Clovis approves voter ID

Clovis Mayor David Lansford has never been on the fence on whether voters should be required to show a photo identification.

“I don’t think it disenfranchises anyone that wants to vote,” he said again on Tuesday night.

“Voting is something you take seriously as an adult, like many other responsibilities adults have. If you care enough to vote, you will do the right thing and follow requirements for voting in the city of Clovis.”

Those who turned out for Tuesday’s municipal election agreed overwhelmingly — 2,036 to 666 in favor of amending the city charter to require a photo ID for participating in city elections.

The measure passed in all five voting locations, as well as with early voters.

City commissioners still must work out details, including what kind of photo ID will be accepted.

City Clerk LeighAnn Melancon has said commissioners will appoint a committee to study the issues and make recommendations before the charter is changed, probably before the next municipal election in 2018.

Lansford and several city commissioners have said they expect valid driver’s licenses, military ID cards and probably student ID cards will be acceptable ID for voting.

The requirement to show ID will be limited strictly to city elections. County, state and federal elections will not be impacted by Tuesday’s decision in Clovis.

But Lansford said he expects it’s only a matter of time before all elections will require a voter ID of some kind.

“We are trending in that direction,” Lansford said. “I think that is the nature of how the country is responding to the illegal immigration issue. I don’t necessarily have an opinion on that, but I do think that is the response to that.”

Commissioner Robert Sandoval — unopposed in his re-election bid on Tuesday — has been a vocal critic of voter ID since its discussion stages. He said he expects the change to the city charter will cost taxpayers money, but he doesn’t know how the system might be implemented.

“I have no idea how these people plan to do this or how the city will react,” he said after the votes were counted.

“I’ve always felt we should make it easier for citizens to vote and not harder. I see huge problems with absentee ballots.”

Sandoval attributed the measure’s passing to the High Plains Patriots group, which helped promote it.

“They’re a well-disciplined organization and very well funded,” he said.

High Plains Patriots President Carolyn Spence issued a press release applauding the decision after the first few polling place results pointed towards the inevitable.

“People believe in our democracy and in the value of every vote,” Spence said in the release.

“They expect their leaders to put into place those protections that will both safeguard the vote and still enable every citizen to fulfill their civic responsibilities.”

About 18.5 percent of the city’s registered voters turned out for Tuesday’s elections. That was more than the 17 percent that participated in 2014, but less than the 28 percent that came out in 2012.