A measure seeking to enshrine into the state Constitution a requirement that voters provide identification at the polls is a political stunt, critics said.

But supporters of Senate Joint Resolution 47, which easily passed through the Senate Thursday, said it’s necessary to add the nearly 16-year-old law into the state Constitution to ensure the continued integrity of Oklahoma’s election system in future years.

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Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said the measure is needed to make sure future legislatures don’t remove the voter identification requirement without first holding a public vote.

Paxton’s measure asks Oklahoma voters to approve the addition during a special election set for Aug. 25, which is also the runoff date for partisan primaries. Runoff primaries traditionally have the lowest voter turnout.

“With the number of state questions that are going to be on the ballot, combined with the number of statewide and local positions up this cycle, putting the state questions on the August ballot made the most sense,” Paxton said. “This will drive voter turnout and allow Oklahomans to focus more on individual state questions.

“It will also allow individuals to do their homework on each individual state question, rather than having to research candidates on top of state questions.”

All Oklahomans, regardless of party affiliation, are allowed to vote on state questions, but voters with other races on the ballot are traditionally more inclined to participate. Independents are barred from voting in all party primaries and runoffs.

“It’s very clear this is a political bill,” said Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City.

Kirt said the measure could have been placed on the June primary or November general election ballot. Both elections traditionally see higher turnout.

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Holding this election three months before November’s general election is designed to undermine trust in Oklahoma’s elections and to raise fears, she said.

In 2009, lawmakers put voter identification on the general election ballot in the form of a new statute, which could be amended by the Legislature, unlike a constitutional amendment. Constitutional amendments require a vote of the people to change.

The measure, State Question 746, passed with 74 percent of the vote on Nov. 2, 2010.

Voters are required to show identification to vote. It can include a voter identification card provided by the local county election board, or a driver’s license, among other forms of identification.

Senate Joint Resolution 47 does not say what specific forms of identification would be required, but defers to lawmakers to make the determination.

“This proposal does not respond to documented widespread fraud,” said Senator Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. “It does not demonstrate failure is our current system.”

Voters are being asked to approve a constitutional amendment without knowing what documentation may ultimately be required, Hicks said.

Senator Jonathan Wingard, R-Ada, said identification is required for a number of things, such as to purchase alcohol or tobacco.

Elections have consequences, he said.

“We need to know that our elections are safe and secure,” Wingard said. “What is wrong with making sure that the person that is voting is who they say they are? I don’t see that as a problem.”

The measure heads to the House for consideration.