003978JA_003401


1 happened when they implemented a fair system where

2 people were comfortable that their vote was going to

3 count and what happened to the minority turnout. And

4 so the answer to your question is absolutely. T want

5 to make sure that -- I want everyone in Texas to vote

6 in large numbers and I want the minorities the

7 African-Americans and the Hispanics to increase their

8 numbers.

9 And I really believe in my heart that

10 the bill that I am laying out today will do that

11 because I think they are frustrated that their vote is

12 not counting that there are people cheating in the

13 elections and have been cheating for a long time. And

14 if they know that their vote is going to count I

15 think theyll be encouraged and I think more will

16 turn out. So the answer to your question is--17SEN. ZAFFIRINI I certainly have not

1.8 seen evidence of that cheating that youre referring

19 to not in terms of voter impersonation. But I

20 certainly will be interested in hearing if there is

21 any. On the other hand if our experts prove to you

22 that your bill will have a negative impact onMexican-23Americans on African-Americans will you consider

24 amendments to alleviate our concerns

25 SEN. FRASER Well first of all in


TX_00003979JA_003402


113

1 response to it I have four different papers from

2 academics around the country that address the issue

3 that youre talking about of the fact that actually

4 the minority -- impact is that minorities will turn

5 out more and its from actual data of whats happened

6 since these laws have been input.

7 Mr. Chairman could I possibly move that

8 these be added or entered into the record

9 SEN. DUNCAN You can do that at this

10 time. I think well have -- those will be Exh hits--11what numbers Well bring them down to the front and

12 mark them.

13 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Thank you Senator.

14 Ive asked you about the negative impact onMexican-15Americans on Hispanics in general onAfrican-16Americans. Have you considered the negative impact on

17 the elderly specifically persons over the age of 65

18 and how they will be able to prove their

19 identification What about--20SEN. FRASER Senator I dont know

21 about you but Im getting close to that range. And

22 obviously I am concerned about people in that range.

23 Im concerned about my mother that is in a retirement

24 center and are there and I spend a lot of hours at

25 the retirement center talking to those people


TX_00003980JA_003403


1 asking -- Ive asked them -- you cant imagine the

2 number of questions Ive asked about the way they

3 vote what theyre following -- you know what the

4 habits are.

5 And I think the assurance I can give to

6 you is that first of all the bulk of the people that

7 are over 65 -- some that have stopped driving -- the

8 bulk of those and probably a high high percentage

9 vote by mail. I am not impacting that in this

10 legislation. So everything they have done in the past

11 in the ability to vote to mail stays exactly the same.

12 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Have you considered a

13 possible negative impact on persons with disabilities

14 including those who live in institutions such as

15 nursing homes

16 SEN. FRASER And again I guess I would

17 throw my mother in that category. My mother is

18 wheelchair-bound. I know that just even me trying to

19 get her into my car to take to the doctor is a huge

20 problem. She you know like most of her friends

21 votes by mail and so she is in that category of the

22 disabled. And her voting rights will continue as

23 will all of her friends in the retirement center.

24 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Senator going back to

25 your bill on Page 6 Line 14 of your bill you


TX_00003981JA_003404


1 itemize--2 SEN. FRASER Im getting heckled over

3 here. People from the other side are moving over

4 to -- hes trying to implement the egg-timer rule of

5 three minutes.

6 SEN. ZAFFIRINI I see.

7 SEN. FRASER Im for that.

8 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Well on Page 6 Li n e

9 14 of your bill you list types of documentation that

10 you acceptable as proof of identification under this

11 chapter. In 2007 in House Bill 218 which you

1.2 sponsored in the Senate you included a student

13 identification card as proof of identification as

14 acceptable documentation but a student ID card is not

15 included in your 2009 bill. Could you explain why

16 SEN. FRASER Senator could I refer you

17 to Section 6.

18 SEN. ZAFFIRINI What line what page

19 Senator

20 SEN. FRASER It is -- just a second.

21 The reference youre making is the public institutions

22 of higher learning the student ID card is still

23 included. The wording changed but its covered by

24 No. 6 A25 SEN. ZAFFIRINI So youre saying that


TX_00003982JA_003405


a 6

1 on Page 6 beginning at Line 8 where it reads a

2 valid identification card that contains the persons

3 photograph and is issued by

4 A An agency or institution of

5 the federal government or

6 B An agency institution or

7 political subdivision of this state youre saying

8 that that would include institutions of higher

9 education and that therefore student identification

10 cards would be acceptable proof of identification

11 SEN. FRASER Yes.

12 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Good.

13 SEN. FRASER Isnt that what that says

14 It says an agency institution or political

15 subdivision of this state. The University of Texas

16 is considered a subdivision of the state. It says

17 that an identification card that contains a persons

18 photograph that is issued by. I think the answer to

19 your question is Yes.

20 SEN. ZAFFIRINI All right. In your old

21 bill -- Im looking at it now -- you have this

22 language -- and in addition to that you specified the

23 student identification card. But so long as you

24 clarify your legislative intent thats acceptable to

25 me.


TX_00003983JA_003406


1 7

1 But a related question Senator In

2 that section you list many many types of acceptable

3 proof of identification including a certified copy of

4 a birth certificate United States citizenship papers

5 an original or certified copy of the persons marriage

6 license or divorce decree. And finally on Page 7

7 Lines 1 and 2 you include court records of the

8 persons adoption name change or sex change. Could

9 you explain why you included sex change as an

10 acceptable documentation and proof of identification

1 SEN. FRASER I believe were going to

12 punt to the House sponsor. This was the language that

13 was passed out of the Texas House last year. We

14 picked up the bill from an amendment that was added in

15 the House. And as our starting point the legislation

16 that we never voted on last year that we brought over

17 from the House that language is in there. So I guess

18 I would say Im not advised.

19 SEN. ZAFFIRINI All right. And Im

20 sure that you can find out why perhaps and answer me

21 on the floor--22SEN. FRASER Some of it was being

23 inclusive.

24 SEN. ZAFFIRINI -- through the Senate

25 debate.


TX_00003984JA_003407


1 I do have a related question. Going

2 back to our student identification card that

3 references public universities. But what about

4 students in private institutions.

5 SEN. FRASER Not included.

6 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Theyre not included.

7 Was that an oversight Do you intend to include them

8 at a later date

9 SEN. FRASER The answer to that is that

10 its not an intentional exclusion. The concern on i.L

11 is us not knowing every private institution in the

12 state and the way their IDs are administered. A state

13 institution we have some input and control. And I

14 guess the answer to that is if you have a mechanism

15 for that Im willing to listen. It is not -- the

16 answer is not that were -- were not trying to

17 prohibit. Its just that those particular groups we

18 dont have the ability to at least observe or regulate

19 the IDs theyre putting out.

20 SEN. ZAFFIRINI But to summarize then

21 and to make sure that I understands a student

22 identification card issued by a public institution

23 would be considered proof of identification that is

24 acceptable under your bill. But a student

25 identification card issued by a private institution of


TX_00003985JA_003408


9

1 higher education would not be

2 SEN. FRASER As the bill is currently

3 written.

4 SEN. ZAFFIRINI Thank you very much

5 Senator. I appreciate your courtesy.

6 SEN. FRASER Yes.

7 SEN. DUNCAN Before we go to the next

8 questioner let me just kind of clarify the record. I

9 have some -- Sen. Shapleigh -- and I think if youre

10 going to put something in the record you need to

11 identify it. Sen. Shapleigh had submitted Exhibit 6

12 which is the vote tally on the Gallegos motion to

13 appeal the ruling of the Chair. Exhibit 7 is a

14 document The Effects of Photographic Identification

15 on Voter Turnout in Indiana submitted by

16 Sen. Fraser. Exhibit 8 is an article or a document

17 entitled Much-hyped up Turnout Record Fails to

18 Materialize Convenience Voting Fails to Boost

19 Balloting. Exhibit 8. And then Exhibit 9 submitted

20 by Sen. Fraser is The Empirical Effects of Voter-I1

21 Laws Present or Absent

22 I think Exhibit No. -- yes No.--23thats all there are. So those will be in the record.

24 Exhibit 10 is A Report of the Heritage

25 Center for Data Analysis submitted by Sen. Fraser.


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120

1 Exhibit Nos. 6 through 10 marked and

2 admitted

3 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Ellis. Or Im sorry.

4 Sen. Whitmire.

5 SEN. WHITMIRE Thank you

6 Mr. President.

7 Sen. Fraser to clarify a few things

8 that you mentioned earlier you mentioned that. Indiana

9 and Georgia voting occurrence. What year was that

10 SEN. FRASER The Indiana voting the

11 first one was in 2006. The second was in 2008.

12 SEN. WHITMIRE I think I--13SEN. FRASER Excuse me a second. And

14 Georgia was in 2008.

15 SEN. WHITMIRE Well dont you agree

16 that everywhere in the country every state had a

17 greater participation this year primarily because of

18 the popularity of our presidential candidates and also

19 the severe economic conditions Particularly I would

20 focus on Indiana. Why would you use the Indiana

21 increase in voting as an indication of anything other

22 than they were very energized about the selection of

23 candidates and because of their unemployment rate and

24 their severe economic downturn Wouldnt that--25SEN. FRASER Senator youre making


TX_00003987JA_003410


it

1 wonderful subjective argument. We have an objective

2 person that is about to testify before us that will

3 give you very clear answers that the Indiana guy

4 knows--5 SEN. WHITMIRE Sure.

6 SEN. FRASER -- what their results were

7 and he knows what the surrounding states were.

8 SEN. WHITMIRE Well I havent heard

9 from him. I can only go by your trying to compare

10 Indiana to Illinois and that you said Indiana had

11 such an increase over Illinois. And I think empirical

12 data would you not agree would show that Indiana or

13 Illinois always has high voter participation

14 What also I would like to ask you would

15 you not agree that Georgia it has been well recorded

16 that the African-American vote this year because of

17 President Obama was a significant increase in

18 turnout So I just really dont know if thats an

19 indication that your new mechanism works so well in

20 those two states.

21 And in fact I would ask you Do you

22 think its even a reasonable comparison -- Georgia and

23 Indiana with Texas -- when you look at our size our

24 diversity our language issues Why would you use

25 those two to indicate what Texas is going to follow


TX_00003988JA_003411


122

1 SEN. FRASER You know the great thing

2 about this Dean is that were allowed to bring in

3 experts from those states.

4 SEN. WHITMIRE Were going to listen to

5 them

6 SEN. FRASER We have the person that

7 runs the elections in those states that can answer

8 your question. And I -- you know I think its great

9 that theyre here today.

10 SEN. WHITMIRE Well I assume theyre

11 partisan officials as well. How about elected

12 officials Did I not read your county clerk said in

13 her long tenure as your county clerk had never seen

14 anyone impersonating a voter in your own district

15 Did I not read that correctly

16 SEN. FRASER You know someone reported

17 to me that she had said that she had not identified

18 it. But she also said she was supporting the bill--19SEN. WHITMIRE She supports the bill.

20 SEN. FRASER Just a second. You asked

21 me the question I get to answer it. She said that

22 she supports the concept--23SEN. WHITMIRE Sure.

24 SEN. FRASER -- of voter

25 identification. The question was asked by the


TX_00003989JA_003412


12 -3

1 reporter Have you caught someone impersonating

2 someone The thing that she didnt add to that that

3 if the reporter would have asked that Does the state

4 and your office have the mechanism to identify if

5 someone is voting illegally and here would be the

6 example that I would use is that if Tom Smith came in

7 with Bill Whites identification card and Bill White

8 is on the registration roll--9SEN. WHITMIRE Ive heard it. You said

10 it

--11 SEN. FRASER But just a second.

12 SEN. WHITMIRE Youve done that two or

13 three times. Im familiar with that. You used it

14 earlier.

15 SEN. FRASER Okay.

16 SEN. WHITMIRE And that leads me to my

17 question.

18 SEN. FRASER You wanted an answer to

19 the question.

20 SEN. WHITMIRE No. I understand.

21 Youve used about three examples of where someone runs

22 to the mailbox and gets someone elses certificate and

23 then runs and votes. Its the same identical example

24 youre using right now which leads me to a very

25 specific question


TX_00003990JA_003413


2 4.

1 Do you not know that that is against the

2 law and its a third degree felony

3 SEN. FRASER Okay. And I would ask

4 you--5 SEN. WHITMIRE What youre trying to

6 address is against the law. And would it make a

7 difference to you and would you still be in favor of

8 your bill if I told you we can enhance that penalty

9 SEN. FRASER Dean I think if we can

10 get past this portion of this that yall are asking

11 me questions that could be asked of an expert witness.

12 We have somebody from the Secretary of States office

13 that is going to clarify Is that possible and is it

14 possible to catch them and is it possible to

15 prosecute And I think youre going to be surprised

16 at the answer.

17 SEN. WHITMIRE No Im not going to be

18 surprised at the answer because Ive been running for

19 office 36 years. Its not only -- Troy would you not

20 agree my duty and your duty as public officials is to

21 prevent fraud but we have a very special reason--22because on the ballot. I have been in barnburners. 1

23 have been in close elections. I have tried to

24 identify voter fraud. And that leads me -- and its

25 never existed in the tough races that Ive been in.


TX_00003991JA_003414


25

1 And I would suggest can any one of the

2 31 senators document and demonstrate where voter fraud

3 has been an issue in their election I would suggest

4 to you early on perhaps in mail-in ballots we were

5 concerned. But on Election Day there is safeguard

6 after safeguard.

7 But I do agree with you -- and each and

8 every one of us I think would agree -- if we could

9 identify fraud we would want to prosecute. But the

10 interesting thing is Im going to ask you before I

11 sit down give me a recent occurrence of voter fraud.

12 SEN. FRASER Johnny--13SEN. WHITMIRE The cite in Duval

14 County that was the year I was born. Then you cited

15 dead people voting. Would a voter ID have helped

16 those people prevented them from voting Give me an

17 example.

18 SEN. FRASER I hate to keep giving you

19 the answer but youre about to have the registrar

20 from Houston thats about to come up here and testify

21 and theyre going to talk about the dead people that

22 voted. And Im going to show you

23 SEN. WHITMIRE That

24 SEN. FRASER Just a second. You asked

25 a question. Right here in my records Ive got it


TX_00003992JA_003415


26

1 here but I had rather wait on the expert witness but

2 this is a dead person that voted in person.

3 SEN. WHITMIRE Were they prosecuted

4 The person that voted them fraudulently was that

5 person prosecuted And if she shows up and she didnt

6 file charges against them we ought to all be

7 outraged. Im just curious. What are you trying

8 to

--9SEN. FRASER Ask that question.

10 SEN. WHITMIRE What are you trying

11 to

--12 SEN. FRASER Ask that question of the

13 witness.

14 SEN. WHITMIRE I look forward to it.

15 This is my concern What are you trying to fix Can

16 you point to a recent fraudulent act that would

17 justify us changing the Senate rules having a specia

18 order not addressing property tax increases highway

19 funding What are you trying to address that is such

20 a high priority

21 SEN. FRASER John this you know--22SEN. WHITMIRE No. Im really serious.

23 SEN. FRASER I know. But--24SEN. WHITMIRE We just went through a

25 historical election


512.474.2233

TX_00003993JA_003416


12/

1 SEN. FRASER Do you want me to answer

2 Would you like for me to answer or do you want to

3 interrupt me

4 SEN. WHITMIRE Yes yes. What are you

5 fixing that would shove everything else aside and take

6 this up today

7 SEN. FRASER This is not rocket

8 science. What I am fixing is the very real Is there

9 a possibility -- of which were going to show that it

10 is -- that someone could steal your registration card

11 and they could go and vote representing to be you

12 and that there is no way to identify when its

13 happening. And once it happens its almost

14 impossible then to prosecute after the fact.

15 SEN. WHITMIRE Okay. Let me ask you

16 this -- and I look forward to hearing our witness.

17 Let me ask you this When you compare Indiana and

18 Georgia are you familiar at all with how they conduct

19 their elections in terms of their poll workers their

20 training their compensation any qualifications to

21 hold an election What are the requirements in

22 Georgia Indiana relative to our qualifications

23 SEN. FRASER Dean one of the great

24 things -- the answer I just gave Sen. Zaffirini -- the

25 great thing about this process we bring in expert


TX_00003994JA_003417


128

1 witnesses from those states.

2 SEN. WHITMIRE Yes.

3 SEN. FRASER They know the answers to

4 those questions. My expert witness is about--5theyll answer that exact question that you have.

6 SEN. WHITMIRE Because I think what

7 youre going to find is in these other states they

8 compensate them in a greater detail they have

9 training for them. And we depend on volunteers often

10 our senior citizens. And often we have precincts in

11 Harris County that we literally cannot find people to

12 serve and we actually merge and combine precincts

13 because of the lack of individuals available to run

14 these elections. And then youre proposing an

15 elaborate documentation.

16 SEN. FRASER Dean youre my friend.

17 respect your right to ask this. But the last three

18 persons have all asked the same questions. And my

19 responses have been the same We have expert

20 witnesses that are about to show up that can answer

21 your questions. And I guess I tell you no matter how

22 many ways you ask it my response is going to be the

23 same. I think we need to cut this off and start the

24 witnessing.

25 SEN. WHITMIRE Well I look forward to


TX_00003995JA_003418


129

1 talking to the person from Harris County. Andif-2someone fraudulently voted for someone who is

3 deceased I would hope we find out why they werent

4 prosecuted. And I would also -- as we continue T

5 wish you would ask your witnesses for the most recent

6 incidence of voter fraud that theyre familiar with

7 and the outcome in terms of prosecution.

8 Weve had a senator -- Sen. Williams was

9 rightfully concerned about some allegations he had

10 heard. The same question was to him at that moment a

11 couple of months ago Were the people prosecuted T

12 think weve got the toughest Penal Code in the United

13 States 10 to 20 for fraudulently voting for someone.

14 And I think we ought to actively prosecute them

15 because none of us want to participate in a campaign

16 or serve in a body that is governed or controlled or

17 influenced by voter fraud.

18 I dont think it exists. And I think

19 the harm is being done because were not in Finance

20 this afternoon were not dealing with Texas Youth

21 Commissions this afternoon were dealing in fighting

22 something that does not exist. And as it is going to

23 be documented by our witnesses going to create a

24 hardship for thousands of Texans.

25 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Ellis


TX_00003996JA_003419


130

1 SEN. ELLIS Thank you Mr. President.

2 Senator I know youre tired. Ill try

3 not to take too long. One question I want to ask you

4 is about the provisional ballot. You said when you

5 first began answering questions from Sen. Watson that

6 everyone would be able to vote no one would be turned

7 away. Now how would that process work if someone

8 doesnt have the forms of identification that are laid

9 out in your bill.

10 SEN. FRASER I believe Coby Shorter is

11 right over here. Hes going to be coming up to visit

12 with you in just a second. He will give you all that

13 data. And I believe our expert witnesses -- and I

14 think I told Sen. Watson that.

15 SEN. ELLIS Well now here is what Im

16 getting at I know youre tired Senator.

17 SEN. FRASER No. Im doing good.

18 SEN. ELLIS The only reason Im asking

19 you this is because youre carrying the bill not your

20 resource witnesses so its not personal. Here is

21 what Im getting at Im assuming the way I read

22 your bill if somebody does not have the forms of 1D

23 you lay out they will be told You can cast a

24 provisional ballot. So here is my question When

25 does that ballot get counted What does it take for


TX_00003997JA_003420


13

1 that provisional ballot to be counted

2 SEN. FRASER And when my witness comes

3 up -- that is the Assistant Secretary of State -- they

4 will tell you the procedure that is used for that.

5 SEN. ELLIS Okay. Im guessing but T

6 assume that if somebody does that have that ID and

7 they cast a provisional ballot the burden is on them.

8 The bill doesnt lay it out but I assume the burden

9 is on them to then go home or go somewhere and prove

10 who they are or that ballot will not be counted. And

11 thats what my question was.

12 SEN. FRASER Let me ask you if you

13 were getting on an airplane and you didnt take your

14 ID is the burden on the airport to run to your house

15 to get your ID for you

16 SEN. ELLIS Well here is a minor

17 distinction. I dont have a constitutional right to

18 get on an airplane. Thats a big difference. Let me

19 give you if I might a few other points Senator.

20 You used Georgia a number of times as I guess a

21 building block for this legislation. Is that a fair

22 assessment You were saying that they do this in

23 Georgia Georgia is comparable to Texas

24 SEN. FRASER I dont know that we use

25 it as a building block. I said that they have passed


TX_00003998JA_003421


.13

1 a near identical bill. It has passed DOJ. It has

2 passed the court system and been put into law. And

3 theyve had an election cycle. And we have the

4 voting -- the people that ran the election in Georgia

5 here. And I guess I would lay it out that I think th

6 facts will speak for themselves. I dont think Im

7 laying out Georgia as an example I think Georgia is

8 their own example.

9 SEN. ELLIS Well I want to make sure

10 that you and other members do understand a basic

11 distinction between Georgia and Texas. The State of

12 Texas is the third minority -- majority minority state

13 in the country -- new Mexico California and then

14 Texas. Georgias population at best Hispanic

15 population may be 7 may be 9 percent. There is a

16 big distinction between Georgia and Texas.

17 When you came up Senator you made

18 reference to -- I guess giving us a history lesson

19 about voter fraud issues and you mentioned Duval

20 County in particular. And being a proud graduate of

21 the LBJ School and a beneficiary of the great

22 legislation that President Johnson signed into law

23 after an historic march that went on this past weekend

24 across the Edmund Pettis Bridge I want to give you a

25 little bit of a history lesson.


TX_00003999JA_003422


133

1 Do you have any idea in what year the

2 State of Texas enacted the poll tax

3 SEN. FRASER Im sorry. Im not

4 advised. I dont have that number.

5 SEN. ELLIS The State of Texas enacted

6 the poll tax in 1901. Do you have any idea when the

7 Democratic Party not just in Texas but in a number of

8 states enacted the while-only primary system where

9 you have to be white in order to vote in a primary

10 SEN. FRASER Still Im sorry. I dont.

11 have that number.

12 SEN. ELLIS 1923. It was not abolished

13 until 1944. The poll tax of course was not

14 abolished until 1966. I want to say that to you

15 Senator because when this bill didnt open up 1885

16 or whenever it opened up there were people who sat in

17 desks these desks in chairs not quite as comfortable

18 as the ones that you and I are sitting in today or

19 standing on this floor didnt have this nice carpet.

20 something didnt have the padding under it. But

21 decisions were made over the history of this state

22 which is why we have to be pre-cleared before making

23 this change or any other one.

24 Now Georgia is similar to Texas in one

25 way. It alone with a number of other southern


TX_00004000JA_003423


134

1 states do have to be pre-cleared because of their

2 legacy of putting hurdles in the path of people to be

3 able to vote.

4 SEN. FRASER We recognize they are a

5 Section 5 voting rights state that the two states

6 are you know alike in that way.

7 SEN. ELLIS Are you aware -- you

8 mentioned that the Department of Justice pre-cleared

9 Georgias voter ID plan. You do know Georgia had not

10 one but two voter identification bills. You are aware

11 of that I assume. The first bill that Georgia had

12 was pre-cleared by the Justice Department by someone

13 who is one of your witnesses today by the way a

14 political appointee at the Justice Department. And

15 then the state and federal courts struck it down and

16 then Georgia went back and redid their voter

17 identification law. Are you aware of how much they

18 spent on informing voters how to comply with their

19 voter identification law in Texas

20 SEN. FRASER And again same answer

21 Ive given the last three now youre fourth is that

22 my witness from Georgia is very prepared to go over

23 the details of that rather than you asking me because

24 I cant be an expert on the Georgia law.

25 SEN. ELLIS And only -- as painful as


TX_00004001JA_003424


1.3

1 it is to do it particularly with you being my desk

2 mate -- it is your bill -- Georgia spends $500000.

3 Now Im only making that point because you put

4 Georgia on our mind not me. Georgia is probably--5SEN. FRASER I--6SEN. ELLIS -- a great state might be

7 one-fifth one-sixth the size of Texas. They spent a

8 half a million dollars a year to make sure people know

9 the provisions under that law. Senator you made

10 reference to the Carter-Baker Commission when you

11 initially started. Do you know the genesis of that

12 commission Do you know--13SEN. FRASER Were about to have a lady

14 come up here in just a minute that is from that

15 commission that I bet will give us the entire genesis.

16 SEN. ELLIS Im going to ask her a lot

17 of questions. The only reason I raise it to you is

18 sometimes -- not all the time but sometimes these

19 senators tend to listen to other senators

20 particularly the person who is carrying the bill as

21 opposed to somebody who has testified for it.

22 That bill was created that commission

23 was created in part to try and restore confidence in

24 the American electoral system not just in our eyes

25 but in the eyes of people all around the world


TX_00004002JA_003425


1 36

1 Senator because of the election of 2000 in which a

2 lot of people think there were serious problems in

3 that election of 2000 and thats why this Commission

4 was established a very bipartisan commission.

5 Even if President Jimmy Carter and

6 Secretary Baker were on different sides in their 2000

7 race they realized when developing nations were

8 saying Yall need to have President Carter send a

9 group down here to monitor elections in America

10 instead of going to developing countries. Do you have

11 any idea who some of the other people were Senator on

12 the Carter-Baker Commission

13 SEN. FRASER I bet were going to hear

14 that from my expert witness.

15 SEN. ELLIS Raul Yzaguirre. I mention

16 that because hes one of the most noted Hispanic civil.

17 rights leaders in the country. I dont mention that

18 to help your side to this argument. Also former

19 Congressman Bob Michel a very distinguished group of

20 American citizens from both sides of the aisle. Do

21 you have any idea Senator how many pages were in the

22 Carter-Baker Commission Report

23 SEN. FRASER I didnt get that quite.

24 How many what

25 SEN. ELLIS 130. I only read -- 113.


TX00004003JA_003426


137

1 was going to say I thought it was 115. If you count

2 the nice pictures in the back--3SEN. FRASER Are you--4SEN. ELLIS 115 pages. Senator do you

5 have any idea how many recommendations there were in

6 the Carter-Baker Commission Report

7 SEN. FRASER I would suspect that the

8 lady coming up from the Carter-Baker Commission could

9 possibly have that information if you asked her.

10 SEN. ELLIS Do you have any idea what

11 the real name of that Commission was


13 SEN. ELLIS It was the Help America

14 Vote Act and the Voting Rights Act. Thats what the

15 Commission was created for. Senator--16SEN. FRASER And I would suspect that

17 the recommendations was made for vote identification

18 that increased the voter turnout in Indiana and in

19 Georgia for record turnout they were successful that

20 they encouraged -- Were going to help people vote

21 and they encouraged people to feel more comfortable

22 about their voting rights.

23 SEN. ELLIS But--24SEN. FRASER And I suspect my witnesses

25 that youre going to hear are going to tell you that.


TX_00004004JA_003427


1 3 8

1 SEN. ELLIS Good try but not quite.

2 You referenced a New York Times editorial a little

3 earlier. Im going to try to be a little more

4 balanced than you were my desk mate in reading your

5 provision from that editorial that op ed by President

6 Carter and Secretary Baker. It was titled A Clearer

7 Picture on Voter ID February 3 2008. Here isjust--8a snippet that I think gives a pretty good--9SEN. FRASER Is that about a snippet

10 SEN. ELLIS -- of both sides of the

11 issue. It says in the fourth paragraph No state has

12 yet accepted our proposal. Whats more when it comes

13 to ID laws confusion reigns. The laws on the books

14 mainly backed by Republicans have not made -- I

15 dont want to lick my finger here and try to turn this

16 page so dont give me a hard time -- have not made

17 it easy for voters to acquire an ID. At the same

18 time Democrats have tended to try to block voter ID

19 legislation outright -- instead of seeking to revise

20 that legislation to promote accessibility.

21 Here is the point that they were trying

22 to make Senator. Out of those 113 or 115 pages if

23 you count the pictures they had a series of things to

24 help Americans have more confidence in their voting

25 system and also to encourage more people to vote


TX_00004005JA_003428


139

1 things like say their registration restoration of

2 ex-offenders right to vote states spending

3 significant amounts of money in educating people on

4 how to vote. And Senator the most important part

5 was having a uniform universal form of

6 identification HAVA as we have referred to it a

7 number of times.

8 Sen. Estes my other desk mate here may

9 have forgotten this. But last session you were quoted

10 in the paper as saying It will cost too much money

11 for the State of Texas to comply with the HAVA

12 legislation.

13 What Im saying to you Senator is I

14 dont think its appropriate to pick and choose which

15 parts of the Carter-Baker recommendation their

16 report you want to implement because when you do

17 you dont do justice to it. Senator you made

18 reference to not using this legislation to impact

19 mail-in ballots. Why

20 SEN. FRASER Is this a question or were

21 you

--22SEN. ELLIS Why is it that your bill

23 does not touch mail-in ballots

24 SEN. FRASER Why

25 SEN. ELLIS Yes.


TX_00004006JA_003429


190

1 SEN. FRASER Well its like a lot of

2 legislation we pass. We fix a piece of the puzzle at

3 a time. The mail-in ballot is a huge problem. It is

4 something absolutely that at some point were going to

5 have to address.

6 SEN. ELLIS Senator--7SEN. FRASER But today Im addressing

8 the recommendation of -- the Carter-Baker Commission

9 recommended that we put in voter photo ID legiisiation.

10 And Im moving toward what other states have done

11 which is Indiana and Georgia that Im taking a baby

12 step today toward that. But I think what Im doing

13 will encourage all turnout but more especially

14 minority turnout in Texas.

15 SEN. ELLIS You made reference to Steve

16 Wolens comment earlier. Are you aware that the

17 reference the comment that you are taking was

18 referring to mail-in ballots

19 SEN. FRASER Absolutely. And I would

20 also remind you you voted for that bill--21SEN. ELLIS Oh I did.

22 SEN. FRASER -- because he had been

23 fraud -- his exact statement was is They are

24 harvesting--25SEN. ELLIS Yes.


TX_00004007JA_003430


19

1 SEN. FRASER -- votes to steal the

2 election in a democratic primary in Dallas Texas

3 and he brought that forward. And youre one of the

4 persons that voted for that--5SEN. ELLIS Thats correct.

6 SEN. FRASER -- bill as I did--7SEN. ELLIS Senator you--8SEN. FRASER -- to address voter fraud.

9 SEN. ELLIS Are you aware of how a

10 puzzle works

11 SEN. FRASER Im sorry

12 SEN. ELLIS Are you aware of how a

13 puzzle works a puzzle p-u-z-z-i-e puzzle

14 SEN. FRASER Puzzle

15 SEN. ELLIS Yes.

16 SEN. FRASER Well if youre asking

17 maybe I dont.

18 SEN. ELLIS If you take a certain piece

19 of what someone has said out of context Senator what

20 youre doing is distorting what they intended to say.

21 So here is my point Your bill does not touch mail-in

22 ballots. You used a quote by Steve Wolens to try and

23 augment your position. Your bill does not touch

24 mail-in ballots. Most of the cases of fraud that your

25 witnesses are going to talk about are going to involve


TX00004008JA_003431


n 2

1 mail-in ballots but this bill does not do anything tO

2 touch that.

3 SEN. FRASER Again youre being

4 subjective. Lets wait for the objective testimony of

5 the witnesses. Youre being a good lawyer and

6 projecting what the witnesses might say. And I would

7 suggest probably the thing we should do is listen to

8 the testimony thats given and you will have the

9 right to question them. But I think the witnesses are

10 going to make a very clear case that weve got a huge

11 problem in Texas. Theres a huge gap in Texas law.

12 Theres every possibility for someone to walk in and

13 vote -- Craig Estes could take your voter ID and

14 register himself in Houston in a ballot box that they

15 dont you know know him. And he could register as

16 Rodney Ellis and he could vote for Rodney Ellis. That

17 could happen if you know--18SEN. ELLIS Senator in your mind just

19 based on your best guess do you think that this bill

20 would have a more positive impact on one party or the

21 other in terms of Democrats or Republicans

22 SEN. FRASER Im not going to project.

23 about who might benefit from the passage of this. But

24 I wish you would listen to the results in Georgia and

25 Indiana. And I dont want to put words in their.


TX00004009JA_003432


i43

1 mouth but Ive seen the numbers. The ones in Georgia

2 and the ones in Indiana the increase the greatest

3 increase came in Democratic votes it came in

4 minorities. And I hope -- in Texas my hope would be

5 I want African-American votes to increase in Texas.

6 Thats my goal. And if I can create something for

7 your voters--8SEN. ELLIS This bill is going to

9 increase the number of African-Americans and Hispanics

10 that vote in Texas

11 SEN. FRASER Absolutely.

12 SEN. ELLIS Thats what you believe

13 SEN. FRASER I do believe that yes I

14 do.

15 SEN. ELLIS You made reference to the

16 last election in terms of the turnout increasing. Do

17 you think that that record increase had anything to do

18 with Barack Obama being the Democratic nominee and

19 Sen. McCain John McCain being the Republican nominee

20 SEN. FRASER Let me ask you this a

21 different way. Did Barack Obama run in Illinois and

22 Indiana both Did he run in both states

23 SEN. ELLIS Senator--24SEN. FRASER Was he from -- since you

25 asked me the question I get to answer.


TX_00004010JA_003433


1 SEN. ELLIS I can--2SEN. FRASER You said was the--3SEN. ELLIS I can assure you the people

4 in Illinois knew Barack Obama was going to win the

5 State of Illinois. I can assure you that.

6 SEN. FRASER Youre saying they didnt

7 feel comfortable voting for him because they knew him

8 SEN. ELLIS No Im not saying that at

9 all. Let you ask you this Do you know what the

10 increase in vote was in Texas

11 SEN. FRASER All the questions youre

12 covering is the same thing that was asked about the

13 last four -- youre the fifth person.

14 SEN. ELLIS 600000 additional votes.

15 SEN. FRASER Were going to have

16 witnesses from Indiana and Georgia--17SEN. DUNCAN Senators youre taking

18 over each other and the court reporter only has two

19 hands.

20 SEN. ELLIS Okay. You all right

21 SEN. FRASER Im going to vacate the

22 premise so you can talk.

23 SEN. ELLIS I think Ive completed my

24 questions. I think Ive made the point. I would like

25 to ask the author of the bill about a historic bill


TX_00004011JA_003434


1 that hes carrying that in my judgment would

2 negatively impact minority voters in Texas.

3 SEN. FRASER As you know the way this

4 system works we have witnesses come in they tell

5 their story you get to ask them questions. When

6 thats over Ill close well have a vote. It wi.l1

7 come to the floor. If Im successful once we get on

8 the floor and I lay it out we get to do this again.

9 And I would suspect at some point you and I will have

10 a discussion. But I would like for you to ask the

11 questions of the expert witnesses because I think

12 youre going to be shocked at what they say about what

13 the impact would be on minority voting in both those

14 states what happened and how it would be increased.

15 SEN. ELLIS All right. Thank you.

16 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Davis

17 SEN. DAVIS Sen. Fraser--18SEN. FRASER You didnt get the rule

19 about freshmen

20 SEN. DAVIS No. Im sorry. I didnt

21 get that rule.

22 Laughter

23 SEN. FRASER Ill be glad to accept

24 your questions.

25 SEN. DAVIS Thank you.


TX_00004012JA_003435


1 Would you agree that the provisions of

2 the Carter-Baker comprehensive proposal are proposals

3 that you are using in support for the legislation that

4 you have introduced on this issue

5 SEN. FRASER Senator I took the

6 information that I read -- I read the report I read

7 what they included in print I read their press

8 release -- I took my highlighter and highlighted

9 things that came from either what they had written

10 down and they put their name on and I repeated and

11 read. I didnt project what I thought Jimmy Carter

12 was thinking or what Jim Baker was thinking. I read

13 what they put in print in that and thats what I did

14 today. There is going to be someone here hopefully

15 if we ever get to that point from that Commission

16 that you can ask that exact question.

17 SEN. DAVIS You made a statement a

18 moment ago that in this legislation that you have

19 proposed you are addressing the recommendations of

20 the Carter-Baker Report for voter ID did you riot

21 SEN. FRASER Say that again.

22 SEN. DAVIS You made a statement

23 previously when you were speaking with Sen. Ellis

24 that you are addressing the recommendations of the

25 carter-Baker Report for purposes of proposing your.


TX_00004013JA_003436


1.4 7

1 voter ID bill

2 SEN. FRASER I am proposing a voter 1D

3 law and laying it out. I used as a reference a

4 document that is in the public spectrum something

5 that Ive pulled off -- I think off the Internet of

6 that report. I highlighted a statement that was made

7 and I read that statement.

8 SEN. DAVIS And you mentioned that you

9 highlighted not only that report but you also

10 highlighted the editorial of February 3 2008 titled

11 A Clearer Picture on Voter ID. Correct

12 SEN. FRASER What was the last part of

13 that But what

14 SEN. DAVIS You mentioned a moment ago

15 when you had your highlighter out you went through

16 the report the Baker-Carter Report. You also went

17 through an editorial that was written by both of them

18 in February of 2008 and you also made highlights to

19 that editorial

20 SEN. FRASER I highlighted a lot.

21 SEN. DAVIS But you highlighted those

22 SEN. FRASER Well I can get my book

23 out and I can show you what I highlighted yes.

24 SEN. DAVIS Im curious as to whether

25 when you had your highlighter out you highlighted


TX_00004014JA_003437


1 this particular statement that was made in their

2 editorial that the groups least likely to have valid

3 photo IDs are women African-Americans and Democrats.

4 Did you highlight that statement

5 SEN. FRASER I am not advised. Im

6 sorry. I dont have that. I did not say that. Did

7 you hear me say that

8 SEN. DAVIS No. Im asking you whether

9 you highlighted that.

10 SEN. FRASER Im not--11SEN. DAVIS Do you remember reading

12 that

13 SEN. FRASER Im sorry

14 SEN. DAVIS Do you recall reading that

15 from their editorial that the groups least likely to

16 have valid photo IDs are women African-Americans and

17 Democrats

18 SEN. FRASER The answer is yes. And

19 again its the question that Sen. Ellis just asked

20 is that it was included in the paragraph above and

21 below. But I think I do remember seeing that in that

22 editorial.

23 SEN. DAVIS Do you recall also seeing

24 their statement that the current crop of laws

25 including those that weve been discussing today


512.474.2233TX_00004015JA_003438


9

1 SEN. FRASER Senator Im sorry. You

2 know I have a hearing problem and Im only getting

3 about half of what youre saying. So if you can--4SEN. DAVIS Im sorry. I will speak

5 up.

6 SEN. FRASER I have trouble -- Im

7 sorry -- sometimes with womens voices and Im just

8 not getting it.

9 SEN. DAVIS I will speak up.

10 Do you call reading in that editorial

11 that they also stated that the current crop of laws

12 are not being phased in gradually and in a fair manner

13 that would increase rather than decrease voter

14 participation

15 SEN. FRASER Im not getting it. Im

16 sorry.

17 SEN. ELLIS I thought I heard my wifes

18 voice. Was she calling me

19 SEN. FRASER My wife says this is a

20 trained response.

21 SEN. DAVIS Would you like me to repeat

22 my last question

23 SEN. FRASER Please.

24 SEN. DAVIS Do you recall reading ire

25 the editorial a statement made by Secretary Baker and


TX_00004016JA_003439


150

1 former President Carter that the current crop of laws

2 that are being put in place by states are not being

3 phased in gradually and in a fair manner that would

4 increase not reduce voter participation

5 SEN. FRASER No I do not remember

6 seeing that.

7 SEN. DAVIS You also stated that you

8 read the report and that you highlighted particular

9 provisions of that report in formulating your bill

10 that you have proposed today and your reasons for

11 supporting that bill.

12 SEN. FRASER I dont think I said that

13 at all. I didnt read that report in formulating my

14 bill. The bill that I laid out is very very

15 straightforward. All it says is that when Wendy Davis

16 goes to vote they want to know -- they want to see

17 your picture ID or other forms of identification to

18 verify that you are who you say you are and that--19its not rocket science.

20 SEN. DAVIS When you began your

21 comments on the floor today in laying out your b_i22 you quoted from the Carter-Baker Report as well as

23 from the editorial that I read from a moment ago. In

24 answering Sen. Ellis questions you said you were

25 addressing the recommendations of the Carter-Baker


TX_00004017JA_003440


151

1 Report in implementing your proposal for voter ID.

2 SEN. FRASER I dont think I said that.

3 I said -- I think I referenced things that were said

4 in that report. I referenced the Supreme Court

5 Justice John Paul Stevens again a left-leaning

6 Supreme Court Justice that wrote the majority report

7 that validated the Virginia -- or the Indiana law that

8 put in place a strict photo ID. I referenced that

9 that had been done their comments. I referenced the

10 Commission things that they had said. I referenced

11 the bill that was proposed by Rep. Steve WoJ_ens a

12 Democrat in Dallas near your area that was -- or may

13 be in your district where he suggested that with vote

14 harvesting and voter fraud those are all stories that

15 were -- that I had data on.

16 SEN. DAVIS In referencing the

17 Carter-Baker Report I wonder if you came across this

18 statement by them To prevent the ID from being a

19 barrier to voting we recommend that states use the

20 registration and ID process to enfranchise more voters

21 than ever. Do you recall that

22 SEN. FRASER Why dont you ask that

23 question of the expert witness that I have informed

24 the last five Senators that are coming up that 1

25 dont have any idea what she is going to say. She is


TX_00004018JA_003441


1 going to be under oath and she would love to answer

2 your questions that youre asking and I think that is

3 where we should go from here.

4 SEN. DAVIS Well for purposes of

5 discussion or furthering our discussion and my

6 questions for you let me read some of the

7 recommendations that Carter-Baker report made.

8 SEN. FRASER Are you going to ask me

9 questions--10 SEN. DAVIS Im going to ask you

11 questions.

12 SEN. FRASER -- or are you going to--13you have the right at any time to put stuff on the

14 record. But you--15SEN. DAVIS Im going to ask you

16 questions.

17 SEN. FRASER -- had asked the Cha_irmar

18 if you could ask me questions.

19 SEN. DAVIS Im going to ask you

20 questions.


22 SEN. DAVIS States should play an

23 affirmative role in reaching out to non-drivers by

24 providing more offices Thats one of the

25 recommendations in this report. Does the bill that


TX_00004019JA_003442


1 you have placed in front of us today on voter ID have

2 an affirmative role for states in recommending that

3 they reach out to non-drivers by providing more

4 offices

5 SEN. FRASER Im sorry. Im not even

6 getting close to following the question youre asking.

7 The bill that Im laying out today says that when

8 Wendy Davis walks into the voting booth youve got to

9 prove that youre really Wendy Davis. Its that

10 simple.

11 SEN. DAVIS And the bill does not

12 include a request of the state that it open more

13 offices for the purposes of obtaining a photo ID for

14 non-drivers it does not include that proposal.

15 Correct

16 SEN. FRASER They can use non-photos.

17 I mean there is no provision right now there is

18 nothing in the bill that every person in the state

19 could not comply with because you can use a piece of

20 mail that had been mailed to you your library card.

21 Theres a long long list of things that you could

22 use. You could even use as your piece of

23 identification the mail that the registrar sent to you

24 for your voter registration. Thats a form of

25 identification.


TX_00004020JA_003443


1 SEN. DAVIS And Im going to ask you

2 about that list in a moment. Let me ask you another

3 question about what your bill includes. Does your

4 bill include a proposal that the state should create

5 mobile offices for the purpose of reaching out to

6 persons without photo ID to create those photo IDs

7 SEN. FRASER Would you ask that

8 question again please

9 SEN. DAVIS Yes. Does the billthat-10youre proposing include a request of the state that

11 they create mobile offices that would go out into the

12 communities for purposes of helping voters obtain

13 photo IDs

14 SEN. FRASER Were you here earlier when

15 that question was asked by another senator

16 SEN. DAVIS I do not recall that

17 question being asked. I would appreciate it if you

18 would answer it.

19 SEN. FRASER The Secretary of State has

20 been asked to come here. The Secretary of State wi_11.

21 implement this transaction. The wording of the bill

22 that is in the bill is very clear of what we would ask

23 them to do. The implementation of that would be you

24 can ask the Secretary of State please.

25 SEN. DAVIS Okay. But Im asking you


TX_00004021JA_003444


15

1 if your bill includes that proposal

2 SEN. FRASER My bill has languagethat-3clarifies that there will be an education program of

4 the people to implement this bill. It lays out the

5 instructions on that but it will leave it to the

6 Secretary of State to implement.

7 SEN. DAVIS Does your bill contain a

8 proposal that would provide the ability for voters to

9 register and to provide photo IDs to those voters free

10 of charge

11 SEN. FRASER Try it again. I didnt

12 get it.

13 SEN. DAVIS Does your bill include a

14 proposal that would allow voters to register and be

15 provided photo IDs free of charge

16 SEN. FRASER The photo ID is free of

17 charge.

18 SEN. DAVIS It is free of charge

19 SEN. FRASER Yes.

20 SEN. DAVIS Who is going to pay for

21 that

22 SEN. FRASER We are advised that--23first of all that there are very few people that

24 would need that is that the bulk of the population of

25 Texas already has a drivers license or a photo ID.


TX_00004022JA_003445


156

1 And were advised that you know the cost of that

2 would be implemented through -- I guess its DPS. So

3 it is built into the budget.

4 You know I know youre new to the

5 Legislature. But the fiscal impact on the bill that

6 is determined if there is a cost to the state. And

7 they said there is no impact because it could be

8 absorbed in current budget.

9 SEN. DAVIS Believe it or not I

10 understand that fiscal impact is based on whether

11 there is a cost to the state. What Im asking you is

12 if your bill proposes free voter ID cards that could

13 be made to anyone who requests them and whether there

14 has been a cost put to that proposal

15 SEN. FRASER Im sorry. Im getting

16 members people talking to me. Try it again please.

17 I cant hear you.

18 SEN. DAVIS Im asking you in your

19 bill the bill that youve authored the bill that

20 youve laid out the bill that you are standing in

21 front of us defending today is there a proposal in

22 your bill that anyone who wishes to register to vote

23 would be provided a voter ID card free of charge

24 SEN. FRASER The answer is yes that

25 anyone that is a registered voter will be given a


TX_00004023JA_003446


1 57

1 photo ID free of charge. So I think the answer to

2 your question is yes.

3 SEN. DAVIS And yet do you have any

4 idea how many people might come forward and request a

5 free voter ID

6 SEN. FRASER I would suggest you ask

7 the Secretary of State that.

8 SEN. DAVIS I will. But Im asking

9 you because its your bill. Im asking you. Do you

10 have any idea

11 SEN. FRASER And Im responding to you

12 that Im going to punt to the Secretary of State

13 because theyre the ones that keep that data.

14 SEN. DAVIS Was that question asked of

15 you by the LBB when they were preparing the fiscal

16 note for your bill

17 SEN. FRASER We didnt talk to LBB.

18 Thats not the process.

19 SEN. DAVIS Okay. Turning to Section

20 63.0101 Sections a and Sections b of your bill

21 would you agree that this list of proof of

22 identification that can be provided to a poll worker

23 includes a multiple of standards that those poll

24 workers could apply

25 SEN. FRASER Do I agree that theres a


TX_00004024JA_003447


1 lot of choices

2 SEN. DAVIS Yes a multiplicity of

3 standards--4SEN. FRASER A multitude of choices.

5 That I think is one of the beauties of the bill is

6 that theres a lot of ways that people could identify

7 themselves.

8 SEN. DAVIS Okay. In reading the

9 Carter-Baker proposal was it your understanding that

10 the proposal they advanced was the creation of a

11 universal voter ID that would No. 1 provide more

12 offices for people to receive those IDs including

1.3 mobile ones No. 2 that would allow the registration

14 and free federal ID for anyone wishing to seek one

15 and that there would be much less discrimination

16 against minorities if there were a single uniform ID

17 rather than poll workers applying multiple standards

18 SEN. FRASER Im not advised. I cant

19 speak for the commission. We have an expert witness

20 who will be here in a minute and I will be glad for

21 you to ask her.

22 SEN. DAVIS Would you agree that if

23 those proposals were put in place that it would

24 create costs in implementing such a system

25 SEN. FRASER Again Senator we have a


TX_00004025JA_003448


1.9

1 system here where they look at the bill any potential

2 cost to the state. They come back with the fiscal

3 impact on that. And the statement we received back

4 from you know on the fiscal impact was no impact.

5 SEN. DAVIS Thank you. Im going to

6 complete my questions for now in order to give the

7 court reporter a break. Thank you Sen. Fraser.


9 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Ive got three

10 exhibits.

11 SEN. DUNCAN Members we have several

12 folks who want to talk. And weve been going now for

13 about an hour and 45 minutes and I want to try to

14 pace the court reporter. Before we go to a short

15 break though Sen. Shapleigh had some exhibits he

16 wanted to introduce. So well do that and then take

17 a -- well be at ease for a few minutes.

18 Sen. Shapleigh.

19 SEN. SHAPLEIGH Thank you Mr. Chair.

20 If I could as Exhibits 11 12 and 13

21 respectively the copy of The New York Times op ed by

22 Baker and Carter 05 copy of Royal Massets quote

23 and editorial from the quorum report and The New York

24 Times editorial of 08 all discussed on the floor.

25 SEN. DUNCAN Okay. They will be placed


TX_00004026JA_003449


1 in the record.

2 Members have those copies been provided

3 to the Secretary

4 Theyre on their way Okay. Thank you.

5 Members we will take a -- well stand

6 at ease for approximately 10 minutes. Well reconvene

7 at 445.

8 Exhibit Nos. 11 12 and 13 marked and

9 admitted

10 Recess 436 p.m. to 451 p.m.

11 SEN. DUNCAN The Senate Committee of

12 the Whole will come to order.

13 If those in the gallery could be seated

14 and we could have order in the chamber.

15 Sen. West.

16 SEN. WEST Thank you very much

17 Mr. Chairman.

18 Sen. Fraser Im going to try not to be

19 repetitious. Can you hear me now

20 SEN. FRASER If you use the Barry White

21 voice I think were okay.

22 SEN. WEST The Barry White voice.

23 SEN. FRASER You know Ive told you

24 that before--25SEN. WEST All right.


TX_00004027JA_003450


i. C

1 SEN. FRASER -- that thats your best

2 Barry White voice.

3 SEN. WEST Well I--4SEN. FRASER Ive got your vote. I can

5 hear you well.

6 SEN. WEST Barry was able to -- has

7 been very convincing at times. Can I convince you to

8 pull this bill down

9 SEN. FRASER Now yet.

10 SEN. WEST Oh okay. All right. I

11 want to go through the bill with you. On Page 3 of

12 the bill Line 1--13SEN. FRASER If you would hold one

14 second so I can get a copy of it.

15 SEN. WEST Sure.

16 SEN. FRASER Youre reading from wrat

17 SEN. WEST Page 3 Lines 1 through 4.

18 SEN. FRASER Im not sure ours is going

19 to match up but well try. Page 3 -- where are you

20 referencing Okay. There we go. Okay. Thats what

21 I needed. This is what were used to.

22 SEN. WEST Okay. We talked about the

23 use of identification.

24 SEN. FRASER Yes sir.

25 SEN. WEST If youre going under


TX_00004028JA_003451


6 2

1 Subdivision 1 you say one form of identification

2 listed in 63.0101a and if youre going to go under

3 No. 2 you say two forms of identification under

4 63.0101b. And Im trying to -- why the difference

5 between the two types of identification in terms of

6 the number that you have to use for purposes of

7 identification

8 SEN. FRASER Well I think the easy

9 explanation is that I think you know under the

10 Indiana and the Georgia laws they have a strict pnoio

11 ID. Obviously my preference on this would be a

12 strict photo ID.

13 In the language that came from the bi11

14 that came over from the House they offered an

15 exception with two other forms of ID. But since

16 theyre not a photo where you could identify someone

17 I cant speak for the House but Im assuming that

18 option was given so you would have two different ways

19 to identify someone to verify for sure that thats who

20 they were.

21 SEN. WEST So the only reason the

22 requirement for two different forms is in this bill is

23 because thats the way it came over from the House

24 SEN. FRASER The bill was passed in the

25 House in this form and came over. And because it had


TX_00004029JA_003452


1 already passed one body in that form and we had not

2 voted on it we made the decision to pick up the bill

3 that came over last year from the House.

4 SEN. WEST And thats the sole reason.

5 Is that correct

6 SEN. FRASER No.

7 SEN. WEST What was the other reason

8 SEN. FRASER The other reason is is we

9 think this is a very fair -- you know its a very

10 fair way is that -- you know I would love to see a

11 strict photo ID bill like Indiana and Georgia. But

12 the bill that were laying out gives a second

13 opportunity for someone to identify themselves which

14 would be a secondary form of identification.

15 SEN. WEST Okay. But again the reason

16 that its in there is because it came over from the

17 House that way and some other reasons. And Im trying

18 to figure out what are all the reasons that you put

19 the requirement for two forms in there other than it

20 came over from the House that way

21 SEN. FRASER Again the goal of my bill

22 is that I dont want somebody to go into the polling

23 place saying theyre Royce West and use your voter ID.

24 I think if you had a photo ID -- both of us are big

25 people -- and if we came in it would be easy for


TX_00004030JA_003453


1 someone to identify our features that we are who we

2 say we are.

3 SEN. WEST Yes.

4 SEN. FRASER But if you dont have some

5 form of identification then there is every ability

6 for someone to steal your voter registration--7SEN. WEST Okay.

8 SEN. FRASER -- and go and vote in

9 person representing themself to be Royce West.

10 SEN. WEST Okay. Lets look at this

1.1 right here. So your Section a specifically deals

12 with under that -- Im sorry.

13 SEN. FRASER a14 SEN. WEST Section a under 63.0101.--15SEN. FRASER Where are you What page

16 SEN. WEST Im actually on Page 5 now.

17 SEN. FRASER Okay. Page 5. Which

18 line

19 SEN. WEST Well this whole section

20 starting from I guess 9 -- and Section 10 of the bill.

21 SEN. FRASER Got it.

22 SEN. WEST Everything in there deals

23 with some sort of photo identification. Right

24 SEN. FRASER Yes thats correct.

25 SEN. WEST And everything in Section


TX_00004031JA_003454


765

1 b deals with some documentary identification

2 SEN. FRASER I do believe youre--3SEN. WEST Section b is on

4 SEN. FRASER All of a is photo and

5 everything else is an alternate form of

6 identification.

7 SEN. WEST Okay. Now as it relates to

8 section Im still on Page 5 and 6. As it relates to

9 the forms of identification that you have amended into

10 the bill did you make any--11SEN. FRASER Well I havent amended

12 anything into the bill.

13 SEN. WEST Well Im sorry. Drafted.

14 Drafted.

15 SEN. FRASER The bill was filed.

16 SEN. WEST Okay. As filed in this

17 bill. Did you make any determination as to how it

18 would impact ethnic minorities in the State of Texas

19 And if so what did you do to make a determination as

20 to the impact

21 SEN. FRASER The answer Im going to

22 give you is the same answer Ive given now to the last

23 six witnesses is that the way we help determine that

24 was what happened in Indiana and what happened in

25 Georgia. I have invited one person from Indiana and


TX_00004032JA_003455


1 two persons from Georgia. The persons from Georgia

2 are a Section 5 voter rights state.

3 And I think those would be very good

4 questions to ask them that if we implement a voter

5 identification bill how did it impact their voters

6 And I think theyre going to tell you that their voter

7 response went up because those people felt very very

8 good -- just a second. Youre about to interrupt me.

9 They felt very good that -- they felt before--10werent comfortable because they were afraid their

11 vote was going to be stolen. But after we implement

12 the voter identification they felt good about it.

13 And voter results for all classes but more especially

14 for African-Americans and Hispanics increased. And I

15 believe thats what theyre going to tell you. I

16 dont want to speak for them.

17 SEN. WEST Okay. And so then we should

18 extrapolate from their testimony that the experiences

19 in a Section 5 state -- Georgia -- and a non-Section

20 state would be applicable to the State of Texas

21 SEN. FRASER Senator my wishes on this

22 and my goal if I could project the absolute best

23 thing that could happen is that the people of Oak

24 Cliff that are in your area representing--25SEN. WEST By the way have you talked


TX_00004033JA_003456


167

1 with any people in Oak Cliff about this bill

2 SEN. FRASER That we would have record

3 turnout by the people in Oak Cliff--4SEN. WEST Have you talked to any of

5 the minorities -- Im sorry.

6 SEN. FRASER Have I talked to any

7 SEN. WEST Have you talked to any

8 ethnic minorities about this particular bill Have

9 they had input into this bill at all

10 SEN. FRASER And I dont want to get

11 cute with you but you are an ethnic minority and you

12 and I have had a conversation about it.

13 SEN. WEST Oh no. Im talking

14 about--15 SEN. FRASER So the answer to that

16 would have to be yes.

17 SEN. WEST Okay. Well let me be more

18 specific then. Have you talked to any ethnic

19 minorities that support your bill

20 SEN. FRASER The answer is yes.

21 SEN. WEST All right. Are they

22 Hispanics and African-Americans

23 SEN. FRASER Yes.

24 SEN. WEST Was it an African-American

25 that supports your bill


TX00004034JA_003457


6 6

1 SEN. FRASER What did you say

2 SEN. WEST All right. Im going to be

3 more specific now. Have you talked to anAfrican-4American African-Americans that support your bill.

5 SEN. FRASER Yes.

6 SEN. WEST Okay. Have you talked to

7 Hispanics that support your bill

8 SEN. FRASER Yes.

9 SEN. WEST Are they here to testify In

10 support of your bill

11 SEN. FRASER Let me think about -- the

12 invited testimony--13SEN. WEST Yes.

14 SEN. FRASER -- of the invited

15 testimony we have an African-American I thi.nk that

16 is going to testify on this bill.

17 SEN. WEST Is that African-American

18 with the Secretary of States office

19 SEN. FRASER Yes he is.

20 SEN. WEST He is a resource isnt he

21 Hes not coming to testify--22SEN. FRASER Did I say that -- I didnt

23 say he was going to testify. I said he was going to

24 testify on the bill.

25 SEN. WEST All right. Now let me go


TX_00004035JA_003458


169

1 back to my question. Maybe it wasnt specific enough.

2 Have you talked to any African-Americans or Hispanics

3 that are in support of your bill--4SEN. FRASER Yes.

5 SEN. WEST -- support And will they

6 be here to testify

7 SEN. FRASER Im not advised. I--8SEN. WEST Okay. Have you talked to

9 any African---10SEN. FRASER I havent looked at the

11 list of who is going to testify.

12 SEN. WEST Have you talked to any

13 African-Americans or Hispanics about the impact that

14 your bill will have on their right to vote

15 Let me tell you what Im getting to.

16 Have you talked to any African-Americans Have you

17 done an assessment in terms of whether or not this

18 particular bill and the methods that you are employing

19 will be retrogressive as it relates to the minority

20 voters of the State of Texas

21 SEN. FRASER I think the answer is the

22 same answer I gave you about four questions ago is

23 that I looked at -- and Ive spent a lot of time

24 examining the data of actual voter turnout that

25 happened after the implementation of a photo ID bill


TX_00004036JA_003459


170

1 in Indiana and in Georgia. And I have invited the

2 election judges from both states to come and share

3 that with you today and I feel sure that they will be

4 glad to answer your questions.

5 SEN. WEST And based on your

6 observation of what occurred in those particular

7 states you believe that your bill if enacted in law

8 will not have any retrogressive impact on the minority

9 voters of the State of Texas

10 SEN. FRASER I think my bill is going

11 to increase African-American and Hispanic turnout in

12 Texas. I think those people today feel

13 disenfranchised because they feel like there is fraud

14 going on in votes today--15SEN. WEST Well have you talked to

16 any

--17SEN. FRASER Are you interrupting me

18 SEN. WEST Yes. I--19SEN. FRASER Just a second. I get to

20 finish.

21 SEN. WEST But you say you feel like

22 those people. My question is who have you spoken to

23 to come to that assertion that those people feel as

24 though that theres fraud and all that stuff What

25 African-Americans and Hispanics -- have you spoken to


TX_00004037JA_003460


1 some to make that assertion in the State of Texas

2 And Ill listen to you now. Ill listen

3 to you now respond to my question.

4 SEN. FRASER I have laid out a bill and

5 researched asked questions about the way people vote.

6 I believe I have a bill that will encourage people

7 that their vote will count and their vote is not going

8 to be diluted by those that cheat. I think that will

9 encourage voters as it did in Indiana and in Georgia.

10 And I believe that this bill is not only

11 good for the people of the State of Texas but Im

12 pretty familiar with the ethnic makeup of the people

13 you represent. And I think this bill will be

14 extremely good for Royce Wests senatorial district.

15 SEN. WEST Well and I appreciate your

16 thoughts. But let me ask you again you made some

17 assertions that you believe that its going to be good

18 for every one of Royce Wests district and ethnic

19 minorities in the State of Texas. You made assertions

20 that this will prevent people from cheating and all

21 that other stuff. And Im asking you as relates to

22 voter impersonation have you talked to anyAfrican-23Americans or Hispanics that said there was a problem

24 in the state that this is a problem in the state

25 Have you talked to any African-Americans in the state


TX_00004038JA_003461


1 2

1 SEN. FRASER Without a doubt the

2 way -- and I think after we hear the testimony of the

3 witnesses here and the Secretary of State its going

4 to be hard for you to disagree that there is not a

5 problem and the people you represent are not being not

6 served correctly by the current law of Texas. And as

7 a reasonable person -- which I know you are. I know

8 you -- you know you and I have served together for

9 the last 12 years--10SEN. WEST Oh yes.

11 SEN. FRASER -- and I respect you a

12 lot you know. And I think once you listen to the

13 testimony youre going to have trouble not agreeing

14 that the people you represent will be well-served by

15 this bill and I believe that.

16 SEN. WEST Okay. And you know thats

17 fine. But the answer to my question is have you

18 spoken to anyone

19 SEN. FRASER Yes I have.

20 SEN. WEST African-Americans and

21 Hispanics--22SEN. FRASER Yes.

23 SEN. WEST -- that say that cheating is

24 a problem in the State of Texas that voter

25 impersonation is a problem in the State of Texas have


TX_00004039JA_003462


773

1 youve spoken with anyone

2 SEN. FRASER I have spoken to--3SEN. WEST African-Americans and

4 Hispanics

5 SEN. FRASER -- African-Americans and

6 Hispanics--7SEN. WEST In the State of Texas

8 SEN. FRASER -- in the State of Texas.

9 And you know I have spoken to a lot of people in

10 different classes. And the people of this state

11 believe that -- 88 percent of the people polled

12 believe that a photo or a voter ID in Texas should be

13 something we should implement.

14 SEN. WEST Sir but--15SEN. FRASER And of those -- just a

16 second. Of those -- and the number I saw -- and I

17 believe it was 74 person of the people surveyed were

18 African-American that said they believe that we should

19 implement a voter ID in Texas because they are

20 concerned about the--21SEN. WEST Do you have a copy of that

22 study

23 SEN. FRASER Yes. I do have -- we have

24 a Rasmussen study and then there is a secondary study

25 and we will get that -- I will get that for you yes.


TX_00004040JA_003463


1 SEN. WEST Mr. Chairman I would like

2 to see that.

3 SEN. FRASER I will be glad to show it

4 to you.

5 SEN. WEST So youve depending upon a

6 survey that was done Youre depending upon a survey

7 that was done in order to make the statement that

8 youre making in terms of talking to African-Americans

9 and Hispanics

10 SEN. FRASER No. Im relying on actual

11 data of people that voted this election cycle that

12 didnt vote in the election cycles before because

13 they were encouraged that their vote was going to

14 count.

15 SEN. WEST Okay. And going back to--16and let me make sure I understand your response to

17 this question. Youve said that in order to get an

18 answer as relates to whether or not any less

19 regressive means were considered by you as the author

20 of this bill would have to talk to the Secretary of

21 State

22 SEN. FRASER I dont think I said that

23 at all. I dont think--24SEN. WEST Well and you--25SEN. FRASER We even talked about less


TX00004041JA_003464


175

1 regressive means. I said the Secretary of State is

2 going to tell you the current state of the law in

3 Texas and tell you weve got a big problem--4SEN. WEST As it relates to regressive

5 means and an aggressive -- a regressive analysis in

6 terms of the impact that it has on minority voters.

7 Who on your panel would be able to answer that

8 question What experts would be able to answer that

9 question

10 SEN. FRASER I suspect probably every

11 witness that is--12SEN. WEST Every witness

13 SEN. FRASER I think so.

14 SEN. WEST Okay.

15 SEN. FRASER I think so. I suspect

16 that -- weve got two personal -- or three personal

17 examples because weve got Indiana and Georgia.

18 Weve got the registrar from Houston that you know

19 you can ask those questions. Weve got the Secretary

20 of States office and then weve got theCarter-21Baker administration -- or the--22

SEN. WEST Does your bill do anything

23 about fraud as it relates to denying people the right

2.4 to vote

25 SEN. FRASER Say it again.


TX_00004042JA_003465


76

1 SEN. WEST Does your bill do anything

2 about fraud as relates to denying people the right to

3 vote You know there may very well be individuals

4 that come into precincts and -- you know back in

5 Dallas -- because youve talked about it a couple of

6 times. I think it was in 1984 we had a bunch of

7 judges come down to African-American precincts and put

8 up signs basically saying You can go to jail. Were

9 you aware of that

10 SEN. FRASER No Im not.

11 SEN. WEST Okay. This bill does

12 nothing about that type of behavior though. Right

13 SEN. FRASER This bill--14SEN. WEST Okay.

15 SEN. FRASER -- is reallystraight-16forward Senator. This only addresses one narrow part

17 of the election code and that is the fact that when

18 you walk into that voting place youre going to

19 identify that when you vote as Royce West they are

20 verify you are who you say you are.

21 SEN. WEST Those poll workers how much

22 do we pay poll workers Senator

23 SEN. FRASER Im not advised but I bet

24 the Secretary of State knows.

25 SEN. WEST Okay. And so those poll


TX_00004043JA_003466


1 workers will make that determination -- right -- as

2 to whether or not a person has the proper

3 identification Let me ask you this Lets say that

4 Troy Frasers name was misspelled on the voter

5 registration list and you came in with your drivers

6 license and its correctly spelled. What would happen

7 in that circumstance

8 SEN. FRASER And again Im going to

9 punt to the Secretary of State that they would make

10 the determination. But I think likely the easy answer

11 is is that there is a system today under current law

12 for a determination of that that -- and Ill give you

13 this example. Im not real good about taking my voter

14 registration card. I usually take my drivers license

15 in. And if they had me on the rolls as F-r-a-z-e-r

16 and my drivers license says F-r-a-s-e-rthere is a

17 provision today under current law to manage that. 1

18 bet you that the--19SEN. WEST I do the same thing. I

20 normally just take my drivers license in.

21 SEN. FRASER Well but theres--22SEN. WEST And some people just take a

23 utility bill in.

24 SEN. FRASER And the answer to your.

25 question is Im not addressing that. That is


512.474.2233TX_00004044JA_003467


1 under current law the Secretary of State has the

2 ability to address that. And I think the answer is

3 that if they cant determine your exact -- you know

4 who you are they could provide a provisional ballot

5 do their research find out you are okay and then let

6 you vote.

7 SEN. WEST And I think thats exactly

8 the way that it plays out. But as it relates to

9 provisional ballots -- and I think Sen. Ellis raised

10 this question a few moments ago. What happens in that.

11 circumstances You have a poll worker make a

12 determination that Fraser is spelled wrong you do the

13 affidavit you do a provisional ballot. When is that

14 ballot counted under your bill

15 SEN. FRASER The Secretary of Stare--16I mean--17

SEN. WEST The Secretary of States

18 office

19 SEN. FRASER -- will be glad to answer

20 that for you.

21 SEN. WEST Okay. Thats fair. Okay.

22 Thank you very much Sen. Fraser.


24 SEN. DUNCAN I will remind the members

25 that we still have invited testimony numerous


TX_00004045JA_003468


1 7 9

1 witnesses and then also public testimony who have

2 been waiting here today to testify.

3 So well move now -- Sen. Hinojosa

4 youre recognized.

5 SEN. HINOJOSA Thank you

6 Mr. President.

7 Sen. Fraser

8 SEN. FRASER Im sorry Senator I

9 didnt hear him introduce you. Ill be glad to answer

10 your questions.

11 SEN. HINOJOSA I only have a few

12 questions for you.

13 SEN. FRASER And Senator Im sorry.

14 Let me get my head piece. I can already anticipate

15 Im going to have trouble hearing you. Just a second.

16 Brief pause

17 Are you there

18 SEN. HINOJOSA Yes sir.

19 SEN. FRASER Do a little mike test. 1t.

20 still is not working.

21 Can you give me a mike test One two

22 three four five.

23 SEN. HINOJOSA Is it working now Can

24 you hear me

25 SEN. FRASER No its not working.


TX_00004046JA_003469


180

1 Brief pause

2 Senator lets try that one.

3 SEN. HINOJOSA Okay. Can you hear me

4 now

5 SEN. FRASER Ive got you now. Thanks.

6 SEN. HINOJOSA Okay. Thank you

7 Senator.

8 SEN. FRASER Im--9SEN. HINOJOSA I just have a few

10 questions and they deal more with the process and

11 trying to identify people who come to vote with a

12 photo ID identification. What type of training will

13 poll watchers have in order to determine whether or

14 not a photo ID is valid or a fraud

_15 SEN. FRASER Senator I dont want to

16 be cute or cut you off but thats the same question

17 the last seven people have asked. And the Secretary

18 of State has been invited here to answer that

19 question and they can answer it a lot better than I

20 can.

21 SEN. HINOJOSA Well but in your

22 legislation do you have provisions to provide some

23 type of detection equipment to be able to tell whether

24 or not a photo ID is fake

25 SEN. FRASER My bill is very

straight-KENNEDYREPORTING SERVICE INC.

512.474.2233TX_00004047JA_003470


181

1 forward in what will be required to identify. But the

2 implementation of that and the training of the people

3 will be left up to the Secretary of State. And I

4 would bet you the Secretary of State would love to

5 answer your question on that.

6 SEN. HINOJOSA Well let me follow up

7 again. You know its very easy to get a fake ID at

8 the flea markets and pay 20 bucks for them. And my

9 question is if you dont provide any legislation for

10 any type of equipment to be able to detect whether or

11 not that is a fake ID then it defeats the whole

12 purpose of your legislation.

13 SEN. FRASER And Senator I think you

14 have just made my case for me. Thats the exact

15 reason that were doing this bill is that there are

16 people out there unscrupulous people doing exactly

17 what you just said that they are taking

18 identification of the people you represent and they

19 are going and fraudulently voting and that we dont

20 have the ability to either recognize that they have

21 done that or to prosecute them after they have. Thank

22 you for bringing that up.

23 SEN. HINOJOSA Senator thats not the

24 question that I asked. Thats not what I asked. I

25 said do you have provisions in your legislation to


TX_00004048JA_003471


1E32

1 provide the funding for the local precincts to

2 purchase equipment to be able to detect whether or not

3 a photo ID is a fake

4 SEN. FRASER Senator Im sorry.

5 Did you get another head thing

6 Senator lets try it one more time.

7 Would you ask that question again please.

8 SEN. HINOJOSA Can you hear me

9 SEN. FRASER This receiver is a had

10 receiver. Im getting nothing but interference.

11 Can somebody get one of these that

12 works

13 Let me try without it.

14 SEN. HINOJOSA Okay.

15 SEN. FRASER Where is Lucios

16 Go ahead.

17 SEN. HINOJOSA I will repeat my

18 question Sen. Fraser. And what Im asking is whether

19 or not in your legislation you have provisions to fund

20 the detection equipment that will be able to tell

21 whether or not an ID is a fake one

22 SEN. FRASER Senator again I think

23 that would be a question of the Secretary of State is

24 that -- I think you could ask him how theyre going to

25 do it. But we -- as you know the way this works


512.474.2233TX_00004049JA_003472


183

1 you have been here like I have a long time -- we lay

2 this legislation out. They come back with a fiscal

3 note of the impact to the state. They said there is

4 no impact to the state that they have sufficient

5 money within their budget to handle it. And I would

6 suggest you ask that question of the Secretary of

7 State.

8 SEN. HINOJOSA Well I think that its

9 very important that you have provisions in your

10 legislation to deal with this issue. When you travel

11 by airplane by air as you well know they scan your

12 drivers license and they can tell whether or not its

13 a fake drivers license. And what Im asking of you

14 is whether or not you have provisions in your

15 legislation to deal with fake IDs from the flea

16 market for example I guess not.

17 SEN. FRASER I dont want to dodge your

18 question.

19 SEN. HINOJOSA But you are.

20 SEN. FRASER But youre asking a

21 question that is a technical question of the agency.

22 And again I dont want to speak for my witnesses.

23 But the guy thats going to speak from Houston

24 Houston is in fact using that exact same thing right.

25 now. So in some areas its already in place.


TX_00004050JA_003473


181

1 SEN. HINOJOSA Well think about this

2 How many precincts do we have here in the State of

3 Texas And if we are going to check on IDs and

4 whether or not theyre fake you need to have the

5 proper equipment in place. How much are they going to

6 cost and who is going to pay for it

7 SEN. FRASER Senator you need to ask

8 the Secretary of State. And you know that is a

9 technical question that the agency is going to have ro

10 answer.

11 SEN. HINOJOSA Well I guess the real

12 answer it may be an unfunded mandate on the counties.

13 SEN. FRASER Well I dont think

14 theres something in the bill that places a mandate on

15 them to buy equipment for that. You know I would

16 suspect that there is a system within the DPS to help

17 identify that. And I think -- I dont want toover-18project but I suspect that between the Secretary of

19 States office and in the counties that there is a

20 system that if you input a number that they can tell

21 whether theyre a real number or not. And Im sorry.

22 Youre getting into an area that I dont have

23 expertise in.

24 SEN. HINOJOSA Well I think its very

25 important to have some provisions in your legislation


TX_00004051JA_003474


185

1 dealing with this issue because otherwise there is

2 no way that you can have a poll worker know whether or

3 not a photo ID is a fake one or not.

4 Let me also ask another question. Have

5 you considered how much longer it would take for

6 voters to vote where the lines would be longer and it

7 would discourage people to vote

8 SEN. FRASER Why dont you ask that of

9 the Indiana and the Georgia people. They just went

10 through two election cycles in Indiana one in

11 Georgia. They have already done this. That would be

12 an excellent question for them.

13 SEN. HINOJOSA But Sen Fraser you are

14 the one carrying the legislation not them.

15 SEN. FRASER And thats the reason I

16 invited expert witnesses in of people that have

17 already put this in place. The advantage weve got is

18 that were not reinventing the wheel on that. We car

19 find out their information of what happened.

20 SEN. HINOJOSA Well I think your bil._l.

21 really needs a lot of work. It has a lot of

22 shortcomings with it in the way its going to be

23 implemented.

24 And thank you for answering my

25 questions.


TX_00004052JA_003475


186


2 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Uresti.

3 SEN. URESTI Thank you Mr. President.

4 Sen. Fraser I just have a few

5 questions. I know its been a long day but I would

6 like to ask a few questions more specific to my

7 district.

8 But as a backdrop to my questions riot

9 only to you but to the witnesses that youve been

10 referencing all day you have probably heard me speak

11 to this session my senatorial district is the largest

12 geographical district in Texas.

13 SEN. FRASER I know your district well.

14 Theres a lot of it that I used to represent so Im

15 very familiar with it.

16 SEN. URESTI And its actually larger

17 than about 24 states in the country.

18 SEN. FRASER Its a great district

19 good people.

20 SEN. URESTI It is a beautiful

21 district. And one of the reasons I stand today to ask

22 you these questions is I represent the constituents

23 of my district. In addition to being the largest

24 district in Texas its also the second poorest

25 district in Texas. The per capita income the average


TX_00004053JA_003476


187

1 per capita for my constituents is $12484 per year.

2 SEN. FRASER Are you aware of the fact

3 that just right below right above that is the

4 district that I represent And so we have a lot in

5 common in the people that I represent and the people

6 you represent because our districts touch. And a lot

7 of the people that you represent now are people that I

8 used to. So we have a very like district.

9 SEN. URESTI And even more reason why T

10 think you will appreciate the questions that I have of

11 you Sen. Fraser. In my district the poverty rate is

12 approximately 24 percent. So when you couple the

13 poverty rate with the vast area of my district you

14 see the challenges that my constituents face.

15 And I tell you that because when we talk

16 about photo ID and the necessity to obtain an ID

17 whether it be a drivers license or whether it be an

18 actual Texas photo ID knowing the area as well as you

19 do when you look at some of the counties in my

20 district I think you probably better than most

21 fully appreciate the distances that one has to travel

22 in order to get an ID. And Ill just give you a few

23 examples. In addition to that though the fact that

24 many of these DPS offices are only open on very

25 sporadic days and times.


TX_00004054JA_003477


1 For example in Bandera County its

2 open -- the DPS office is only open on Wednesdays from

3 900 to 400. In Culberson County its only open--4the DPS office is only open on Thursdays from 900 to

5 500.

6 In Kinney County which is where

7 Brackettville is located the DPS office is only open

8 the first and third Tuesday of each month from 900 to

9 4 oclock. And then one other example of many

10 Terrell County which is down where Sanderson is

11 located the DPS office is only open one Monday a

12 month from 930 to 330.

13 So having said that my concern is the

14 fact that if an individual needs to obtain a photo ID

15 or a Texas drivers license the challenges that they

16 will face in one having to go to those offices two

17 the distances that theyll have to travel and then

18 three if theyre not familiar with the dates or the

19 times that they are open the fact that they may have

20 to go back.

21 And if theyre not registered or they do

22 not obtain that in a timely manner which I understand

23 it could take up to 60 days or so to receive your

24 photo ID there is a very good chance that they will.

25 not be able to have that ID when they do go to vote.


TX_00004055JA_003478


1 Would you agree with me on that Sen. Fraser

2 SEN. FRASER Well that was a

3 consideration in looking at the parameters is that

4 the good news for you is we still have all the same

5 parameters for mail-in ballots. We havent changed

6 that. And all these other forms there is just a

7 multitude of things they can use for a secondary form

8 of identification. So if for some reason they

9 couldnt get to that -- and I would -- you know you

10 and I know that most of those people out there drive

11 and they do have cars the bulk of them do and they

12 would be -- they would really like to go and get that

13 drivers license. But if they couldnt and they were

14 going to vote there is a multitude of things they can

15 use for identification to make it really really easy

16 or they could do a mail-in ballot. Weve made it easy

17 for them.

18 SEN. URESTI And I appreciate you

19 bringing that up because thats a good segue into my

20 next question. But again going back to the poverty

21 rate I would respectfully disagree with you

22 Sen. Fraser that they all have cars because most of

23 them cant afford cars at least in my district.

24 On Page 5 of your bill Senator you

25 reference -- Page 5 Line 20 under Documentation of


TX_00004056JA_003479


190

1 Proof of Identification you reference a United

2 States military identification card that contains the

3 persons photograph. And I just want to make sure

4 that I clearly understand what you have in your bill.

5 and that for those military individuals whether they

6 be active duty reservists retired et cetera if

7 there is no photograph on their military ID then they

8 would not be able to use that ID under your bill. Is

9 that correct

10 SEN. FRASER Im sorry Senator. I

11 think you probably have misread this. Youre under

12 the section that lays out the acceptable form of photo

13 ID. But if it doesnt have a photo on it it could be

14 used as one of the non-photo IDs plus one other form

15 of identification. So the answer to your question is

16 yes they could use it.

17 SEN. URESTI Okay. So a military ID

18 that does not have a photo could be used

19 SEN. FRASER Yes. Its a form of

20 government identification.

21 SEN. URESTI Okay. Thats not the way

22 I read it but Im glad you cleared that up for me.

23 SEN. FRASER Under the 2 it would be

24 one of their forms of identification. It is a

25 government-issued form of identification. And under


TX_00004057JA_003480


191

1 the non-photo area it would be used.

2 SEN. URESTI And just so Im clear _it

3 reads a United States military identification card

4 that contains the persons photograph. What my

5 question is if there is a military ID card that does

6 not have a photograph then youre saying that those

7 military individuals whether they be active duty

8 whether they be reservists whether they be retired

9 would not be able to vote with that form of ID. Is

10 that correct

11 SEN. FRASER That is not correct. ha.

12 would be one of their forms of ID. And if they had

13 one other piece of identification their utility bill

14 with that military ID theyre fine.

15 SEN. URESTI Whether it has a

16 photograph or no

17 SEN. FRASER Yes.

18 SEN. URESTI Okay. Very good. Thats

19 good to know.

20 Going into the alternative forms of

21 documentation specifically on Page 6 what Im trying

22 to reconcile and what is confusing to me and 1

23 believe would be very confusing to the voters of

24 Texas and complicated on Page 6 Line 14 you list

25 the following documents -- I beg your pardon -- The


TX_00004058JA_003481


192

1 following documentation is acceptable as proof of

2 identification under this chapter.

3 Then it goes on to read Subparagraph

4 1 a copy of a current utility bill Paragraph 25 official mail Paragraph 3 a certified copy

6 Paragraph 4 United States citizenship papers

7 Paragraph 5 an original or certified copy and then

8 No. 6 court records.

9 And so Im trying to reconcile those

10 different terms in that you have a copy you have

11 official document you are certified document you

12 have papers you have original or certified copy and

13 then you have court records.

14 And to me thats confusing as an

15 attorney much less I think to my constituents. And

16 so specifically -- this is my question Sen. Fraser--17on No. 16 sic under the Paragraph b where it

18 reads a copy of a current utility bill bank

19 statement government check paycheck or other

20 government document that leads me to believe that _f

21 they brought the original document they would not be

22 able to use the original document it would have to be

23 a copy of that document. Is that correct

24 SEN. FRASER I think youreover-25reading the issue because this is current law. This


TX_00004059JA_003482


193

1 is current law that were operating. If you voted in

2 this last election you voted under this. If you will

3 look at that -- and I believe -- is that not taken

4 from current law So if youre confused about it

5 today you were confused about it yesterday because

6 it was -- thats current law.

7 SEN. URESTI Well let me tell you why

8 Im confused Sen. Fraser because if you go on into

9 Paragraph 2 thats not current law and Paragraph

10 3 thats not current law for specifically Paragraph

11 3 you insert a certified copy. Paragraph 512 you put an original or certified copy. So thats

13 why its confusing Sen. Fraser and thats why Im

14 trying to clarify it because you use a copy in one

15 instance then you use a certified copy in another

16 instance. But here is my question. I want to go back

17 to my question.

18 SEN. FRASER Wait wait wait. Hold on

19 a second. Youve got to answer the one that you just

20 asked. One of the great things about these

21 hearings -- and its the same answer I gave now to the

22 last eight people Ive talked to -- Im about to have

23 the Secretary of State come up here. The Secretary of

24 States job is to issue the clarification of adopt-ing

25 rules to clarify the implementation of the law we


TX_00004060JA_003483


194

1 passed. And I would -- I dont want to put words in

2 their mouth but I would assume theyre going to say

3 We can handle that.

4 SEN. URESTI Okay. And I appreciate

5 that. And because you cant speak for the Secretary

6 of State and because you are the author of this bill

7 I just wanted to ask you so I could clarify and so I

8 can explain it to the voters of Texas and to my

9 constituents then -- and I think you understand now

10 what Im trying to reconcile in that you asked for

11 different documentation. And one it can be a copy

12 or it can be the official mail et cetera. And I will

13 ask the specific questions of the Secretary of State.

14 SEN. FRASER I think it would be a good

15 idea to do that.

16 SEN. URESTI But because you are the

17 author I wanted to ask you specifically. And then T

18 think my last question Sen. Fraser if you bear with

19 me one second. I beg your pardon.

20 On Page 4 under Section 8 on Line 20

21 where it reads did not deliberately provide false

22 information to secure registration in a precinct In

23 which the voter does not reside Im trying to

24 understand what you mean when you put deliberately

25 provide false information.


TX_00004061JA_003484


195

1 SEN. FRASER Senator again--2SEN. URESTI And 2--3SEN. FRASER -- I dont want to

4 interrupt you here but youre quoting current law.

5 Thats law right now that we have been living under

6 for some period of time. And if youve got a question

7 about the interpretation of the Secretary of States

8 rule on that I bet they would answer it.

9 SEN. URESTI And I hope they can. But

10 Senator this is part of your bill though. 1--11SEN. FRASER Now just a second. You

12 know the way this works in legislation is that if its

1.3 current law you reprint current law. And if youre

14 going to make a change you insert it and underline.

15 And all were doing there -- we could have left all

16 that out and make you work and go see how it fits

17 together. But you know you have been here a long

18 time and you know thats the way it works is we go

19 ahead and tell you what current law is so it reads

20 correctly. I didnt make that law up. Its just a

21 law that is there. And I think you could ask the

22 Secretary of State the way its interpreted.

23 SEN. URESTI And I appreciate that.

24 But did you not strike certain language from current

25 law in this bill Sen. Fraser


TX_00004062JA_003485


1 SEN. FRASER If it was struck -- did we

2 strike -- just a second.

3 Brief pause

4 Im not advised as to whether we struck

5 something. I believe the language that youre

6 referring to on Line 20 is current law and above and

7 below it is current law. And I to my knowledge--8but again I think you should ask the Secretary of

9 State that.

10 SEN. URESTI And Ill do that. Thank

11 you Sen. Fraser.

12 SEN. FRASER You bet. Thank you.

13 SEN. DUNCAN Sen. Van de Putte.


15 Mr. President.

16 And Sen. Fraser Im

17 SEN. FRASER It was wishful thinking.

18 SEN. VAN de PUTTE And I would have

19 hoped that this question would have been asked before

20 and Ive listened and its not and I know that we

21 would love to--22SEN. FRASER I would love to have a new

23 question.

24 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Well thank you.

25 Im going to be very very quick. I am looking at


TX_00004063JA_003486


197

1 Page 5 Line 27.

2 SEN. FRASER Just a second. Let me get

3 my glasses Senator. Hold on. Im deaf and blind.

4 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Section 10 of the

5 bill.

6 SEN. FRASER Section 10. What page

7 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Page 5 Line 27.

8 SEN. FRASER Got it.

9 SEN. VAN de PUTTE In that section

10 there is a change from the United States citizenship

11 papers -- and you strike that -- to certificate. Tell

12 me what is the difference between a certificate and

13 the papers

14 SEN. FRASER Senator again you andI-15have served together a long time. And you know when

16 these bills come from Leg. Council that if there is

17 clean-up legislation they need to clarify something

18 that is either case law. The answer is I dont know

19 why they struck that.

20 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Well it--21SEN. FRASER It was not our

22 recommendation. This came from Leg. Council this way.

23 I can find out the answer to that--24SEN. VAN de PUTTE Okay.

25 SEN. FRASER -- but I can honestly say


TX_00004064JA_003487


1 98

1 I dont know.

2 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Okay. Well I think

3 there is different terminology. It is my

4 understanding since I represent a Hispanic

5 district -- and many of the senators here have a

6 number of Hispanics -- this is especially important

7 for naturalized citizen. It is my understanding that

8 the certificate means the 8-by-11 certificate with a

9 photo that is given at the time of naturalization. Sc

10 it does have a photo and its under your section that

11 it would be okay for a photo. My question is that the

12 government also issues a wallet-sized card that is

13 listed as a paper. That could be part of the paper

14 but it has no ID.

15 On the section of the bill that you talk

16 about non-photo which would be Page 6 Line 24 it

17 says United States citizenship papers. Papers I

18 think are the card. But the papers are they the

19 certificate And the reason I ask is because at the

20 time of naturalization -- and many of us have

21 Hispanics in our district that as young children were

22 naturalized. That picture is of a child and doesnt

23 match up. So how--24SEN. FRASER Senator -- and aga_i_ri I

25 dont want to dodge your question. I think probably


TX00004065JA_003488


1Ithis is a legitimate question to ask the Secretary of

2 State.

3 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Okay.

4 SEN. FRASER Im not sure they can

5 answer that one. But I will tell you my intent on

6 this is not to deny any legal voter that should have

7 the right to vote and that if someone is using this

8 as a source of documentation and it is a legal

9 documentation that proved they are who they say they

10 are I want them to be able to use it. I want all

11 Hispanics that you represent--12SEN. VAN de PUTTE Yes.

13 SEN. FRASER -- to have the ability to

14 vote under this bill and my intent is to increase

15 their right to do that. So if there is a tweak needed

16 there I can tell you Im open to it. I dont know

17 the answer to the question youre asking.

18 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Well thank you. In

19 researching that there is a difference between

20 certificate and paper. On one the certificate

21 does have a photo ID the paper does not. And I think

22 thats probably why Leg. Council did that.

23 SEN. FRASER You and I could probably

24 sit down with a Leg. Council lawyer ask them what

25 happened the meaning of that. And it is certainly


TX_00004066JA_003489


2.JC

1 not my intent in any way to deny someone the right to

2 vote. My intentions are exactly the opposite. I want

3 them to be able to identify themself and vote.

4 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Well thank you

5 Senator because the picture photo for many of my

6 constituents who have been naturalized and are now

7 adults or maybe even elderly does not match up

8 because that was taken at the time of naturali_zatior.

9 And my fear was that an election clerk

10 having to know the difference between certificates and

11 paper and then maybe the name not matching up

12 particularly for women who then would be -- the

13 naturalization paper certificate would never match up

14 with your married name if you were naturalized as a

15 child and that would be extremely discriminatory

16 toward Hispanic citizens and particularly to this

17 state which may not have been a problem in Georgia or

18 Indiana but is definitely a problem here and 1

19 appreciate that.

20 SEN. FRASER Not a -- absolutely we

21 want -- if someone is a legal citizen and has

22 identification and theyre registered to vote then I

23 want them to have the ability to do that.

24 One of the questions you just asked

25 about the picture not matching up I would also advise


TX_00004067JA_003490


2 0 1

1 you to ask the Secretary of State that is that I

2 think theres methodology that its even addressed--3it was anticipated -- in some of the things I read

4 that if I grew a beard and I dont look like I used

5 to a methodology to make sure that we could verify

6 who you say you are.

7 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Thank you Senator.

8 And I have one follow-up question. You and I have the

9 luxury and the blessing of representing many now Texas

10 residents who are voting in the state who happen to be

11 military families and military members. And I know

12 you are well aware of Fort Hood and Sen. Shapleigh at

13 Fort Bliss. My question is a follow-up to Sen.

14 Urestis questions on military ID.

15 Many times the identification of record

16 doesnt have the address of the voting. So if they

17 were voting here but their address of record is at--18how would under your bill a clerk treat that

19 inconsistency of a nonmatch-up for our military

20 members

21 SEN. FRASER Again Senator -- and I

22 thank you for acknowledging my district being

23 impacted. I believe that I have the largest number of

24 ex-military in the state living in my senate district

25 you know former military. I want to make sure that


TX_00004068JA_003491


2 2

1 they have the right to vote.

2 Yes they do change addresses but this

3 is something that we have been coping with for years

4 even under our current system. Again I think the

5 Secretary of State is capable of not only answering

6 that question but also making sure we have a seamless

7 transition to this because its extremely important

8 to me and I know it is to you is that I want to make

9 sure that our brave men and women that have served

10 this country preserve that very basic right in making

11 sure they get to vote in elections.

12 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Thank you Senator.

13 I appreciate that. And I want to clarify just for

14 the last time so that I understand. With the changes

15 that you are proposing every Texan who wishes to cast

16 a ballot would have to bring both their certificate

17 voter certificate thats issued by the jurisdiction

18 that theyve registered in and some sort of photo

19 identification. Is that correct

20 SEN. FRASER Well thats not exactly

21 the way you phrased that. Actually for someone to

22 vote all theyve got to do is show up. So that

23 the -- I need to ask a question. I just thought of

24 something.

25 Brief pause


TX_00004069JA_003492


1 Okay. Im sitting here having a

2 discussion with my staff clarifying that that is the

3 case. And I can tell you my intent on this would be

4 that its -- here would be the example I would give

5 you. I go to Marble Falls or Horseshoe Bay to vote.

6 I never have my voter ID. I always just pull out my

7 drivers license. Lets just say for some reason I

8 forgot my drivers license. My intent would be if I

9 have two other pieces of identification listed here

10 and they match up with the voter roll and it says

11 Troy Fraser 103 Lighthouse a particular precinct

12 it would be my intention you should vote.

13 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Well thats--14SEN. FRASER Im not clear -- I want to

15 make sure as you do -- and I think what youre

16 raising is making sure that the bill absolutely says

17 that and that is the intent.

18 SEN. VAN de PUTTE Well thank you

19 Sen. Fraser because the way I looked at this I

20 thought that every Texan who wants to cast a ballot

21 now will have to present with both the voter

22 certificate and a photo ID or the certificate and two

23 alternate forms. So you either have a two-fer or a

24 three-fer. And Im just wondering if thats correct

25 or if someone shows up and they do not have their.


TX_00004070JA_003493


2 0

1 certificate do they just need a photo ID And if

2 they show up and they dont have their certificate or

3 a photo what other two--4SEN. FRASER I dont have the answer

5 for you today. Ill be honest with you that Ive got

6 to look at that. I wish I could give you an answer on

7 that but I dont have an answer right now. And Ive

8 got to look at the bill talk to the Secretary of

9 States office see how that flows together look at

10 the election official and determine how we blend that

11 together.

12 My intention is that I want everyone to

13 vote. Ill give you that as a blanket answer. My

14 intention is that if someone can prove who they say

15 they are I want them to vote.


17 Sen. Fraser.


1.9 SEN. DUNCAN Nobody else

20 All right members. Sen. Gallegos -- I

21 thought I had lost count.

22 SEN. GALLEGOS A question of the

23 author.

24 SEN. FRASER This is the three-minute

25 rule. Are we using the egg timer rule


TX_00004071JA_003494


20

1 SEN. GALLEGOS Well you already

2 surpassed that so I thought I would--3SEN. FRASER No. Im still just

4 answering your questions.

5 SEN. GALLEGOS Well Senator let me

6 ask you have you thought about the state of our

7 economy and the steadily rising number of foreclosures

8 taking place And Im talking about this bill. Just

9 last week the Dallas Morning News reported that the

10 Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District has seen

11 185 percent increase in the 2008-2009 school year of

12 homeless students.

13 SEN. FRASER Senator can you help me

14 here Im having trouble. Im looking at the bill

15 and Im having trouble finding the place that has to

16 do with foreclosures.

17 SEN. GALLEGOS Well no no no. Im

18 getting to my question if you allow me.

19 SEN. FRASER I will.

20 SEN. GALLEGOS These are people in the

21 State of Texas whose entire families are affected.

22 And the homeless as you know well know they move

23 around a lot. Theyre U.S. citizens and they move

24 around a lot and stay in cars in shelters and

25 sometimes relatives houses. But the important thing


TX_00004072JA_003495


206

1 is that they do not have a permanent residence even

2 though theyre U.S. citizens.

3 And I guess -- and they dont have

4 utility bills they arent on a current regular

5 schedule. And to show if that is asked for when they

6 go to a precinct to vote I guess my question is

7 under your bill under this scenario is there a

8 on how many times they can get an official DPS ID to

9 vote every couple of weeks

10 SEN. FRASER Well first of all Im

11 confused in your description of this because for

12 someone to register to vote and be legal to vote they

13 have to specify the precinct that theyre in. And

14 thats one -- I think one of the requirements that the

15 Secretary of State looked for is that you have to be

16 a resident voting in a specific precinct and they had

17 to mail that to somewhere. But the answer to your

18 question that you were getting to is is there a11mi-19on the number of IDs they can get And no there is

20 no limit.

21 SEN. GALLEGOS There is no limit under

22 your bill

23 SEN. FRASER No limit.

24 SEN. GALLEGOS Okay. All right. Thank

25 you.


TX_00004073JA_003496


207

1 SEN. FRASER Unlimited IDs.

2 SEN. GALLEGOS Theres unlimited ID.

3 Okay. All right. Thank you.


5 SEN. DUNCAN Okay members. If there

6 are no other questions we are now ready to move into

7 the invited testimony phase of the hearing. So at

8 this point in time I think I have been submitted--9actually we had the Secretary of State collect the

10 list from the author and those who might be opposed to

11 the bill.

12 And as stated earlier I will first

13 invite -- well have Hans von Spakovsky to testify

14 first. He is proposed by Sen. Fraser. And then

15 followed by that well have Tova Andrea Wang who is

16 proposed by Sen. Van de Putte. If we could bring them

17 into the chamber. And we will have a timer that will

18 be 10 minutes.

19 Sen. Van de Putte I believe you had a

20 witness that you needed a little bit longer time. Is

21 this the witness

22 Okay. And members again Ill state

23 again we will not recognize anybody for a question

24 during the 10-minute period of time for layout.

25 Thereafter we will allow questions. Ill remind you


TX_00004074JA_003497


2 0 8

1 that we have the public testimony that will follow

2 after the invited testimony so be efficient. But

3 you know youre entitled to ask your questions.

4 So is Mr. von Spakovsky in the chamber

5 And for the sake of time if we could go

6 ahead and bring Tova Andrea Wang into the chamber.

7 Is this -- who is this

8 Off-the-record discussion

9 SEN. DUNCAN Mr. von Spakovsky.

10 Okay. She will go second.

11 Okay Mr. von Spakovsky youre

12 recognized. You need to state your name and who youa

13 represent. I believe you have turned in a witness

14 affirmation card. You have 10 minutes. That will be

15 strictly enforced. And you have a timer there in

16 front of you. You can begin.

17 Proceedings continued in Volume 1B

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25


TX_00004075JA_003498


TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE

THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS

EIGHTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE


AUSTIN TEXAS

IN RE

CONSIDERATION OFSENATE BILL 362


TUESDAY MARCH 10 2009

BE IT REMEMBERED THAT AT 550 p..m. on

Tuesday the 10th day of March 2009 theabove-entitledmatter continued at the Texas State Capitol

Senate Chamber Austin Texas before the Committee of

the Whole Senate and the following proceedings were

reported by Aloma J. Kennedy a Certified Shorthand

Reporter of

VOLUME lB PAGES 209 - 980

1ý 1NNE D

1111L1i\ L

a record ofexcellence

1801 Lavaca Suite 115 Austin Texas 78701 512-474-2233

TX_0000OR I G I N A LJA_003499


1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 PAGE

3 VOLUME 1A

4 PROCEEDINGS TUESDAY MARCH 10 2009 2

5 ROLL CALL NO. 1 2

6 OPENING INSTRUCTIONS BY SEN. DUNCAN 5

7 OBJECTION TO FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF SB 362

SEN. WEST 12

8

ROLL CALL NO. 2 38

9

LAYING OUT OF SENATE BILL 36210 SEN FRASER 44


12 VOLUME 1B

13 INVITED TESTIMONY 210

14 TESTIMONY BY HANS VON SPAKOVSKY 210


TESTIMONY BY TOVA ANDREA WANG 27716 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 287

17 TESTIMONY BY CAMERON QUINN 300


TESTIMONY BY TOBY MOORE 33619 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 344

20 TESTIMONY BY FRANK B. STRICKLAND 373QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 417

21

TESTIMONY BY ADAM SKAGGS 40822 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 417

23 TESTIMONY OF ROBERT A. SIMMSSUBMITTED BY WES TAILOR435-24TESTIMONY BY J. GERALD HEBERT 442



TX_00004077JA_003500


1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 PAGE

3 VOLUME 2

4 PROCEEDINGS WEDNESDAY MARCH 11 2009 482

5

QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR CONTINUED 4826

7 TESTIMONY BY THOMAS WHEELER 502QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 510

8

TESTIMONY BY CHANDLER DAVIDSON 521


10 TESTIMONY BY ED JOHNSON 559QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 566

11

TESTIMONY BY DANIEL B. KOHRMAN 62112 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 628

13 TESTIMONY BY COBY SHORTER 653QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 655

14

TESTIMONY BY DENNIS BOREL 70615 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 713

16 TESTIMONY BY GARY GLEDSOE 724QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 731

17

TESTIMONY BY ERIC NICHOLS 74218 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 750

19

20 PUBLIC TESTIMONY 771

21 CLAIRE OXLEY GLUCK 771

22 HAZEL COTTON 773QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 775

23

KATHY HICKS 77624 JAMES E. CARTER 779

RUSTY HICKS 78125


TX_00004078JA_003501


111

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 PAGE

PUBLIC TESTIMONY CONTINUED3

TINA BENKISER 784

4 B.R. SKIPPER WALLACE 787ANITA PRIVETT 789

5 MARY ANN COLLINS 792

6 ROSA ROSALES 7 94


DUSTIN RYNDERS 8008

MARSHA CORREIRA 8039 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 806

10 RENE LARA 807LEE MEDLEY 810

11 JOHN WATKINS 811.

KENNETH FLIPPEN 81312 ANNIE BANKS 816

RACHEL HERNANDEZ 81713 RENATO DE LOS SANTOS 819

JUDY HOLLOWAY 82314 LYDIA CAMARILLO 825

EDWARD B. WILLIAMS 82815 MADELEINE DEWAR 830

HELEN VILLARREAL 83316 MARK WILLIAMSON 835

VANESSA FOSTER 83817

LUIS FIGUERO 84018 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR 844

19 PATTI EDELMAN 844SYLVIA MENDOZA 846

20 KENNETH KOYM 84 E3

KAREN RENICK 85021 JONI ASHBROOK 853

DUANE RAWSON 85622 ROD FLUKER 858

23 ROLL CALL NO. 3 864

24

PROCEEDINGS CONCLUDED 86925


TX_00004079JA_003502


iV

1 EXHIBIT INDEX

2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 1A Sen. Van de Putte 3/3/09 Memoto Sen. Duncan re ground rules

4 for Committee of the WholePubic hearing 21 21

5

1B Sen. Duncan 3/5/09 Memo to Sen.6 Van de Putte re response to

concerns about ground rules7 for the Committee of the Whole

Senate 21 21

8

2. Letter to Texas Attorney General9 Greg Abbott re Hearing on SB

362 signed by 11 Senators 21 21

10

3. Senate Notice of Public11 Hearing on SB 362 for 3/10/09 21 21.

12 4. Texas Senate Agenda 3/10/09 21 21

13 5A 3/10/09 Tag Form signed bySen. Royce West et al 21 21

14

5B 3/10/09 Tag Form signed by15 Sen. Mario Gallegos 21 21

16 6. Roll Call No. 2 - Sen.

Gallegos Appeal of Ruling17 of Chair on Sen. Wests

Point of Order 120 12018



Turnout in Indiana A21 County-Level Analysis

by Jeffrey Milyo Report22 10-2007 Revised December

2007 120 12023

24

25


TX_00004080JA_003503


V


2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 8. AU News publication entitledMuch-hyped Turnout Record

4 Fails to Materialize -

Convenience Voting Fails to5 Boost Balloting 120 120

6 9. Symposium paper entitledThe Empirical Effects of

7 Voter-ID Laws Present orAbsent by Jason D. Mycoff

8 Michael W. Wagner andDavid C. Wilson 120 120

9

10. 9/10/07 Report of the10 Heritage Center for Data

Analysis entitled New11 Analysis Shows Voter

Identification Laws Do Not12 Reduce Turnout by David B.

Muhlhausen and Keri Weber13 Sikich 120 120

14 11. New York Times article -

September 23 2005 - entitled15 Voting Reform is in the

Cards by Jimmy Carter16 and James A. Baker III 160 160

17 12. Harvey Kronbergs Quorum ReportApril 23 2007 entitled Royal

18 Masset The Voter ID Bill WillKill My Mothers Right to Vote 160 160

19

13. 2/3/08 article entitled A20 Clearer Picture on Voter ID

by Jimmy Carter and James A.

21 Baker III 160 160

22 14. Testimony of Hans A. vonSpakovsky March 10 2009

23 re SB 362 217 217

24

25


TX_00004081JA_003504


v


2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 15A 6/11/07 Letter to SenateCommittee on Rules and

4 Administration re Hans A.

von Spakovsky nomination 254 2545

15B 6/12/07 Article entitled6 Obama Raises Concerns Over

FEC Nominees Record of7 Partisanship 254 254

8 15C 10/3/07 Letter to the U.S.Senate from Public Citizen 254 254

9



Turnout in Indiana A12 County-Level Analysis by

Jeffrey Milyo Report13 10-2007 Revised December

2007 SAME AS EXHIBIT 7 265 26514

17. Testimony of Tova Andrea Wang15 Vice President Research Common

Cause March 10 2009 re SB 362 300 30016

18. Report of the Commission on17 Federal Election Reform entitled

Building Confidence in U.S.18 Elections September 2005 313 313

19

20

21.

22

23

24

25


TX_00004082JA_003505


vi


2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 19. Fifteen letters to the Hon.Dianne Feinstein Chair and the

4 Hon. Robert F. Bennett rankingminority member U.S. Senate

5 Committee on Rules andAdministration

6

1. 6/29/07 letter from Hans7 A. von Spakovsky

2. 3/22/07 letter from various8 members of Congress

3. 3/13/07 letter from William9 H. Jordan

4. 2/08/07 letter from Gary J.

10 Smith5. 2/26/07 letter from P. K.

11 Brunelli6. 3/01/07 letter from J. A.

12 Borras7. 2/21/07 letter from Trey

13 Grayson8. 2/20/07 letter from Beverly

14 B. Kaufman9. 2/19/07 letter from Todd

15 Rokita10. 2/16/07 letter from Frank

16 B. Strickland11. 2/14/07 letter from Tom Lowe

17 12. 2/13/07 letter fromT. Rogers Wade

18 13. 2/14/06 letter from JohnnyIsakson

19 14. 2/09/07 letter from WesleyR. Kliner Jr.

20 15. 3/13/07 letter from RayMartinez III 333 333

21

20. Brennan Center For Justice letter22 dated October 3 2007 by

Executive Director Michael23 Waldman with attachments 335 335

24

25


TX_00004083JA_003506


viii


2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 21. Prepared Remarks of Dr. TobyMoore Research Triangle

4 regarding Evidence of the

impact of voter ID requirements5 and the prospects of US DOJ

preclearance March 10 2009 358 358

6

22. Harris County Map submitted7 by Sen. Gallegos 366 366

8 23. Testimony of Frank B.

Strickland re SB 3629 March 10 2009 373 373

10 24. Testimony of Adam SkaggsCounsel Democracy Program

11 Brennan Center for Justice atNYU School of Law regarding

12 The Myth of Voter ImpersonationFraud at the Polls

13 March 10 2009 408 408

14 25. Written Testimony of Robert A.

Simms Georgia Deputy Secretary15 of State presented to the

United States Senate Committee16 on Rules and Administration

submitted by Wes Tailor 435 43517

26. Testimony of J. Gerald Hebert18 re SB 362 March 10 2009 442 442

19 27. Letter from Rene Guerra March 62009 Criminal District Attorney

20 of Hidalgo CountySubmitted by Sen. Lucio 479 479

21

28. 3/4/09 Letter from Todd22 Rokita Indiana Secretary

of State to Sen. Fraser23 re SB 362 502 502

24

25


TX_00004084JA_003507


X


2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 29. Testimony of Chandler DavidsonTsanoff Professor of Public

4 Affairs Emeritus Rice Universityregarding The Historical Context

5 of Senate Bill 362 March 102009 521 521

6

30. 3/06 Printout from Texas AG7 Website entitled Helping Stamp

Out Voter Fraud in Texas by8 Greg Abbott Attorney General

of Texas submitted by9 Sen. Shapleigh 550 550

10 31. Dashwood case documentssubmitted by Ed Johnson Harris

11 County Tax Assessor-Collectorand Voter Registrars Office 559 559

12

32. Records from specific Harris13 County voting documents

submitted by Ed Johnson 559 55914

33. Harris County Deceased15 Voting History miscellaneous

registration applications16 submitted by Ed Johnson 559 559

17 34. Texas Voter RegistrationApplication form submitted

18 by Sen. Huffman 570 570

19 35. Testimony of Daniel B.

Kohrman Senior Attorney20 AARP Foundation re SB 362

March 10 2009 621 62721

36. Photographs of Voter Education22 Anderson County Workshop 2008 724 724

23 37. Testimony of Gary L. BledsoePresident Texas NAACP

24 re SB 362 March 10 2009 724 724

25


TX_00004085JA_003508


x


2 MARKED ADMITTED38. Number of voters who have

3 registered since 2006 withouta drivers license number

4 submitted by Sen. Watson 767 767

5 39. The Special InvestigationsUnit Role and Investigative

6 Efforts and Fundingsubmitted by Sen. Huffman 767 767

7

40. Slip Opinion U.S. Supreme8 Court Crawford vs. Marion

County Election Board9 October Term 2007 768 768

10 41. U.S. Supreme Court Crawfordvs. Marion County Election

11 Board on Writ of Certiorarito U.S. Court of Appeals for

12 the Seventh Circuit Brief ofTexas Alabama Colorado

13 Florida Hawaii MichiganNebraska Puerto Rico and

14 South Dakota as Amici CuriaeSupporting Respondents 768 768

15

42. Written Testimony of Claire16 Oxley Gluck from Boerne in

Kendall County re SB 362 773 77317

43. Written Testimony of Hazel18 Cotton of Texarkana Texas

re SB 362 775 77519

44. Written Testimony of Kathy20 Hicks of Texarkana Texas

re SB 362 779 77921

45. Written Testimony of Donald22 Giles of Texarkana Texas

re SB 362 783 78323

46. Written Testimony of Anita24 Privett League of Women

Voters of Texas re SB 362 789 78925

11


TX_00004086JA_003509


X


2 MARKED ADMITTED

3 47. Written Testimony of RosaRosales League of United

4 Latin American CitizensNational President

5 re SB 362 794 794

6 48. Written Testimony of DustinRynders Advocacy Inc.

7 re SB 362 800 800

8 49. Written Testimony of MarshaCorreira re SB 362 804 804

9

10 50. Written Testimony of RachelA. Hernandez re SB 362 817 811

11.

51. 10/17/08 Article by Nelda12 Wells Spears Voter Registrar

Travis County entitled 4000013 Voter Registration Applications

Processed in Time For Early14 Voting 825 825

15 52. Written Testimony of LydiaCamarillo SVREP Vice

16 President re SB 362 826 826

17 53. Written Testimony of LuisFigueroa Mexican American

18 Legal Defense and EducationFund MALDEF re SB 362 841 841

19

54. Written Testimony of Sylvia20 Mendoza re SB 362 848 848

21 55. Written Testimony of Dr. RodFluker Sr. Executive Director

22 for Texas Association of BlackPersonnel in Higher Education

23 re SB 362 861 861

24

25


TX_00004087JA_003510


2 V

1 P R O C E E D I N G S

2 TUESDAY MAY 10 2009

3 550 p.m.

4 INVITED TESTIMONY

5 TESTIMONY BY HANS VON SPAKOVSKY

6 MR. von SPAKOVSKY Thank you

7 Mr. Chairman senators. I appreciate the invitation

8 to testify here today. My name is Hans von Spakovsky.

9 Im a legal scholar at the Heritage Foundation

10 although the opinions here today are my own.

11 Just by background Ive got extensive

12 experience in voting and election issues. I spent

13 four years at the Department of Justice as a voting

14 counsel. I spent two years on the Federal Election

15 Commission. I also spent five years as a member of a

16 county election board in Atlanta Georgia in Fulton

17 County which is the largest county in the state and

18 its a county thats about half African-American.

19 Guaranteeing the integrity of elections

20 requires having security throughout the entire

21 election process from the voter registration to

22 voting in the polls on Election Day to counting the

23 ballots. I doubt any of you here would think it would

24 be a good idea to give worldwide Internet access to

25 the computers that are in a county election deparLmeni


TX_00004088JA_003511


2 1 1

1 that tabulate the vote.

2 Requiring someone to authenticate their

3 identity in the polling place is part and parcel of

4 the same kind of security. Every illegal vote steals

5 a vote from a legitimate voter. And voter ID doesnt

6 just prevent impersonation fraud at the polls it also

7 can prevent people from voting under fictitious voter.

8 registrations and also double voting by individuals

9 who are registered in more than one state.

10 Voter fraud does exist and criminal

11 penalties imposed after the fact are not sufficient to

12 protect against it. That claim was in fact raised

13 in the Indiana case and the Supreme Court said that

14 despite such criminal penalties there are flagrant

15 examples of such fraud that have been documented

16 throughout this nations history by respected

17 historians and journalists. They not only demonstrate

18 the risk of voter fraud is real but it could affect

19 the outcome of a close election.

20 Youve had some questions about why have

21 there not been more prosecutions of voter

22 impersonation. Well as the Seventh circuit said in

23 the Indiana case its hard to prosecute something

24 when you dont have the tool to detect it voter TD.

25 However if you want a good example oi


TX_00004089JA_003512


1 this I wrote a paper last year for the Heritage

2 Foundation that detailed a publicly released state

3 grand jury report in New York City 1984 which

4 detailed a successful and undetected 14-year

5 conspiracy in which impersonation fraud was carried or

6 at the poll and thousands of fraudulent ballots were

7 cast in not just state legislative primary elections

8 but also in congressional elections.

9 Crews of from five to eight people were

10 recruited and sent from polling place to polling place

11 where they voted in the names of legitimate voters

12 people who were dead but still on the registration

13 lists individuals who had moved and also under the

14 names of fictitious voter registration names that had

1.5 been successfully registered.

16 According to the grand jury the advent

17 of mail-in registration was a key factor in this

18 fraud. It could have been easily stopped if New York

19 had had voter ID. In recent elections as you know

20 thousands of fraudulent voter registration forms were

21 detected by election officials. But given the mini.mal

22 screening efforts in many election jurisdictions

23 there is no way to know how many others slipped

24 through. In states with ID election officials--25without ID election officials have no way to prevent


TX00004090JA_003513


2 3

1 bogus votes from being cast.

2 The problem of double voting -- well

3 Ill give you an example of that. In the Indiana

4 Supreme Court case the League of Women Voters filed

5 an amicus brief against the law. And in it they

6 illustrated an Indiana voter an elderly woman who

7 they said had had problems voting. The local paper

8 went and interviewed here.

9 The reason she had had problems voting

10 she tried to use a Florida drivers license when she

11 went to her polling place in Indiana. Not only did

12 she have a Florida drivers license she was

13 registered to vote in Florida. In fact she owned a

14 home in Florida and had claimed a homestead exemption

15 which as you know you can only do if you are a

16 resident of the state. So the law actually worked to

17 prevent someone who could have voted twicewithout-18detection.

19 I dont mean to single out Texas. But

20 just like Indiana New York and Illinois Texas has a

21 long and unfortunate history of voter fraud. In the

22 late 1800s for example Harrison County was so

23 infamous that the phrase Harrison County methods

24 became synonymous with election fraud. Box 13 has

25 already been mentioned. The point is that there are


TX_00004091JA_003514


21

1 individuals who are willing to break the law to try to

2 steal an election.

3 I dont claim that there is massive

4 voter fraud in Texas or elsewhere. In fact Im a

5 former election official and I think most of our

6 elections are run pretty well. But the potential for

7 abuse exists and there are many close elections that

8 could turn on just a handful of votes. And there are

9 enough incidents of voter fraud to make it very clear

10 we should take steps to stop that.

11 Now the biggest thing Ive heard today

12 is that voter ID will suppress the votes of voters

13 particularly the poor or the elderly. That is untrue.

14 Social science research shows that thats not the

15 case. And the actual election results in the two

16 states with the strictest voter ID in the country show

17 that is not true.

18 The Heritage Foundation released a study

19 in September 2007 that looked at voter turnout in

20 every state in the country in the 2004 election

21 comparing those states who had voter ID to those

22 states who do not. They found that voter ID laws do

23 not reduce the turnout of voters includingAfrican-24Americans and Hispanics that those voters were just

25 as likely to vote in states with ID as in states where


TX_00004092JA_003515


25

_ just their name was asked.

2 A study by professors at the University

3 of Delaware and Nebraska-Lincoln examined data from

4 the 2000 2002 2004 and 2006 elections. The study

5 found that voter ID laws do not affect turnout

6 including across racial lines ethnic lines and

7 socioeconomic lines. The study concluded -- and Ill

8 give you their quote -- the concerns about voter 11

9 laws affecting turnout are much ado about nothing.

10 A professor at MIT as part o the

11 CalTech Voting Project did a survey of 36000

12 individuals to see what their Election Day experience

13 was like. Overwhelming support for voter ID. Only 23

14 individuals who had a problem voting because of voter

15 ID. And there was no indication in the survey if they

16 were actually eligible voters.

17 A lot of talk has been here about

18 election results in Georgia and Indiana. In Georgia

19 there was record turnout in the 2008 presidential

20 primary after the voter ID law went into effect a

21 million more voters than in 2004 when there was no

22 voter ID law in effect.

23 The number of African-Americans voting

24 in the 2008 presidential primary doubled from 2004

25 when there was no voter ID law in effect. In fact


TX_00004093JA_003516


21 6

1. there were 100000 more votes in the Democratic

2 Primary in Georgia than in the Republican Primary.

3 The general election in Georgia one of the strictest_

4 voter ID laws in the country largest turnout in its

5 history. Democratic turnout was up 6.1 percentage

6 points from the 2004 election when there was no voter

7 ID. Overall turnout in Georgia was 6.7 percentage

8 points higher than in 2004 the second highest

9 increase of any state in the country.

10 The Georgia law has been upheld in every

11 federal and state court. And in fact the Georgia

12 judge who is a former Democratic legislator appointed

13 by Jimmy Carter pointed out that in two years of

14 litigation none of the organizations who sued

15 including the NAACP could come up with a single

16 witness a single individual who could not vote

17 because of the voter ID requirement.

18 In Indiana Democratic presidential

19 preference primary last year Democratic turnout

20 quadrupled from the 2004 election. In fact it was up

21 8.32 percentage points from 2004 the largest increase

22 in Democratic turnout of any state in the country.

23 And the Supreme Court said Indiana has the strictest

24 voter ID law in the country.

25 We are only one of about 100 democracies


TX_00004094JA_003517


2 7

1 that do not require photo ID. Our southern neighbor

2 Mexico which has a much larger population in poverty

3 requires both a photo ID and a thumb print when people

4 go to vote. Since they put that provision in in the

5 mid-1990s turnout has increased in their elections.

6 Requiring voters to authenticate their

7 identity is a perfectly reasonable and easily met

8 requirement. Its supported by the vast majority of

9 voters. All the polling data shows that. And it

10 protects the integrity and reliability of the

11 electoral process as the Supreme Court said and i_

12 also maintains the confidence of individuals in the

13 security of their elections.

14 And Im done Mr. Chairman.

15 SEN. DUNCAN Thank you Mr. von

16 Spakovsky. Before I entertain any questions you have

17 written testimony. Do you wish to submit that into

18 the record

19 MR. von SPAKOVSKY I would like to

20 submit it. I believe I gave it to the Clerk Mr.

21 Chairman.

22 Exhibit No. 14 marked and admitted

23 SEN. DUNCAN Okay. We have it marked

24 as Exhibit 14.

25 Members are there any questions for


TX_00004095JA_003518


218

1 Mr. Von Spakovsky

2 Sen West.

3 SEN. WEST Will we be asking questions

4 from the chair or standing up

5 SEN. DUNCAN Standing up.

6 QUESTIONS FROM SENATE FLOOR

7 SEN. WEST Okay. Sir lets talk about

8 your background. Weve met before back in 2003 I

9 think it was. As it relates -- are you coming as a

10 neutral and detached witness or have some sort of bias

11 one way or the other for this particular issue

12 MR. von SPAKOVSKY Im not quite sure

13 how to answer that question.

14 SEN. WEST Well let me ask the

15 question this way You are a former Republican chair

16 are you not

17 MR. von SPAKOVSKY I was a county party

18 Republican chair over 10 years ago.

19 SEN. WEST Okay. Have you authored

20 studies or position papers on requiring voter IDs at

21 polling locations

22 MR. von SPAKOVSKY I have. In fact I

23 wrote an article for a Texas Law Review on it.

24 SEN. WEST Have you authored articles

25 on requiring the verification of social security


TX_00004096JA_003519


219

1 numbers of voters

2 MR. von SPAKOVSKY I have. And in

3 fact thats now a federal requirement under the Help

4 America Vote Act.

5 SEN. WEST Have you authored articles

6 on eliminating no-fault absentee voting

7 MR. von SPAKOVSKY I believe I have

8 yes.

9 SEN. WEST And whats the rationale--10what is your rationale for no-fault absentee voting

11 And lets define it first of all. As I understand

12 no-fault absentee voting that basically means that a

13 person should not be able to give any reason not to--14any reason in order to cast an absentee ballot. So a

15 person who may very well have business outside of the

16 county on Election Day if you had your way they

17 would not be able to vote. Correct

18 MR. von SPAKOVSKY Thats incorrect

19 Senator.

20 SEN. WEST Okay. Then what is the

21 elimination of no-fault absentee voting

22 MR. von SPAKOVSKY There are some

23 states -- in most states you have to have a reason to

24 vote absentee Youre disabled youre elderly

25 youre going to be out of town on business. I


TX_00004097JA_003520


2 2 0

1 completely agree with those plus the fact if youre a

2 military voter. There are some states where you dont

3 have to have any reason to vote absentee.

4 SEN. WEST Is Texas one of those

5 states

6 MR. von SPAKOVSKY Im not sure what

7 the rule is in Texas.

8 SEN. WEST If we were then you would

9 want to eliminate that. Right

10 MR. von SPAKOVSKY Well there are two

11 things there Senator. The first is that absentee

12 ballot fraud is one of the biggest sources of voter

13 fraud. In fact Ive written a paper about that.

14 And second theres more than one study -- in fact

15 one by the Center For the Study of the American

16 Electorate which indicates that states that have put

17 in no-fault absentee balloting in fact it has

18 possibly hurt the turnout of their voters.

19 SEN. WEST In terms of other articles

20 that you have worked on the white papers that you

21 have written eliminating motor voter registration--22MR. von SPAKOVSKY Thats incorrect.

23 SEN. WEST Okay. Youre not for

24 eliminating motor voter registration

25 MR. von SPAKOVSKY I think there are


TX_00004098JA_003521


22

1 problems with mail-in voter registration but I also

2 think that the provisions of motor voter which require

3 you to be able to get registered to vote when you go

4 get your drivers license or when you go to a public

5 assistance office I think those are very good

6 provisions.

7 SEN. WEST What about the requirement

8 of two witnesses on a notary to sign an absentee

9 ballot are you for Have you advocated that or what

10 MR. von SPAKOVSKY I believe that

11 because of the problems with absentee ballots and

12 voter fraud that having either a witness or a notary

13 for an absentee ballot is a good idea.

14 SEN. WEST You have indicated that

15 theres numerous studies that show that there has beer

16 no impact negative impact on the minority vote in

17 several states and youve alluded to some 2008

18 elections. Let me put a pin in that for a second.

19 Have you been the author of any of the studies that

20 you have mentioned as relates to voter suppression

21 MR. von SPAKOVSKY To voter

22 suppression

23 SEN. WEST Right -- oh Im sorry. I

24 should not have said that.

25 MR. von SPAKOVSKY I


512.474.2233

TX_00004099JA_003522


222

1 SEN. WEST I should not have saidvote-2suppression. I apologize. Have you been the author

3 of any studies that deal with the impact of voter ID

4 on minority votes

5 MR. von SPAKOVSKY Yes.

6 SEN. WEST And which studies have those

7 been

8 MR. von SPAKOVSKY I wrote a paper that

9 looked at the State of Georgia and some other states

10 that had voter ID laws. And I looked at turnout of

11 African-American voters both before the law went into

12 effect and after the law went into effect.

13 SEN. WEST In the State of Georgia

14 MR. von SPAKOVSKY And yes I looked

15 at the State of Georgia.

16 SEN. WEST For what year -- years

17 MR. von SPAKOVSKY I started with the

18 first voter ID law that went into effect in Georgia in

19 1999 which was then amended later on and I looked at.

20 the effects of all of those laws.

21 SEN. WEST Okay. Did you also look at

22 2008

23 MR. von SPAKOVSKY The paper was

24 written before the 2008 election.

25 SEN. WEST Have you looked at any


512.474.2233

TX_00004100JA_003523


223

1 have you been the author of any studies that looked at

2 the 2008 election

3 MR. von SPAKOVSKY Ive written several

4 articles about that yes sir.

5 SEN. WEST As relates to those

6 articles did you conclude that -- was that in the

7 State of Indiana or Georgia or what

8 MR. von SPAKOVSKY In some of the

9 articles Ive written Ive mentioned election results

10 in both Indiana and in Georgia.

11 SEN. WEST And so its your testimony

12 that voter ID had no negative impact on the minority

13 vote in either one of those states in 2008

14 MR. von SPAKOVSKY Thats what the

15 facts and figures from the election show.

16 SEN. WEST Did you take into

17 consideration who the candidates were at that time in

18 Indiana and Georgia. And--19MR. von SPAKOVSKY Yes Senator.

20 SEN. WEST -- did that have an impact

21 Were you able to check out the influence of President

22 Barack Obama being on the ballot

23 MR. von SPAKOVSKY Senator turnout was

24 up all over the country particularly in the minority

25 community because of Sen. Barack Obama. The point


TX_00004101JA_003524


Documents

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