All Pennsylvania voters including the Amish would be required to show government-issued identification in every election under legislation passed by the state House this week.

But Plain sect voters could claim an exemption, based on their religious objections, from the provision requiring a photograph appear on the ID cards.

To do so, however, they would be forced to clear more regulatory hurdles than the average voter, lawmakers said. They'd be required to show a nonphoto ID at polling places, and getting such a card involves providing the state Department of Transportation with a statement of their beliefs signed by their church district's bishop.

"It's actually harder to get that ID than just a driver's license," said Rep. John Lawrence, a Republican from Chester County who authored the exemption provisions in the voter ID bill.

"They have to show a state-issued ID just like other voters," he said. "They're not getting a pass."

Under current law, voters must show ID only the first time they vote, and nonphoto documents such as voter cards, utility bills and bank statements are acceptable.

Under the bill passed by the House on Thursday, voters would be required to show a government-issued photo ID before casting a ballot in any election. The legislation had unanimous support of Lancaster County's Republican House delegation, who described it as protecting "the integrity of our electoral system."

Democratic Rep. Mike Sturla of Lancaster voted against the legislation, saying it would suppress turnout and pointing out that instances of misrepresentation at the polls are extraordinarily rare and already penalized under current state law.

"The reality is, impersonating somebody at a voting place is the rarest form of voter fraud there is," Sturla said.

Sturla cited data from the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing that shows only four cases of misrepresentation at Pennsylvania polls out of 19.4 million ballots cast since 2004.

Lawrence said he worked with Amish leaders to craft a suitable amendment allowing them to forego the photo requirement. The Amish population here is approaching 30,000, so the legislation could have a significant impact.

"They have to present a printout form that says, 'I have a religious objection to being photographed. I'm a member of XYZ church,' and then the Amish bishop must sign off on the bottom of the form," Lawrence said.

PennDOT will check the bishop's name in its records and issue a nonphoto ID.

Under the bill, a free photo ID would be available through PennDOT.

Those who choose not to apply for a government ID to vote would still be able to cast a provisional ballot, but the legislation would require them to return to the county courthouse within six days to prove who they are.

Election laws do not require such verification of those who cast provisional ballots.

"We just have three days — the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after an election — to verify the eligibility of the voter," said Lancaster County's top elections official, Mary Stehman.

State Rep. Bryan Cutler, a Republican from Peach Bottom, said that allowing voters who have religious objections to being photographed cast a provisional ballot was a "reasonable compromise."

The measure was sent to the Senate on a 108-88 vote late on the third day of consideration after majority Republicans turned to parliamentary tactics to shut down debate.

Voting in favor of the bill were all seven Republican House members from Lancaster County: Reps. Ryan Aument; John Bear; Scott Boyd; Tom Creighton; Cutler; Gordon Denlinger; and David Hickernell.

Opposing the legislation was Sturla.

tmurse@lnpnews.com