ATLANTA - A bill requiring Georgia voters to show photo identification at the polls is just one step away from becoming law.

Gov. Sonny Perdue said he plans to sign a revamped version of last year's voter ID bill without delay.

On Wednesday, it was given final approval by the House of Representatives, which agreed to minor changes to the legislation contained in Senate Bill 84.

With elections coming up this year, Mr. Perdue said he plans to sign the bill as soon as possible so that county election boards can get ready for the bill's new requirements.

"We'll try and do that so that the counties can begin preparing for that as soon as possible," he said.

Mr. Perdue said Wednesday he wants to make sure everyone who does not already have a driver's license or government-issued photo ID has a chance to receive one before upcoming elections.

The initial version of SB 84 was approved by the House on Monday but faced hours of emotional debate in the Senate before minor revisions to the bill's language were added.

The House approved the changes, 111-60, which stipulated that only registered voters in Georgia will be allowed to receive free photo IDs.

The new bill requires a driver's license, military ID or a state-issued photo identification card to vote, but provides a free card to those who do not have the required photo ID.

Last year's voter ID law was blocked by a federal judge who thought the ID requirement was equivalent to an unconstitutional poll tax since the law required voters to pay $35 for a state-issued photo ID.