Colleges are figuring out methods to make their student IDs comply with new voter registration laws in advance of the fall elections.

The new law requires voters to have a photo identification card when they are voting. The card must have an expiration date, a piece of information lacking on most local college ID cards.

While the law is only in a pilot phase for Tuesday's primary, it will be in full effect in November, which is why York College and Millersville University officials are already considering options.

York College, which does not have an expiration date on its Ids, is considering what to do, according to school officials. Millersville is leaning toward adding a sticker with an expiration date to existing cards, since producing new cards for every student would cost thousands, said David Errickson, director of purchasing.

Stickers would comply with the law, said Nikki Suchanic, York County director of elections and voter registration.

Errickson said new cards made for incoming students likely will have an expiration date printed on them. School officials are planning on discussing the issue again next month, after the primary election.

HACC students already have a sticker with an expiration date on their IDs, according to school officials.For the primary, voters don't need a photo ID, although all voters are being asked to produce one so election officials can do a test run, Suchanic said.

Most local students voting in the election likely have a Pennsylvania driver's license, she said, and so a college ID with an expiration date won't matter in November.

But out-of-state students are allowed to register to vote in York County using the college as their address, she said. Few do so. But they would need some form of Pennsylvania photo identification, and that makes the college ID necessary. Students without a driver's license also could benefit, she said.

Penn State York and other Penn State campuses are using a sticker in the short term, and incoming students will get an ID with an expiration date on it, according to spokeswoman Barb Dennis.

There will be no charge to students at any of the colleges offering stickers or new cards, officials at the schools said.

- Reach Andrew Shaw at 505-5431 or ashaw@yorkdispatch.com, or on Twitter @ydblogwork