After gaining a majority in the Oklahoma Senate (which had previously been tied), Republican lawmakers were determined to pass a Voter ID bill this year.

College students are one group of people who are often particularly hard hit by these ID requirements. Legally, students are allowed to register to vote using college addresses but most who do still have drivers licenses and identification that display the addresses from their permanent residences back home.

These Voter ID laws leave them in limbo -- setting a barrier that is too high to make voting in their college communities convenient.

Democrats in Oklahoma were able to offer students some protection in the final version of the bill by introducing an amendment spearheaded by Rep. Joe Dorman that will allow them to use the identification issued by their colleges at the polls.

Rep. Dorman has a guest post up at FutureMajority where he offers his perspective about the debate and speaks to the importance of reaching out to youth generally.

The whole thing is well worth a read.

Incidentally, Rep. Dorman is practicing what he preaches. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter.