Mo. House backs voter ID legislation

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House has approved legislation that would require voters to show government-issued photo ID to cast ballots.

The House version of the legislation also allows voters to cast ballots before Election Day in statewide elections. The House passed the legislation 99-52 Wednesday, returning it to the Senate.

The legislation is linked to a proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize voter ID and advanced voting laws. That constitutional amendment would appear on the 2012 statewide ballot, if it receives final approval from lawmakers before their session ends May 13.

Republicans have said the voter identification measures will help prevent fraud by keeping unregistered voters from casting ballots.

Some Democratic critics say the ID requirements could end up excluding legal immigrants or older voters.

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Voter Identification bill is SB3

Online:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov

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3blindmice 2 years, 1 month ago

up next... you must own 40 acres and mule, and pass their literacy test. Gotta love the ruling party. wasting everyone's time

JMO 2 years, 1 month ago

I'm not sure I understand the big deal here. So you need a driver's license or non-driver state ID to vote? Don't most people have one of those already? How do you do anything without one these days, from using a credit card to cashing a check, you get asked for ID. I would think most seniors and immigrants would have ID. I mean, my father's license eventually expired, but he didn't vote anymore either after he was too ill to go to the DMV. Don't be all snarky with me - I really don't see why people are so up in arms about this and would like to know.

JMO 2 years, 1 month ago

I'm pretty sure you misstated your first paragraph. Why would the republicans have a ploy to stop republicans from voting? Did you mean they vote democrat?

Back to my question though - most college students have driver's licenses. In fact, I don't think a single person I met in college or post-grad didn't drive. I guess I just don't see what's so hard about going to the DMV and getting a non-driver's ID, even if you are physically infirm. If you are too ill to get there, aren't you likely to ill to even get to the poles? Can't someone take them like they do to vote? Or couldn't they vote absentee - you wouldn't need to present an ID to do that. (Truthfully, I'm not all that sure how absentee voting works, I only did it one time when I was in college.)

Please don't think I'm taking sides - I don't really see any need for this law - you get a voter's registration card after all and that should be enough I'd think - but I guess I don't see this as some huge inconvienence either.

Incidently, I made the "don't be snarky remark because I was asking a question and I really wanted an answer, and to not be treated me like I was taking sides. People tend to jump on you and act as though you've offended them sometimes when you have only the intent to get information. Sorry if asking for that was too much.

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