Democrats say the bills are necessary to implement the Proposal 2 voting rights amendment adopted last year by voters.
Senator Jeremy Moss chairs the Senate Elections Committee. He says election officials support measures to make it faster and easier for more people to vote.
“So we’re listening to election administrators while implementing voting laws here in our chamber. What a novel concept."
The bills include allowing nine days of early in-person voting, pre-paid absentee ballot mail-in envelopes, and letting voters use a photo I-D or a signed affidavit of identity to vote. Republicans say the measures go further than the requirements of Proposal 2.