Three members of the state Elections Commission said they were worried people who wait to obtain IDs until close to the election won’t be able to get them in time to have their votes counted.
That’s because the state Division of Motor Vehicles typically provides IDs and voting credentials by mail, rather than in person. That raises the risk that those who visit a DMV center close to the election won’t get their voting credentials until too late.
“Everyone has a constitutional right to have their ballot counted,” said Mark Thomsen, chairman of the commission. “It’s up to us to do everything we can (to make sure people can vote).”
Commissioner Ann Jacobs said at Tuesday’s meeting she would like to see the DMV provide voting credentials to voters over the counter instead of through the mail when it gets close to the election.
Commissioner Steve King agreed with that approach in an interview.
“The mail won’t cut it if they’re coming in the week before the election,” he said.
Jacobs and Thomsen are Democrats; King is a Republican.
[Updated with the updated version of Patrick’s story]