(RALEIGH) -- A state bill that would force North Carolinians to show photo identification in order to vote faces one final hurdle before heading to Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue.

The Senate voted 31-19 along party lines for the Republican-backed measure.  The legislation now heads back to the House, which must sign-off on minor changes made in the Senate. Perdue has not publicly commented on whether she would sign the proposal into law. However, the bill didn’t pass the House with a veto-proof margin.

The measure would require individuals to present a driver’s license, military ID, passport or some other form of government–issued ID before casting a ballot. Senate Republicans argued that obligation would reduce voter fraud and restore public confidence in the elections process.

“Every person who has a right to vote in this state, their vote ought to count. Their vote ought to mean something,” said Sen. Buck Newton, R-Wilson. “Their vote is not going to mean anything if people can go out and vote 15 times when they’re not legally eligible to vote.”

Opponents said the bill was an attempt to fix a problem that doesn’t exist. Democrats repeatedly challenged Republicans to provide evidence of wide-spread problems where people were voting in another person’s name.

“Your entire premise is based on that there is voter fraud or suspicion of voter fraud,” said Sen. Eric Mansfield, D-Cumberland. “And yet, you have not one shred of proof that proves what you’re saying.”

Democrats also argued that the ID requirement would disenfranchise elderly and minority voters. “It’s kind of ironic that on the most fundamental act of personal liberty in our government – the act to vote, it is the Republican Party that is trying to put more government between the citizenry and the acting out of their liberty,” said Sen. Josh Stein, D-Wake.

However, Republicans said the photo requirement is no more restrictive than showing a driver’s license to cash a check. "If it takes two forms of ID to go to the DMV and buy a tag, then how is it discriminatory when you have an ID when you go to vote?" asked Sen. Warren Daniel, R-Burke.

The voter ID legislation is one of numerous GOP-sponsored efforts aimed at overhauling existing election and campaign finance laws.  The House Elections Committee revived an omnibus bill that would shorten the early voting period, prevent automatic straight-party voting, eliminate same-day voter registration and scrap state and county-funded programs designed to increase voter turnout. The measure also repeals several laws which would allow judicial candidates to run in partisan races.

The comprehensive elections bill is scheduled for a House floor vote  Thursday. However, Republicans leaders hinted late Wednesday evening that the matter could be addressed later during a special July session that primarily focuses on redrawing legislative and congressional districts.