Voter ID bill covers more than just identification, including moving the date of nonpartisan elections from the primary to the general election.

House Bill 244, which the Georgia Legislature passed amid divisive debate this year, reduces the forms of identification voters can use at the polls. Unless Gov. Sonny Perdue vetoes the bill by May 10, or the U.S. Justice Department intervenes, voters will be required to show photo identification. Non-photo forms, such as utility bills or Social Security cards, no longer will be accepted.

But the bill mandates more changes to statewide elections, changes that have been overlooked in the voter ID spotlight.

The most significant additional reform is moving the date of nonpartisan elections from the primary to the general election.

Four years ago, the legislature moved nonpartisan races from the general election to the primary.

Here are other ways HB 244 changes Georgia elections:

• Cancels the provision that allowed nonpartisan races to be decided by a plurality if the highest vote-getter exceeded 45 percent. Now, those races with no candidate receiving a majority of votes go to a runoff election between the two highest vote-getters.

• Extends the time between the general election and runoffs from 21 days to 28 days.

• Prohibits absentee voting the Monday before the election.

• Allows absentee voting by mail without the voter having to give a reason for six weeks prior to the election. But on-site advance voting will remain the week before the election.

(4-17-05, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.)