Competing Ideas for Election Reform

It would give voters the right to register and vote on election day, make the day a federal holiday and require states to reduce waiting times at polling places. (In California, voters must register at least 15 days before an election to be able to cast a ballot; voters who become citizens after the deadline can register up to seven days before the election.)
The Republican bill would require voters to present a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot, illustrating GOP concerns about voting fraud.
Another provision in the GOP bill would establish a pilot program for the use of indelible ink at polling places — an idea growing out of the ink-stained index fingers displayed by Iraqis in their election last month.