The Wisconsin State Senate's attempt to override the Voter Photo ID veto failed Tuesday by a narrow margin, but the Senate did approve a separate bill to allocate funding to provide free photo-identification cards to residents who cannot afford them.

The Voter Photo ID override, which fell one vote short of passing, was intended to reverse Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle's August veto of a bill that would require Wisconsinites to present a form of photo identification in order to vote. The veto was the third time Doyle exercised his gubernatorial power to knock down a voter-photo-ID bill.

State Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, who voted in favor of the override, said the next step the Republican Legislature will take is to enter a joint resolution for a constitutional amendment to require photo identification at the polls.

"Now it leaves us no other option but the constitutional amendment if we want to abide by the people's wishes, put more integrity into our elections and be fair and reasonable about it," Lazich said.

The legislation for the photo-ID requirements must pass two consecutive legislative sessions and be approved by the public in a referendum in order to amend the state constitution.

Doyle spokeswoman Ethnie Groves said the governor is satisfied with the failure of the override.

"The governor's main concern with photo ID is it would disenfranchise senior citizens," Groves said. "And any bill the governor would be willing to compromise on would need to require a photo ID but give more options so people without drivers' licenses would not be disenfranchised."

However, Michael Pyritz, communications director for State Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Greendale, said the most recent photo-ID bill Doyle vetoed included considerations for people who would have difficulty obtaining IDs.

"There were provisions [in the bill that] would provide a non-driving photo ID for people who don't drive and for people who can't afford to purchase the ID at the [Department of Motor Vehicles]," Pyritz said.

In addition, a separate bill that would provide free photo identification for those who do not have IDs but intend to vote was passed in the Senate yesterday.

"The bill provides the funding for the ID cards that would be provided without cost to those that request them. This is intended for those who don't have drivers' licenses," Lazich said.

The money would come from the Help America Vote Act, which is a federal program dedicated to increasing access to voting for people in the United States. The bill would allow the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to be reimbursed for money spent to provide the free identification cards.

"[The bill] removes any obstacle that someone might feel exists for them to have the photo ID," Lazich said.

However, this bill would only be relevant if the Voter Photo ID Bill were made into law.

"When the photo-ID bill would be passed, then the Lazich bill would take effect — but only then," Pyritz said. "It has no impact until Voter Photo ID is approved."

Conversely, Groves said the governor has other solutions to flaws in the voting process.

"The governor thinks that what we really need is comprehensive election reform, making sure we clean up our [voter] registration and don't have three-hour lines at the polls," Groves said.

Doyle also believes a compromise could be reached with legislators in regard to the photo-ID issue, she added.

Lazich, who voted for the override, expressed surprise at its failure and said the public is "overwhelmingly" in favor of the photo-ID bill.

The Wisconsin Legislature is "ahead of the game," Lazich said, explaining the state's Republicans have been working on the photo-ID bill and the bill providing money for the free IDs for some time. Both concepts are now being endorsed by the Jimmy Carter Commission, she said.

"For us to lose in Wisconsin, I think, No. 1, the people lost," Lazich said. "And No. 2, the Democrats, I think, are going to have their day of reckoning."