HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Republican state senators put Pennsylvania on the path Wednesday to becoming the 16th state to require voters to show photo identification before their ballots are counted, after a contentious debate during which Democrats called the measure an attempt to suppress votes in November's presidential election by the party's traditional supporters.

Labor unions, counties, civil liberties advocates, good government advocates, the AARP and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People also objected to the bill, which passed the Republican-controlled chamber, 26-23.Republican Gov. Tom Corbett supports the measure; it is expected to receive approval within days from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which passed a stricter version of the bill last year. The American Civil Liberties Union immediately said it was preparing a legal challenge; Senate Democrats said they would sue if the bill becomes law.Democrats labeled the bill as the latest in a long line of attempts to trample a sacred right. The Republican Party, meanwhile, released a statement lauding the measure as "another step closer to protecting the fundamental right to vote."Many government employee photo IDs would be acceptable, as would student IDs from colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and IDs for people who live in elder-care institutions in the state, as long as they show a name, photo and expiration date that makes them current.Republican legislatures around the country are pressing voter ID bills, and Pennsylvania would become the third-largest state, behind Texas and Florida, with such a photo ID law. A legal challenge is holding up a law passed last year in Wisconsin, and U.S. Department of Justice approval is still required for laws to take effect in Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas.Every Democrat in the Pennsylvania Senate, plus three Republicans, voted against the bill.Democrats said the bill would create hurdles for the poor, elderly, sick and disabled who want to vote. They questioned the validity of Republican arguments about protecting the integrity of elections when there is scant evidence of voter fraud."The truth is, if you destroy the process in search of integrity, I'm not sure we find a lot of character in that argument," said Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia. "I'm afraid of what's in front of us and I'm afraid of the consequences of this law hitting the books."Republicans say counties should have time to give the concept a test run during the April 24 primary elections asking people for ID, but not requiring it then it would become effective for the Nov. 6 general election.The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania has warned lawmakers that adding the additional step of requiring poll workers to check photo IDs will lengthen Election Day lines and create voter confusion, but provide no extra security for ballots.Someone without proper ID would be able to cast a provisional ballot, then would have six days to get an acceptable ID and deliver a copy to county election offices in person, by email or fax.Republicans cited no instances of voter fraud that the bill would somehow address, although Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, pointed out that photo IDs are a part of daily life for people."If they go to the drugstore to have a prescription filled, if they go to travel on an airplane or a train or to open a bank account, even to cash a check in a supermarket, to get a marriage license, to apply for a job, to sign an apartment lease, and even to get in to some buildings, a photo identification is a necessary part of today's society," Pileggi said.Democrats responded that the bill creates the absurd result of forcing someone who is recognized by poll workers, but does not have proper ID, to cast a provisional ballot, get ID and then prove their identity to county election officials.To address any suggestion that a photo ID requirement amounts to an unconstitutional "poll tax," the bill would require the Department of Transportation to issue an identification card at no cost to anyone who applies and swears that he or she has no other proof of identification allowed under the law for voting purposes.But Democrats argued that getting an ID involves hurdles. For instance, making the extra trips will be difficult for some people, they said, while getting a Pennsylvania state ID card requires showing a Social Security card, a birth certificate or certificate of residency, and two proofs of residency, such as a lease agreement, utility bill or a tax record.Under current Pennsylvania law, people are required to show identification only when voting in a polling place for the first time, but a photo ID is not the only kind allowed. Acceptable forms of ID can include a firearms permit, current utility bill, bank statement or paycheck as long as they have a name and address on it, while photo IDs can include a student or employee ID.Online:Senate roll call:

http://bit.ly/wwF7swHouse Bill 934:

http://bit.ly/wZos6U