Missouri Just Passed a Voter ID Bill

Republicans in Missouri have been trying to pass a Voter ID bill for more than a decade, and they may soon claim victory.

The first, House Joint Resolution 53, is a proposed Constitutional Amendment to allow for a photo ID requirement, following the Missouri Supreme Court's 2006 decision tossing out an earlier photo ID law passed that same year. It's sponsored by Rep. Tony Dugger, R-Hartville, who has sponsored several photo ID proposals in recent years.

The second, House Bill 1631, would implement the requirement if voters were to pass the amendment. It's sponsored by Rep. Justin Alferman, R-Hermann.

This week, a super-majority of lawmakers sent a bill to the desk of Gov. Jay Nixon (D). Even if the Governor vetoes, as he did to a similar one in 2011, lawmakers may have the votes to override it.

Democrats in the State Senate staged an all-night filibuster last week to stop the bill, but backed down after striking a compromise deal with Republicans.

The deal involves amendments to the bill that progressive lawmakers say will “ensure no voter is denied his or her Constitutional right to vote.” The state would be required to provide free photo IDs and any underlying documents necessary to obtain them, such as birth certificates and Social Security cards. Additionally, voters who are unable to get the required ID for whatever reason would be able to sign a legally-binding affidavit promising they are who they say they are, and could then vote with regular ballots. This is aimed at preventing problems that have surfaced in other states with voter ID laws, including Wisconsin and Texas, where citizens who can’t afford a copy of their birth certificate or lack the means of transportation to get one have been disenfranchised.

The Missouri Secretary of State’s office estimated in 2014 that about 220,000 registered voters lack the proper ID and could be disenfranchised by a Voter ID law. Many more who are not registered could be impacted as well. The implementation of the law would cost as much as $17 million over three years, and the compromise bill stipulates that if the legislature doesn’t appropriate enough funds to help people get IDs, the law wouldn’t be enforced.

Even if Gov. Nixon signs the bill, it won’t start influencing elections right away. The legislature has to first pass an additional bill to put a measure before voters on the next election’s ballot to amend the State Constitution. This extra step is required by the strong voting rights protections already on the books. Democrats in the Legislature have warned that opening up the State Constitution for changes could lead to stricter voting laws in the future.











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