A divided Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday approved a constitutional amendment that would begin the process of asking voters whether to amend the state constitution to require voter ID.

All Republicans and a single Democrat voted as the proposal passed 30-20. Constitutional amendments require passage by both chambers in two consecutive two-year sessions before going to voters for the final OK.

A proposal to amend the constitution usually takes years to complete.

The GOP majority Legislature has increasingly turned to constitutional amendments to avoid having partisan legislation vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.

The legislation now goes to the House for its consideration.

Earlier Wednesday, a Senate committee approved on a 7-4 party-line vote legislation that had passed the House a day earlier. That legislation includes a wide variety of changes to the state’s voting laws, including controversial measures such as voter ID.

Butler County Commissioner Kevin Boozel, a Democrat, likes some of the measures in the GOP rewrite passed by the House, including the proposal that would allow county election bureaus to count mail-in ballots days before Election Day instead of only on Election Day.

That would alleviate problems encountered during the November presidential election.

But Commissioner Leslie Osche, a Republican, has concerns about the cost of implementing the changes should they clear the Legislature.

She contends the county is not sufficiently staffed to handle all provisions of the bill.

She notes that the new election rules could cost the county roughly $1 million to implement.

County commissioners say they are frustrated that a common-sense compromise on election legislation can’t be reached in Harrisburg.

We are, too.

Recent polls, including one from Franklin and Marshall released this month, found that 74% of those surveyed said they would support photo ID requirements for voting.

In that poll, 95% of Republicans said they would support voter ID, while 47% of Democrats said they supported it.

The prime sponsor of the bill to enact change through a constitutional amendment says voters, not politicians, should have a say in laws regarding voting.

“We were left no choice” but to pursue the constitutional amendment,” said state Sen. Judy Ward, R-30th.

Wolf has said the GOP bill is “about trying to control voting for their own political gain,” while comparing it to Republican voting restriction efforts around the country.

Wolf should listen to the majority when he threatens to veto voter ID legislation.

— JGG