Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear blocked a bill favored by the Republican-controlled General Assembly on Friday which would require Kentuckians to have a photo identification to vote.

Supporters of Senate Bill 2, such as Secretary of State Michael Adams, have said the measure is needed to ensure public confidence in elections by preventing in-person voter fraud.

But the governor sided with critics, who argued such a step would create an unnecessary barrier to the ballot box that would disenfranchise many citizens.

“I am vetoing Senate Bill 2 because the provisions of the law would create an obstacle to the ability of Kentuckians to exercise their right to vote, resulting in fewer people voting and undermining our democracy," Beshear said in Friday's message.

Beshear noted there has not been a single documented case of in-person voter fraud in the state for decades. He also cited how Kentucky is in the middle of battling COVID-19, saying it isn’t wise to force people to get a new form of identification amid the outbreak.

"During this time, the offices that would provide this identification are not open to in-person traffic, which would be necessary to create the actual identification," Beshear said.

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Adams, a Republican, said in a tweet Friday that despite political differences with the governor, he will continue to work in good faith with Beshear.

The two officials have worked hand-in-hand during the state's response to the global pandemic and agreed the Bluegrass State's primary election should rescheduled to June 23 over concerns about the coronavirus.

But Adams, who ran heavily on targeting voter fraud, called on GOP lawmakers, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, to reject the governor's decision.

"I ask the legislators of both parties who believe in election integrity and passed this law to override this regrettable veto, and I hope the governor will eventually join me in governing from the center," he said.

Under SB 2, voters would be required to have a photo ID by the 2020 general election.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky issued a statement condemning the passage of SB 2 as further endangering the same populations most vulnerable to the pandemic. It also has telegraphed how it may file a lawsuit to block the enforcement of the law unless its implementation is delayed until after this year's general election.

Senate President Robert Stivers and House Speaker David Osborne did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

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Democrats have blasted the proposal as nothing more than a Republican "protection plan" for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is up for reelection this year.

Adams testified during a state Senate committee earlier this year how the law was needed because Kentucky is having a "very competitive" U.S. Senate race this year.

U.S. Senate candidate Mike Broihier, a Democrat who is looking to take on McConnell in the fall, applauded Beshear's decision.

"We must preserve voting rights, and we must make it safe to exercise those rights in a public health crisis," Broihier said in a Friday tweet. "It's time to pass vote-by-mail legislation."

Adams told The Courier Journal his office is researching ways to allow Kentuckians to do just that as a back-up to the June 23 primary election.

Under current state law, voters are already required to present identification to vote unless they are recognized by a poll worker. But Adams and other Republicans point out how Kentucky's voter rolls haven't been purged of people who have moved or died for years.

During debate on the bill on the House floor, Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, said the bill was a proactive measure.

"My home has never been broken into, but I still lock the doors at night," he said.

SB 2 was amended to allow those without a driver's license to obtain a photo ID card for free at their county clerk's office. The changes also would let eligible voters without a photo ID cast a regular ballot or absentee ballot if they sign an affidavit.

Reach Phillip M. Bailey at pbailey@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4475. Follow him on Twitter at @phillipmbailey.